By Cathy Eck

How to Succeed at Anything

Within the hypnotic win-lose illusion that most people think is reality, success happens in one of two ways.  Either we make our own rules and convince others to accept them or follow them, or we follow someone else’s rules.  Often our parents choose our rulebook for us.

The false mind is the keeper of rules.  It rewards us when we follow its rules,  and it punishes us when we don’t.  God (the True Self) has no rules.

Our false self punishes us when we disobey rules, not God.  If you are like most people, you do a damn good job of punishing yourself and anyone else that breaks the rules you believe to be right.

For most of my life, I looked for someone’s rules to follow.  I looked to every religion, every philosopher, and anyone with even a little authority.  Their rules were just not acceptable for me.  I wanted to live from my True Self, the place of no rules.

We Can Make Our Own Rules

We have the right to make our own rules, but we usually don’t because we’ve been convinced by authority that we must obey their rules.  The world began with no rules.  The illusion was created when leaders made up rules and wrapped them in fear of a false God that would curse, punish, and smite the disobedient.

These leaders were privileged people who knew the secrets of life; and they used those secrets to gain power over others, rather than empower others.  They knew that we make our own rules; and they also knew that if you instill fear, guilt, or shame in someone, they will follow your rules.

It is easy to follow your own rules — especially when they exalt you and diminish others.  Leaders still convince us that their rules are THE rules, and they benefit from that.  When someone sees through their selfish game, they label the wise seer a heretic, traitor, or evil because with no rules, they have no power over others.

Doesn’t “No Rules” Lead to Chaos?

People believe that without rules, the world would be chaos.  The opposite is true.  All rules come from a core belief that people are bad.  If we are bad, we need morals and rules to keep us in check.  So the false illusion is based on the premise that people are born bad.  Once you think you are bad, you either follow the rules to be good or you rebel against the rules and prove the authorities right.  Both contribute to sustaining the illusion.

If you follow someone’s rules or promote another’s rules, you’re living in their false illusion.  You’ve kicked out your True Self (and God) and put someone else in charge of your life.  Without our True Self connection, we feel unsafe and alone.

Rules are Beliefs

Rules are simply beliefs.  Beliefs are divided thoughts.  We need divided thought to create.  You can’t see these black words on a black page.  But beliefs are meant to be temporary.

Parents make ridiculous rules.  Many teachers should be in prison for their rules.  And don’t even get me started with clergy.  Business people start out with great visions, and pretty soon they have a bunch of rules.  The false mind loves rules; obedience is its modus operandi.  Obedience runs the military, causing millions to ignore their True Self and kill others.  The True Self, however, is like the eagle.  It follows a win-win vision.

I used to buy lots of diet books.  They all have the same format.  For the first two chapters, they convince you that their rules are right.  Eat bananas and coconut oil for two weeks and get a svelte figure.  So why don’t diets work?  We know that most people will gain the weight they lose back plus a few extra pounds as a bonus.  Diets don’t work because they are a commitment to follow someone else’s rules.  Your body is not fond of doing that because your body is hard-wired to your True Self.  Besides, the first three letters of diet are DIE.

I bought my last diet book when I realized that calories are a measure of heat.  If I eat too many calories I should get hot, not fat.  Since that day, I’ve let go of thousands of beliefs about food.  One day, I’ll just be my perfect weight.  I won’t have to DIE to get there.

A Life of No Rules

We have to realize that other people’s rules are for them to follow.  Most people don’t even follow their own rules.  They just want you to follow them.  If someone’s rules don’t bring you pleasure, let them go.

I will follow a win-win rule, like stopping at a traffic light.  It doesn’t play favorites.  Its purpose is organization.  I won’t follow win-lose rules that support elitism.  No one has the right to make rules for another that restrict their freedom and joy.

The most important rules to let go are those that cause us to feel shame, guilt, or fear when we disobey them.  When you let go of all the rules you’ve been following, you will find a wonderful secret.

Spoiler Alert!  When you become your True Self, you have the power to create win-lose rules and even get people to follow them.  But you won’t do it.  Only a false self makes and follows win-lose rules.  A false self wants power because it is powerless.  The True Self has unlimited power so it doesn’t need power.  The True Self is like the eagle. It does what it was designed to do, which is always perfect and always free because the eagle has no rules.

For Part II of this article, click here.