Power Up Your Life

Imagine being able to live life more fully, more consciously, more masterfully. Imagine expressing your extraordinary nature in every situation you experience. Imagine being the best person you can be! This guide is designed to give you powerful tools for doing just that—tools that allow you to transform your life.

This book is all about a concept called the Twelve Powers, which are core abilities within each of us that can be called upon to help us handle every life situation from our highest, most elevated level of consciousness. Originally made popular by Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore in his book, The Twelve Powers of Man, first published in 1930, the Twelve Powers include:

FAITH

STRENGTH

LOVE

IMAGINATION

POWER

UNDERSTANDING

WISDOM

WILL

ORDER

RELEASE

ZEAL

LIFE

Each Power has a specific purpose, location in the body, and color associated with it. For the purposes of this guide, we will be looking at each Power individually, even though they work together as One. If you think about a medical student who is studying the human body, the student will have classes that focus individually on different areas such as the heart and circulatory system, the skeletal system, our cell structure, the brain, etc. But in the actual practice of medicine, all these areas are closely linked, and a physician must be able to recognize the impact each has on the other. In a similar way, each of our Twelve Powers has a focused role to play, while together they work in concert to support one another as we master the art of living.

This book is an expanded and updated adaptation of the 2010 book, PowerUP: Revisiting the Twelve Powers as Accelerated Abilities, by Paul Hasselbeck and Cher Holton. It more fully develops the information describing each Power, and complements it with the sciences of Positive Psychology (founded by Martin Seligman); neuroscience; quantum physics; sociology; positivity; and neurotheology. We believe including scientific research adds depth and credibility to the Twelve Powers, and creates an easy-to-understand guide for the practical application and use of these Twelve Powers to experience abundance, health, inner peace, and joy.

When it comes to human beings, scientists tell us there are two causal forces that work together to help us adapt to the natural world. The implications of neuroplasticity combined with quantum physics cast new light on the question of humankind’s place, and role, in nature. At its core, the new physics combined with neuroscience suggests that the natural world evolves through an interplay between two causal processes. The first includes the physical processes we are all familiar with: electricity streaming, gravity pulling. The second includes the contents of our consciousness, including volition. The importance of this second process cannot be overstated, for it allows human thoughts to make a difference in the evolution of physical events ( Schwartz, J.M. and S. Begley, The Mind and the Brain, New York: Harper Perennial, 2002, pg.20). The activities in this guide are designed to help you actively call on your Twelve Powers in order to use them at your highest, most elevated level of consciousness.

A Quick Peek at the Sciences We Include

Throughout this book, we will be citing various quotes, research findings, and relevant supporting data drawn from a variety of scientific fields. We felt it might be helpful to give you a quick peek at the three major sciences we’ve included, to help you feel comfortable with them.

Positive Psychology is a recent branch of psychology whose purpose was summed up by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: We believe that a psychology of positive human functioning will arise, which achieves a scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving individuals, families, and communities. Positive psychologists seek to find and nurture genius and talent, and to make normal life more fulfilling, and not simply to treat mental illness (Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (2000). Positive Psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist 55 (1): 5–141; William Compton, (2005). An Introduction to Positive Psychology. Wadsworth Publishing, pp. 1–22).

Our study of the current research in Positive Psychology supports our belief that we can, indeed, create our reality by applying the spiritual principles we know. Throughout this guide, we quote various research findings and thoughts expressed by scientists in this field, to help clarify the incredible impact the Twelve Powers can have on our lives.

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience was seen as a branch of biology; however, it is an interdisciplinary science which collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, biology, engineering, linguistics, mathematics, medicine, computer science, philosophy, physics, and psychology. There is an incredible amount of research that directly applies to the brain, nervous system, and behavior that directly impact the effects of using our Twelve Powers.

Neurotheology is exactly what its name implies: a study of the symbiotic relationship of science and religion. According to Andrew Newberg, in his book Principles of Neurotheology, anyone engaging in neurotheology must be open to the perspectives of both science and religion. He continues by saying, ...a crucial element of neurotheology, which really should be true for all academic fields, is a passion for inquiry. Through neurotheological research, Dr. Newberg actually scanned the brains of praying nuns, chanting Sikhs, and meditating Buddhists, studying the relationship between the brain and religions experience. By comparing this with the same brains in a state of rest, he is able to demonstrate the physiological impact of our spiritual practices.

Positive psychology began as a new area of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman, considered the father of the modern positive psychology movement, chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association, though the term originates with Maslow, in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality, and there have been indications that psychologists since the 1950s have been increasingly focused on promoting mental health rather than merely treating illness (Carey Goldberg, (March 10, 2006, Harvard's crowded course to happiness; Secker J (1998). Current conceptualizations of mental health and mental health promotion. 13. Health Education Research. p. 58.; Dianne Hales (2010). An Invitation to Health, Brief: Psychological Well- Being (2010–2011 ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning. p. 26).

How the Twelve Powers Operate

It is our assertion that a person is always using their Twelve Powers, either consciously or subconsciously. Our intention with this guide is to encourage you to begin making conscious choices about how and when you use your Twelve Powers, rather than simply allowing them to function on a default setting. Our aim is to simplify and clarify each of the Powers, creating easily understood and practical ways to apply them in our everyday lives.

It is important to realize that our Twelve Powers do not care how they are used. They are simply spiritual abilities that come from what neuroscientists refer to as the Deeper Self. Psychologists call this Self the Authentic Self or Core Self. We call it the Extraordinary You. The Powers are available regardless of who the person is or what the intent might be. According to the latest research in the neurosciences, Dr. Andrew Newberg asserts, Beneath the mind’s perception of thoughts, memories, emotions, and beneath the subjective awareness we think of as the self, there is a Deeper Self, a state of pure awareness that sees beyond the limits of subject and object, and rests in a universe where all things are one (Newberg, Andrew, in Born to Believe, Free Press, New York, 2006).

A good analogy from our physical world is the idea of a table. The idea of a table does not care how it is used. It does not care how much money a person makes, what job the person has, or even what belief system the person practices. It simply is. Each person who uses the idea of a table decides what kind of a table is built in terms of shape, size, color, function, etc.

From a perspective of natural laws, the Law of Gravity is another example. The Law of Gravity works, whether someone is performing an incredible acrobatic feat, dunking a basketball, slipping on a patch of ice, or jumping off a building. There is no judgment on the part of Gravity; it simply does what it does. But the more we understand it, the better we can use it in our favor.

In a similar way, we can choose to use our Spiritual Powers to experience the good, the bad, or the ugly. The choice is always ours. It is much like humor. We could think of humor as the capability to be funny. Each of us determines how we use humor according to our own level of consciousness. Humor does not come with one preset and predetermined way in which it must be used. It simply is. The use of humor is up to the person making the joke and then it is interpreted by the listener. It can be used to uplift, or it can be used to put people down and demean them. We can use it in the highest, most uplifting ways, or we can choose to use it in mean-spirited and hurtful ways. The choice is always ours!

As an aside to the subject of humor, neurotheology admits the crucial importance of humor in understanding the human mind and its ability to deal with an ever changing and confusing world. In fact, it may be humankind’s greatest legacy to be able to look upon an incredibly short lifespan, often filled with anxiety, fears, loss, suffering, and death and still find some way of laughing at ourselves and at the very world which causes us so much angst ( Newberg, Andrew, Principles of Neurotheology, Burlington, Vermont: Ashgate Publishing, pg. 21).

As you grow in your understanding of each of your Powers, you will discover the amazing impact they can have on your life. You get to choose how to use them. for example, one of our Powers is IMAGINATION, which can be used to fuel our fear or feed our dreams. Think about how empowering it is to be able to choose which direction you channel your IMAGINATION.

How to Read This Guide

Each chapter of this guide is structured to help you, the reader, understand a particular Power from several points of view. To help with clarity in reading this material, we will always refer to the Power’s name in capital letters, so it is clear when we are talking about the Power versus using the same word in a different context.

In addition to describing each Power and sharing examples of how it can be used, we will also explore the impact of a Power when it is either underdeveloped or egocentric. A person exhibiting what we call an underdeveloped Power is someone who allows the Power to operate by default. This person fails to call on the Power to effectively handle a situation, and as a result, often experiences consequences that are less than desirable. For example, a person with underdeveloped ORDER might have a very messy home or office. While feeling frustrated about the disorder, he/she does not do anything to correct the situation, and may even feel overwhelmed and helpless with it.

On the other hand, when a Power becomes egocentric in expression, it manifests in an overpowering manner and does not come from the highest, most elevated level of consciousness. When that happens, the resulting consequences are less than desirable. For example, a person with egocentric ORDER might be obsessive compulsive about orderliness in their home or office, and become ridiculously critical if one paper is moved out of place.

Obviously, the goal is to learn how to use each Power from the most elevated level of consciousness, for the highest and best outcomes in your life.

Here’s what’s really interesting. Even when we use the Powers consciously, they can be used from several levels, which we will explore in detail for each Power. As you read through the four levels we will be addressing, notice that within each level you always have the option of choosing to use the Power in a positive, more effective way, or in a debilitating, less effective way. As we’ve said a few times already (and you’ll hear it often throughout this guide), the choice is always yours!

Here are the four levels we will explore for each Power, as we move through this guide:

We can use the Powers from an unconscious level, based on a cause in subconscious mind which consists of beliefs that are not in our moment-to-moment awareness. This includes choices we make without thinking, when we are operating from an emotional default position. If someone asked us why we did something, we probably could not even explain our reasoning. Our embedded theology (the theology of our childhood and other mainstream theological systems we have studied) can create many subconscious beliefs, as can traditions and experiences from our families of origin.

    From a neurological perspective, images of our Deeper Self are unavoidable, but from many theological perspectives, there is no true image of that Deeper Self. Thus, if you cling to your childhood perceptions, you will limit your perception of the nature of your Deeper Self. This is the drawback to any belief system that insists upon a literal image of the Deeper Self. If you limit your vision, you will probably feel threatened by those who have more expanded visions of their Deeper Self (Andrew Newberg in Born to Believe, Free Press, New York, 2006, pg.104).

We can use the Powers consciously from our senses, based on something in physicality we are gleaning through our sight, sound, scent, touch, and/or taste. We may take a free dance class, and because of that experience, decide to pursue dance as an avocation (or decide to never don dance shoes again)! The taste of a certain food may cause us to develop an addiction to it; hearing a certain news broadcast may stimulate us to text in a donation for a worthy cause.

We can choose to use the Powers consciously from our human personality, which psychologists call our ordinary self. This self is dependent on thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and/or beliefs held in ordinary consciousness. An example, from a less empowering consciousness, would be a belief in a fear we allow to imprison us.

From the highest level of consciousness we can muster, we can choose to use these Powers consciously from our True Identity, or Authentic Self, based upon Divine Ideas, Laws, and Principles. We employ the Powers in order to more fully express our innate Divine Nature, to be the best person, the most extraordinary us we can be.

Putting It Into Practice

The final section of each chapter is devoted to practical ways to apply the Powers in everyday life. As you progress through this intentional study of the Twelve Powers, we encourage you to integrate the powers into your life in a deliberate, conscious way. To do this, we invite you to choose one specific area in your current experience that you want to create, enhance, or change. It could be a habit, a skill, a financial issue, a goal to achieve, etc. The key is you will be focusing on this specific item throughout this intentional process, tracking your improvement as you learn how to appropriately apply each new Power. So be sure to choose something really important to you and that you have primary control over! Here are a few specific examples, to give you an idea of what you might select:

Achieve an ideal body weight/image;

Create a flow of prosperity (or even more specifically, pay your bills and have enough money for fun things);

Eliminate a habit such as smoking, nail biting, or dependence on pain medication;

Learn a new skill, such as dancing or playing the piano;

Travel more;

Obtain the right job;

Go for the Gold! Be the best YOU you can be!

You get the idea! The list of possibilities is endless. So invest some time right now, before you dive into the contents of this book, and decide what you would like to work on during your Power Up experience. Remember—everything begins and ends with mind or consciousness. Do you want to stop something in your life? Use your mind/consciousness. Do you want to start something in your life? Use your mind/consciousness. Once you have decided, capture it in the box on the next page:

It is the application of the Powers in your everyday life that deepens your understanding of them. The more you consciously use them, the more practical they become! As you progress through this guide, we know that you will transform your life. It is our hope that you will continue to revisit this book, choosing different aspects of your life to focus on. You can also revisit the material as you grow in your spiritual awareness, because you will discover different ‘aha’s’ even though you are reading the same material.

If you are ready to experience change at the deepest core of your being, you are in the right place with the right book in your hands! Let’s begin our journey in exploring the Twelve Powers to master the art of living, as we walk the spiritual path on practical feet!

FAITH

Overview

Location: At the pineal gland, center of the brain. The pineal gland is sometimes called the master gland. FAITH is located here because FAITH is our ability to believe, and our beliefs determine how we think, feel, and act in any given situation.

Color: Royal Blue

FAITH is the Power to spiritually know; trust absolutely; believe with confidence and conviction.

From ordinary consciousness: The ability to spiritually know, trust absolutely, believe with confidence and conviction based on our senses, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. We use FAITH to believe in the law of the land or to believe our fears are real. (When we were kids, we might have believed in a boogeyman under the bed!)

Underdeveloped FAITH results in distrust, doubt, misgiving, skepticism, suspicion, and simply an overall inability to believe anything. It may manifest in a person with an overall inability to believe anything. S/he is always questioning everything anyone else says or does, and often lives in fear, regardless of how much data to the contrary is presented.

    The human brain has the propensity to reject any belief that is not in accord with one’s own view. However each person also has the biological power to interrupt detrimental, derogatory beliefs and generate new ideas. These ideas can alter the neural circuitry that governs