Probability? Or Possibility? We Get to Choose.

Rev. Larry brings a joyful wisdom and practicality to his talks, and we’re so lucky to have him with us once a month. He’s truly a delightful human who models what’s possible with Science of Mind.

On Sunday, as we wrapped up our February theme of Embracing the Edge, he talked about possibility — about going right up to the edge of what feels possible and looking beyond it. Maybe even stepping over it. It won't feel comfortable, but that's how growth and change happen.  

Rev. Larry began with humor, contrasting probability and possibility, driving an important point home. (If you missed it, you'll have to watch it, since writing about it will not do it justice. Hint: It's worth it!)

Probability is how many of us think. 

• What are the odds? 

• What usually happens?

• What happened before? 

• What’s realistic? 

Some professions, like doctors and lawyers, depend on thinking this way. We're also wired for it; it's kept us "safe." But it can also keep us small.

When you need to make a choice, how do you decide? Some of us go in circles.

Rev. Larry reminded us of a core New Thought tenet, coined initially by Thomas Troward: Principle is not bound by precedent. Just because something happened one way in the past does not mean it will happen that way again. 

Throughout my life, I’ve had many occasions when I've consciously had to choose: I want a different result, therefore, I must expect a different result. This includes relationships of all kinds, work and health decisions, and a couple of big moves.

Sometimes, there was no clear reason to believe things would turn out differently. But if I wanted something different, I had to expect something different - and do something different. And focus on the what, not the how, keeping my thoughts focused forward.

An early Science of Mind phrase I repeat when I'm in a tough place, needing to make a new choice, or think differently: My future calls me in. For me, that means who I'm becoming and what I'm creating isn’t limited by past experience.

Bucket List - Probability or Possibility?

Rev. Larry talked about bucket lists as a doorway into possibility. A bucket list moves us from wishing to knowing there’s something more for us. He also reminded us of something he said last month: we don’t necessarily get what we want — we get what we expect. Wanting can stay theoretical or hopeful. Expectation is the creative energy that moves us forward. 

What's Space Got to Do With It?

Rabbit holes being rabbit holes, or perhaps it's a metaphysical worm hole, I veered outward and landed on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by British author Douglas Adams.

A small reminder as we step into possibility. Sometimes the improbable is the way through. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

In the book, Adams imagines a spaceship (Heart of Gold, IYKYK) powered by something called the Infinite Improbability Drive. It works by passing through every conceivable point in every conceivable universe, almost simultaneously. Instead of calculating the most probable route, it operates through the wildly improbable and arrives instantly - in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

It’s absurd. Which is just one of the reasons I love Douglas Adams. 

When I look at my own life, many of the outcomes were wildly unlikely before they happened. They didn't even exist in possibility at the time, because probability of what came before was behind the wheel.

If that's how we make choices, based on previous outcomes, we don’t leave much room for change, especially inspired change (remember, this or something better!).

The edge, Rev. Larry said, is uncomfortable. If it feels edgy, that’s because it is. But that discomfort is a clue that we’re stretching beyond precedent into real possibility.

Are You Settling for Good?

So yes, do what needs to be done. And, notice where you might be assuming the future will mirror the past.

Rev. Larry asked us to take a few minutes of silence and ask ourselves: Are you settling for good enough? Is “good enough” keeping you from great?

Probability has its place. It keeps planes in the air and surgeons steady. But it doesn’t have to run the show.

Sometimes what looks improbable is an opportunity to claim your highest and best good. 

With gratitude,

Laura