The Consciousness of Doris

We hear a lot about consciousness in the Science of Mind The dictionary says it is being aware of myself as a thinking, feeling being. So I wonder...do I have a prosperity consciousness, a consciousness of health? What is it exactly, so I would know when I have it?

A few years ago I took an acting class at a community college. One thing our teacher said was, "We need to think of our essence up there. We need to increase our volume, our energy, and to let the life force flow through us." Sounds like the beginning of a Religious Science treatment.

There is more work involved in acting than I realized...learn lines, block actions, identify the intention behind every movement, and write a road map or score, outlining the character's objectives, obstacles, inner images, and stream of consciousness. In order to really act, I must go beyond being an actor playing a part. I must become the character, at least while on stage.

With a partner, I presented a scene from the romantic comedy, SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR. George and Doris, both married with three children each, meet and have a one-night stand in 1951. I play Doris, and my partner plays George. Although feeling guilty, we connect and continue to meet each year...same time, same place, over a 24-year period.

In our scene, we are meeting in 1975 for the 24th time. George reveals that his wife, Helen, has passed away. He learned from a family friend that Helen knew of his relationship with me for over 10 years. George attempts to persuade me to marry him, but I prefer the status quo.

Feedback from the teacher was generally good; however, she felt that we were actors playing the parts of Doris and George. We hadn't yet become Doris and George. So we redid part of the scene, where I was arranging some flowers while George was deliberating how to make his proposal of marriage.

We were to think as the characters, rather than think about what we were doing I began to think as Doris. "I'm so happy to be here today. I've looked forward to seeing George all this year. I love the scent of these flowers They feel so good against my skin. I feel so good today. I love George."

I looked back at George, and caught his eye. He was smiling at me. In that instant, I felt like Doris. I became Doris. I had the consciousness of Doris. There was a huge difference in our performances. As we became Doris and George, we manifested believable characters onstage.

So how does this relate to Religious Science? "What we believe about a thing affects what it becomes to us, according to the law of consciousness," says Eric Butterworth. As I believed that I was Doris, experienced the happiness of Doris and the love of Doris for George, I felt alive and authentic...even though I was acting.

I also realized that putting into practice what I learn in Science of Mind doesn't flow without the consciousness of belief. Having that brief moment as the consciousness of Doris, I sense how to develop the consciousness of health, prosperity, creative expression, loving relationships, and more. I sense how to develop a consciousness of my connection to the Universal Life Force, and to allow that spiritual energy to flow through me, as me.

And so it is