Paradise or Hell: The Choice is Yours

What is a Postulate?

Postulate: to assume, assert or decide something is true; a prediction. For example, if you are sure you will exercise today, you postulate that you will exercise today. If you expect someone will succeed, you are postulating their success.

What do you postulate for others?

Think of someone at your work. What do you hope or postulate for him or her? Do you hope he or she will succeed? Fail? Stay out of your way? Be one of your friends?

When people upset you, what do you postulate for them? For example, while driving down the road a car cuts in front of you and makes you slam on your brakes. What do you postulate? Do you hope the driver gets a speeding ticket and has a rotten day? That the driver reaches his or her destination safely and on time?

As you may know, your postulates for others has an effect on them. What you may not know is your postulates for others affects you.

“Sit down at a public place where many people are passing by and simply postulate into them, above them, around them, perfection — no matter what you see. Do this person after person as they walk by you or around you, doing it quietly and to yourself.”

“This is simply a demonstration of a fact that he who lives believing wrong of all his fellow men lives, himself, in hell.

“The only difference between paradise on Earth and hell on Earth is whether or not you believe your fellow man worthy of receiving your friendship and devotion.” — L. Ron Hubbard (“Code of Honor,” November 26, 1954)

Hell on Earth

“Okay! Fine! I’ll clean up the kitchen, but you have NO RIGHT to take my phone. I ACTUALLY HATE YOU!”

Grace knew her daughter Lily didn’t mean it, but it still felt like a punch to her stomach. She was tired of making threats or confiscating her phone to get Lily do her chores. She was tired of being the bad guy. She thought, “I need to find some solutions for Lily, and fast!.”

Lily had once been a sweet delightful girl. Yet when she entered her teens, Lily turned into bitter and resentful. She hated to do her chores, hated to spend time with her mom and hated school.

Her former friends wanted nothing to do with her because she was so hateful. She spent most of her time hidden in her dark bedroom. Lily’s unhappiness broke Grace’s heart.

While searching for solutions, Grace discovered the above quote by L. Ron Hubbard. She thought, “So, according to this quote, if you believe people deserve your friendship, you live in paradise. If you look for the wrong in people, your life becomes hell. This might help Lily!”

Before sharing it with her daughter, Grace gave it a try. She went to a busy park and postulated the people she saw were perfect. She sent them thoughts and hopes for their happiness and success.

In less than an hour, she began to enjoy the results. “Wow! This works! I think all these people are truly good people. I feel pretty good! Now, to give this to Lily”

Grace knew, of course, that trying to explain this discovery to Lily would do no good. She had to demonstrate it.

The next day, Grace told Lily, “Let’s get some ice cream, and then I want to show you something cool.”

At first, Lily rolled her eyes and said, “No. I’m busy.”

Grace persisted until Lily said, “Fine. If it’ll make you happy, but I want a Frappuccino at Starbucks.”

Grace said, “OK as long as you’ll try an experiment in the park first.”

Lily said, “Fine Mom. Whatever.”

Grace sat down next to Lily on the park bench and showed her the quote from L. Ron Hubbard in this article.

Lily said “C’mon mom, really?! This is stupid.”

Grace persisted until Lily said, “OK, right, fine, I guess I can try it.”

At first, it was difficult for Lily. “All these people are idiots.” “I can’t stand to look at that creepy old man.” “Those women look like bitches.”

Grace persisted until Lily stopped complaining and silently did the procedure.

Grace was startled when Lily actually giggled. Soon after, Lily said “OK. I guess everyone isn’t so bad. I like those kids over there.”

Grace couldn’t believe it. “This is enough for now. Let’s come back tomorrow and do this again, okay?”

Lily said, “Sure. I kind of liked it. Can we go to Starbucks now? Tim might be working.”

Over the next few days and weeks, Lily’s hate for the world turned back to kindness. Grace was on top of the world.

Paradise on Earth

Does life seem like paradise to you, like hell to you, or a little of both? It depends on your postulates.

Do the exercise and create a little paradise for yourself, right now.

“Sit down at a public place where many people are passing by and simply postulate into them, above them, around them, perfection — no matter what you see. Do this person after person as they walk by you or around you, doing it quietly and to yourself.” — L. Ron Hubbard

Decide they are wonderful and deserve your kindness. No matter who they are, make them happy, wealthy and wise. Expect they will succeed.

Try it with the people you know as well. Make a decision that your family members will all be happy and healthy. Postulate perfection into your friends and coworkers. Just decide their future will be wonderful.

How does that make you feel?