Book Summary (Make Time)

People tend to focus more on the material than the invisible realm. Pam Grout took a self- study program in spiritual psychology — A Course in Miracles — where she learned that humans could decide beforehand what they will see or experience in their lives. Our brains examine possibilities and choose what to "see" and believe. It is what you focus your mind on thinking or expecting that you will experience. The reality you take the time to observe is the only thing that will inform your consciousness. For example, if you know the world is an exciting place, you will only be focused on the joyous parts of life and vice-versa. Most people are devoted to things they don't want because that's the world's default setting. So, you should learn how to think positively. For instance, if you are poor, the first thing to do is not to start looking for external things that will make you richer, like reading books and working harder. The solution is to visualize your new reality in your mind. Start by thinking rich, appreciate what you already have, and poverty will automatically disappear. This summary focuses on nine practical experiments you can apply to become happier. You will also learn how your mind defines your reality and how to use words to create possibilities around you.

At its core, the universe is a sea of energy consisting of waves and particles. This field of potentiality (FP) is the invisible force that molds our reality. Unlike the solid, tangible things we can touch and see, FP operates behind the scenes, shaping the world in response to our beliefs, expectations, and emotions. Yet, for all its power, FP remains underutilized, primarily because we've been trained to believe only in what we can see and measure. Engaging with this energy field is akin to using electricity; it's dependable and accessible but requires a clear connection. In other words, we must learn to be explicit with our intentions and treat our interaction with FP like any other reliable service — by being specific, timely, and confident. To effectively engage with FP, it's essential to cast aside the notion that there's something inherently wrong with us or that the universe is out to get us. Understanding that the universe is supportive allows us to confidently navigate our lives using these spiritual laws. It's about becoming so sure of our intentions that the universe can't help but respond in kind. This approach to life invites us to be bold, to set deadlines, and to sincerely believe that we are supported. Embrace this concept, and watch as invisible forces align to create your desired world. In this experiment, take two days to look around you for evidence of the existence of FP. Let go of doubt during that period and choose a convenient time to begin the test. Start by writing the time and date in a notepad. Then, ask for something; it could be a gift, a sign, a direction, or something you know cannot be a coincidence. Take some time to observe the presence of whatever you asked for. When you find it, you will know if FP exists or not.

Your life is a direct reflection of your inner thoughts and emotions. For example, a young woman was at the airport struggling with three heavy bags. Her burdens were not just physical; her mindset was also weighed down with negativity. She kept complaining about the bus that was supposed to pick her up. Oblivious to her, the vehicle was in plain sight, its entrance welcomingly open. It went around the airport twice, stopping to pick up passengers, but the angry young woman could not see it. This story illustrates what occurs when complaints, fears, and resentment consume our attention. When we adopt a particular mindset, it becomes the lens through which we experience life. We learn to limit, believe in scarcity, and be competitive. Yet we can also say to ourselves that we have a unique mission, inborn talents to be successful, and remarkable skills to cooperate. This way, we enact the visions we desire or the perspectives we wish to adopt. The following two-day test will reveal that your experiences mirror your pursuits. It will also verify that altering your focus can transform the events that unfold in your life. The method For the next 48 hours, you will look for things around you deliberately. For the first 24 hours, you can pick any building and consciously tell yourself that you will go around looking for bungalows. On day two, intend to find green cars, yellow shirts, or anything else. Consciously observe and jot down how many of these things you see. There are things around you that you won't be aware of until you start looking for them.

How you think, feel, and live life affects how energy flows through you, i.e., how you vibrate. So, if you feel excited, joyful, and grateful, the emotions send a high-frequency vibration to magnetize more things to be thankful for. The same goes for when you're scared or guilt-ridden. These negative emotions send low-frequency waves to attract ugly situations into your life. This trial will allow you to realize that your mental processes produce energetic impulses. You only need two hours for this experiment. Get an object that you can bend in a circular shape. Cut plastic straws into pieces and pass the object through before bending it. Afterward, put the object on your chest and ensure the straws are not moving. When they have stopped moving, look straight ahead and try to remember all the bad things that have happened in your past. Then, depending on the intensity of your emotions, the object will either stay straight ahead or point inward, tip to tip. The object will follow your body's electromagnetic band, which has contracted due to the negative frequency generated. Think about something beautiful that happened in the past or something you desire to happen, and let the wands expand outwards due to the positive energy flow. Look straight ahead, pick something to concentrate on, and notice how it moves with your thoughts.

If you know what you want, you can have it. The first step is to focus on that thing. Yet it's more complicated than it seems. Usually, we simultaneously hope for positive outcomes and fret over the possibility of failure. As a result, you may let the force bounce off walls with your attitude. Sometimes, it seems like our prayers are unanswered, whereas we are just praying for too many contradicting things. There is power in your thoughts. Don't waste your time on trivial matters; think of new ideas instead, and do not be worried about what's going on in other people's heads. When you're feeling insecure, focus on your strengths and get out of your head. Your thoughts are very powerful, and you can use them to attract things into your life. Think about something you want to draw into your life. Be very specific about it; don't choose something unrealistic. For instance, if you want a laptop, be particular about the type and the model you want. Observe the FP's reply to your wish.

At age 25, Jamie Lee, while lounging in her Los Angeles home with Debra Hill, stumbled upon a photo of three men in a magazine. She unexpectedly felt a strong intuition about one man in the picture, Christopher Guest, whom she had never met. She had an inexplicable certainty that they were destined to marry. By chance, Debra knew Guest's agent. So, the next day, Jamie took a bold step by contacting the agent, leaving her phone number and a message for Guest, suggesting he call her back if he felt compelled. However, Guest never called. Several months later, while at a restaurant, Jamie stumbled on Guest, who was only three tables away. They waved at each other, and he left. However, the next day, he called Jamie and asked her to go on a date with him. They fell in love, and got married eight months after Jamie received that initial guidance. Inner guidance is continuously available because the mind is designed to identify problems and formulate goals. Inner guidance can come in many forms. It is that voice of assurance you hear when you're worried about a situation or the imaginary council meeting you have with the role model in your head. If you let yourself listen to it, you'll end up solving the problem or answering the question that concerns you. This experiment will show you how to get immediate guidance on issues. Think about a question that you desperately need answers to within 48 hours. Select an issue that necessitates an affirmative or negative response, particularly one that leaves you uncertain and seeking direction. It could be whether you should go to school in your state or something as trivial as choosing to wear a red outfit to a party or not. Anticipate a clear indication or hint within two days.

Masaru Emoto, a Japanese author, explored how human expressions, thoughts, and feelings can influence physical entities. He and his colleague communicated with 10,000 water samples and exposed them to different types of music. When they looked at the ice crystals of the water under the microscope, they found that those from the water that the subjects spoke to with kind words like "I love you" were clear and beautifully formed, while crystals from the water they cursed formed dark, ugly holes. Emoto also collected samples from a dam at Fujiwara Lake with dark and amorphous blobs. After a monk's prayer session, these once distorted crystals transformed into pristine, bright hexagonal shapes with a crystal nestled within them. This experiment shows that you can affect the physical world with your words. Get a green and a red container, soil, and maize seeds. Put soil in each container and plant two maize seeds in them. Place the containers near the window and water the plants daily. Each time you water the maize, proclaim that the maize in the red container will grow faster than the maize in the green container. Then, note your findings systematically over the week. Did you know? According to research conducted by Robert Schrauf, an associate professor at Penn University, more words in the American vocabulary express negative rather than positive emotions.

Our self-perceptions, the dialogue we maintain about our health, and attitudes toward our nourishment are crucial determinants of our health. The body is intrinsically capable of restoring and maintaining its balance, a process that unfolds independently of our conscious efforts. On the contrary, obsessing over eaten calories might impede our journey to our desired physique. That's because rather than embracing the essential vitality and joy that meals offer, we often approach them with hate and fault for making us less slender. Moreover, dwelling on negative self-images and fixating on shedding pounds tends to backfire, attracting more dissatisfaction. This trial invites you to abandon the silent reproach you've harbored against the nourishment you consume. During this experiment, you will refrain from all sorts of negative talk about your body, sending anything that is going into your body with loving thoughts and a blessing. Instead of telling everyone how fat and ugly you look, tell yourself that you're wonderful and you have the perfect shape. Then, shift your focus to embedding your meals with love, joy, and tranquility. Note your weight as you commence this new regimen of positive articulation and reassess after three days.

One man considered the United States' strategies aggressive and decided to oppose them. Nightly, he was seen with candles in hand, expressing a silent protest. Curiously, an onlooker once inquired how he believed such a small act could influence the government's actions. The protester told the man that his major goal was not to change the government, but he didn't want them to change him. Everyone and everything around us is interrelated in such a way that your reactions toward them affect you positively or negatively. You can choose to be good by thinking good thoughts about others and situations you find yourself in. Whenever we condemn or think less of others, we are doing ill to ourselves. We inflict self- pain. When you meet someone, see it as a privilege and treat them how you want to be treated. You can change your relationship with others by simply sending them good thoughts. The method The good thing about this experiment is that you don't even have to leave your chair. Here are the steps: • Choose someone you know that you have issues with. • Decide on what response you would like to receive from this person. What you want to see should be something specific and clear. • Imagine them right in front of you. • Build a connection with the person in your mind. Involve all your senses and have faith in the intention of your communication. • Think good about the person. • Bless and wish them well.

During an interview, a tycoon whose flourishing enterprise was introducing a new item was questioned about his definition of financial success. He sighed deeply and admitted that the earnings were never sufficient for him. This attitude is widespread; many of us, including those who are well-off, operate under the assumption that there's a shortage of resources in the world. Scarcity and lack have become the default setting of many people. It turns out it has become our identity. Focusing on the negative keeps you away from reality. Instead of sticking to our old belief that nothing is enough, why not recognize that you can lead a rich and meaningful life? The purpose of the following experiment is to dismantle the gloomy belief that life is nothing but a tough journey. For the duration of this experiment, put your usual pessimistic thoughts aside and consider the hopeful chance that there's enough out there for everybody. For the next two days, you're going to keep track of good and beautiful things that go on around you. Get a journal that you will carry around for those days. Take note of every little detail, for example, a kiss, a show of love and acceptance, or someone buying a meal for another person. Then watch to see how many good things happen around us daily.

We live in a world saddled with many difficulties, making it seem it's okay to be negative. So many people have charted the course of their life with this mindset that it has led to them living a miserable life. The world may not look like we want it to, but we can respond to it. We can choose to be positive even in the face of the cruelest situations. This summary is about nine experiments that show how our minds shape our lives. The goal of the first experiment is to prove the existence of God. Despite different myths people have about the existence of God, Pam Grout urges the reader to do simple research on the matter. The goal of the second experiment is to show us that our thoughts and emotions are so powerful that they tend to shape our lives. The third experiment aims to prove that our thoughts and feelings create energy waves in our bodies. The fourth experiment seeks to reveal the power of focus. Focusing on what you want is the secret of making it a reality in your life. The fifth experiment talks about the power of guidance. It reveals that there is an inner voice in everyone that guides us toward the right path. The sixth experiment focuses on the power of words. Your life is shaped by what you say; hence choose positive words to say to yourself and about the situations around you. The seventh experiment is about not complaining about how you look but saying what you want to see in your body. The eighth experiment aimed at building a positive relationship between yourself and everything around you. The last experiment is about not living to amass wealth but to live a meaningful and satisfactory life.