Our landlord just rang the doorbell. Apparently there's kitty litter under two of our windows. And not just a little, it looks like entire bags. He thinks we've been dumping it out our window, because we have cats. But I know I haven't, and I can't imagine anyone in the house having done that. It's behind the fence. I can't figure out why anyone would go into the yard and dump kitty litter either. It's all very odd, but it's pissing off the landlord, so I'll probably volunteer to clean it up. But, I'm afraid by volunteering to clean it up, I'll be admitting guilt. It's all very odd, and I'm not quite sure what to do.

I took a look at the kitty litter. There are obvious signs that it was not thrown out any of our windows, such as the kitty litter being layered evenly several feet away from the window instead of mainly being piled up next to it. Secondly, there is no kitty litter on the downstairs window sills, which one would expect if it were thrown from a window. I explained these things to the landlord, but he remained convinced we did it. I offer to help clean it up (at the same time assuring him it wasn't us), but he said he'd clean it up himself. He asked if the cats could have done it, but both piles are entire bags of litter, even if a cat could open the window to throw it out, it could never get that much out. I'm not sure where it's coming from, but I don't like it being there. It makes us look really bad for no reason. And, it's very, very odd.

The fourth spiritual law in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra is the "Law of Least Effort". The principle of this law is "do less and accomplish more" and eventually "do nothing and accomplish everything". Reading the beginning of this chapter I highly questioned this idea, as it sounded awfully similar to the misguided Republican mantra to government agencies when budget cutting, "do more with less".

However as the chapter unfolds it focus on eliminating wasted energy or effort. The first suggestion to eliminate wasted energy is to accept the present situation as it is, not to wish it to be different. One can wish for the future to be different, but the present is as it should be, as it is the culmination of all events in the universe and your life. It is a waste of effort to focus on how things could be different now.

Deepak Chopra then suggests taking responsibility for the current situation. He explains that this does not mean blaming others or oneself for the current situation, but changing how one sees the current situation. See obstacles as opportunities, see antagonists as teachers. By changing one's view of the current situation and taking responsibility, one can be in the best position to manifest the most desired future.

He then suggests defenselessness. This means not defending one's point of view, but accepting that others will have alliterative views. There is no need to expend energy persuading or convincing others to share my point of view. He say this is a waste of my energy. I agree in some regards with this one; however, it depends on what we're talking about. If we are talking about religious beliefs and day to day decisions of others, I agree. However, if we are talking about important political issues such as same-sex marriage, I disagree. We live in a republic, meaning that changing people's views has a direct effect on my life, rights, and freedoms and the lives, rights, and freedoms of others.

Deepak Chopra also talks about motivation. When actions are motivated by love, they require less effort, because the universe is bound together by love. Doing things solely for personal gain requires more effort because these efforts are not in harmony with the universe. One of my core beliefs has been that the universe made of pure thought and that love flows through it and is an essential part of it, and thus this teaching resonates with me.

All in all, I began thinking that this law was highly dubious, but ended up agreeing and resonating with it's teachings. I'm finding this book fascinating, and it has already changed my life, and I've got 3 more spiritual laws to go. Wonderful reading.