Archive for October, 2006
Monday, October 30th, 2006
Have you ever asked the universe for something and gotten a result that wasn’t what you intended? When wording our intentions and speaking our desires, it pays to be very specific!
Consider these examples:
Shannon wants to be debt-free, so she states an intention: “I want to pay off all my debt.” Suddenly she starts receiving demands for payment in full on loans she’s been paying in installments, or she receives notices about old debts she’s forgotten about.
Kim wants to meet the man of her dreams, so she states an intention: “I want to meet a man who is loyal, dedicated, loving, and handsome.” She meets him all right, but then finds out he’s already married to someone else. Or she meets a single man with those qualities, but he’s “loyal and dedicated” to his job and has little time for a social life.
Wanda wants to lose weight, so she states an intention: “I want to lose weight fast!” Within a few days, she comes down with a stomach flu that causes her to lose 10 pounds in a week.
Steve wants a new car, so he states that intention. Next thing you know, his current car breaks down and the repair shop says it can’t be fixed, or if it can, the cost would be equal to that of a new car. He has no choice but to buy a new car!
These types of situations have happened to me more times than I care to count, and I see them happening to others frequently too. However, if we learn to define our desires and state our intentions in very specific terms, our chances of receiving exactly what we want increases dramatically.
Be clear about what you don’t want: First, it helps to know fully what you DON’T want. That sounds simple enough, but often we don’t take the time to get clear about it, so we end up attracting stuff by default. One good way to know what you don’t want is to take a look at the circumstances of your life right now. Which situations cause you stress, grief, pain, or frustration? Make a list of the things you don’t want, so you can get clear about what you DO want.
What DO you want, anyway? Once we understand what we don’t want, we need to give some in-depth thought to what we do want. Most often, our “do wants” are the exact opposite of our “don’t wants.” If you don’t want financial lack, you do want financial abundance. If you don’t want tension in your relationships, you do want harmonious interactions with others. Everything that is on your “don’t want” list, write the opposite outcome in a list of “do wants.”
Defining the end result: More importantly than making a list of “wants” is understanding the true desire behind these things. We may say we want “a lot of money,” but why? Money by itself does nothing for us. If we look a little deeper, we find that we want a lot of money so we can enjoy financial freedom, travel, and luxury in our lives. Rather than focusing only on the acquisition of money, we should instead focus on inviting the DESIRED OUTCOMES into our lives. Yes, and an abundance of money too. We don’t have to remove money as a desire, but seeing it as the end-all, be-all of our desires is incredibly limiting.
Be specific: Here’s where you get to exercise your creativity! In order to be specific in wording our intentions, we first need to know what we don’t want, and what we do want, and the desired outcome we are trying to create. The first three steps listed above took us through that, but how do we word our intentions so they will attract what we really want?
Consider the difference between these two intentions:
1) I want a lot of money so I don’t have to work at a job I hate.
2) I want to do work that fills me with passion and joy and attracts massive amounts of money into my life, giving me the freedom to work when I want to, and not have to when I don’t want to.
See the difference? It’s all in the details. With every intention, we need to specify a “how” and a “why.” Occasionally we can add in a “when,” but remember that the universe has its own perfect timing that may or may not align with our ideas of when things should happen.
Acknowledge the blessings in disguise: Sometimes, no matter how specific we are with our words, our desires will manifest in a way we didn’t particularly want or expect. There are probably varied reasons for this, but the reasons don’t even matter. The important thing is to see these experiences as opportunities. Rather than sinking into frustration and despair when our intentions aren’t being fulfilled the way we expected, we can honor the process for what it is and affirm that it will all work out in the best way possible.
Usually, that’s exactly what will happen. Happy intending! 
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Intentions | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006
If you could change anything in your life right now, what would it be? And why haven’t you done it yet? If you’re like most of us, the answer lies in your existing beliefs.
We often forget the powerful role our beliefs play in creating what we want. We can visualize, affirm, set goals, and work hard till the cows come home — but if we don’t believe something is possible, we will resist the formation of it in our lives.
The good news is, once you understand how your beliefs are holding you back, you have full control over changing those limiting beliefs - and your life will change in awesome and spectacular ways!
Let’s take a look at what most of us do when we decide we want something. We first express a desire or set a goal: I want to lose weight. I want to make more money. I want to buy a new car. Then, we immediately start coming up with reasons why it’s not possible: I don’t have time to exercise. My company isn’t giving pay raises this year. I can’t afford a new car.
What if, by changing those limiting beliefs, we could make the impossible become possible?
It’s important to understand that to us, our beliefs are FACT. We have convinced ourselves that those facts are “truth.” However, think a moment about all the other “facts” that ended up not being true. We used to believe the earth was flat. We used to believe the sun revolved around the earth. We used to believe that space travel was impossible. We used to believe that a cancer diagnosis was an automatic death sentence. Ditto with AIDS. None of these things are “true” now, are they?
Think about some of the truths you have formed about your own life. Are they really true?
I’m not worthy of a loving relationship.
I’ll never have a lot of money.
Rich people are rude.
Money is evil.
I’m not talented, I don’t have any marketable skills.
Everything always goes wrong for me.
I have the worst luck of anyone I know.
I can’t do that.
I don’t have what it takes to be successful.
If you change these “facts” in your own mind, what might happen? You might attract a loving relationship. You might have a lot more money. You might recognize your own potential, start experiencing good fortune on a regular basis, and reach the level of success you dream about. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
But how? How do we change these truths in our own minds? This is the fun part. We have to convince ourselves that what we want is POSSIBLE.
Recently I’ve been playing a little game with myself called, “Why It’s Possible.” I invite you to play along in your own life, because it is incredibly empowering and it will blast away those limiting beliefs and begin attracting what you desire.
As I described above, most of us will state a desire and then immediately begin telling ourselves why it’s not possible. With my game, “Why It’s Possible,” we simply add on some new thoughts that help us see why our desire IS possible. Here’s how it works.
We state a desire: I want to lose weight. Limiting beliefs come up: Diets don’t work for me, I don’t have time to exercise.
We then deliberately begin formulating ideas about “Why It’s Possible”: I don’t have to diet to lose weight, I can just moderate how much I eat. I can fit more activity into my routine by parking my car farther away or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. There are plenty of slender, healthy people in this world who don’t diet or exercise much! If they can do it, I can do it too.
Let’s try it with another desire: I want more money. Limiting beliefs: My company isn’t giving pay raises this year. I don’t have the energy to get a second job. I’ve got too many bills. Why It’s Possible: Money can come to me in so many ways, it doesn’t have to be through my job. Money can come to me through lottery winnings, inheritance, unexpected bonuses, or I can even start a fun part-time business!
Here’s the key: YOUR “WHY IT’S POSSIBLE” IDEAS MUST BE BELIEVABLE. If you don’t believe in their validity, your limiting beliefs will NOT be transformed. That’s so important to understand! With some beliefs, it might take time to come up with true, legitimate possibilities that you can honestly believe in.
Here’s another important key: Reinforcement will be necessary. For smaller beliefs, you might be able to change them quickly and almost effortlessly. But for the big ones, you might need to keep playing the “Why It’s Possible” game over and over.
As you keep reinforcing your new beliefs and you begin to believe that they really are possible, more and more doors will begin opening for you. That’s what’s been happening in my own life since I began playing this little game. Not only am I getting more of what I ask for, I’m getting things I didn’t ask for. Everything is beginning to flow so much more smoothly and effortlessly. It will for you too, if you’re willing to believe.
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Beliefs & Expectations | No Comments »
Monday, October 16th, 2006
As we learn more about using the Law of Attraction consciously in our lives, we become masters at visualizing, affirming, and attracting what we desire. We learn how to infuse our desires with emotion and power, we learn how to raise our vibrations through joyful thoughts and align ourselves more fully with the circumstances we want to bring about.
However, most of us forget one crucial step in the process: allowing. Allowing is a multi-faceted phase in the creation process, and it can be confusing for those of us who haven’t had much exposure to the concepts.
In generations past, hard work was a way of life. In some cases, it was the ONLY way of life. Like many of you, I come from a long line of hard workers: Maine lobstermen and fishermen, lighthouse keepers, factory workers, seamstresses, midwives, housekeepers, and public servants. My ancestors were proud of their ability to roll up their sleeves and put in a hard day’s work to keep food on the table and clothing on their children’s backs. Hard work was simply a fact of life, not something to be resented, just something that must be done, like breathing or sleeping when the sun went down.
Through the examples of my forebears, I was taught that nothing comes freely in life. If I want something, it’s up to me to put my nose to the grindstone and work for it. This isn’t a bad thing, and I don’t want to diminish the accomplishments of those who paved the way for us.
However, the more deeply we delve into Law of Attraction principles, the more we realize that there is another way. Some would call it a better way, but let us see it simply as an alternate path to a similar destination. What is this alternate path? ALLOWING.
As we just covered, action is needed at the beginning stages of conscious creation. We know we need to visualize our desires, affirm our belief in a new reality, raise our vibrations (thoughts) and come into alignment with the end result so it can manifest in our lives. What most of us do then is take further action to encourage our new circumstances to form physically. We might work harder to make more money, or we might join a dating service to meet the partner of our dreams. There is nothing wrong with these actions, except the belief that we need to “do” anything to make our desires manifest.
That’s where allowing comes in. What if, after we’ve visualized, affirmed, and expressed our desires to the universe, we simply let go? What happens then? Most of us are under the impression that nothing would happen. Ah, but we can ALLOW the universe to manifest exactly what we desire. That’s the beauty of the Law of Attraction. We don’t HAVE to make things happen, we can simply allow the universe to deliver our desires fully formed and neatly wrapped in a beautiful package with a bow on top.
So how do we allow? There are three key parts to allowing:
1) Let go of the “how.” This seems to contradict the creation process, because isn’t the whole point to control the outcome? It may seem so at the beginning, but as most of us go along, we eventually realize that the more we try to control the outcome, the less circumstances seem to work in our favor. By consciously letting go of HOW the universe will manifest our wishes, we affirm that our desired outcome is already a done deal. There’s no need to beg, manipulate, or control the situation because it already exists in perfect form. We simply need to let go and trust that the universe will deliver it to us in the most beautiful and beneficial way possible.
2) Let go of the “when.” This is one of the most difficult things to do because we want what we want right NOW. We don’t want to wait for divine timing or anything else. Unfortunately, our very impatience can delay the process. Why? Because by wanting it right now, we place emphasis on the “wanting.” Remember, we create what we focus on the most! If we focus on wanting, we create more want. By affirming that our desires will manifest at exactly the right time, we automatically focus more on trust and faith. We believe that our deepest heart’s desires are on their way to us, and guess what happens? They come more quickly.
3) Appreciate. It can be hard to appreciate what we have when we’re not happy with our lives, but once again, it’s all about what we focus on and what we attract. The more appreciative we can be about our existing circumstances, the more we will attract things to appreciate. If you have to, start with something small and obvious. Each morning when you awake, say something like, “I appreciate the opportunity to live another day. I appreciate the bed I slept in all night. I’m grateful that I can take a hot shower and put on clean clothes today.” As you go about your day, take a moment to appreciate everything you can, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. Over time, this puts you in a gratitude mindset and will begin to attract more and more things to appreciate - and more often than not, those things continue to get bigger and bigger the more you keep up with this practice.
So, does this mean that we never have to work hard again? We can just sit back and “allow” the universe to give us everything we want? Yes, and no. There is one more important point that ties in to the concept of allowing, and that is taking inspired action. Occasionally, after we have expressed our desires to the universe and we’ve begun “allowing” them into our lives, the universe will provide a way for US to bring about what we want, rather than simply plopping it into our laps fully formed.
In this case, we will usually feel a nudge in a certain direction. We might be inspired to start a business, buy a lottery ticket, attend a lecture, read a particular book, or any number of other actions. If we act immediately on these nudges, circumstances usually shift and opportunities appear. These opportunities usually create an opening that can help us to manifest our desires simply and easily, and often quickly.
However, remember that inspired action shouldn’t be painful or difficult. It should feel wonderful and inspiring. You will feel excited about it, and eager to do it. That’s how you can tell whether you are being inspired to take a particular action, rather than feeling like you “have to” do it in order to get what you want.
Simply let go, relax, and allow the creation process to unfold exactly as it will. If you feel inspired to act, act. If not, just trust that the universe has your highest good in mind. Believe that, and let it guide your every step!
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Beliefs & Expectations, Law of Attraction | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 10th, 2006
Leon posted a great question in the comments on my last post, The Ease of Being in Flow, and I want to expand on something he brought up:
“cool. I also enjoy the flow. but something bothers me about not striving, struggling, fighting. they say to always go with the stream and to accept. But as a person with foresight and intuition I know that sometimes the correct path lies upstream, so to speak. For instance, I wasn’t obligated to work during high school, but I did. And it sucked. I hated it, and all the grease and harsh cleaning chemicals damaged my health. But looking back I’m glad I did it. It’s added permanent flavor to my life. It’s given me some pretty unusual perspectives that I now value a great deal. anyway, I guess it’s a matter of integrity. if I simply say “yes” to everything then where are my morals and ideals? would you clarify that bit for me? I mean, how do you stay in flow and still reach your goals? or is the flow the goal for you?thanks for writing. I like your style and confidence :)”
I’m so glad you asked that Leon, because I really should have explained what I meant by resisting and fighting! 
Certainly if something goes against our values, then we should do what our heart tells us to do. Like if we see a crime being committed, or someone is taking advantage of our trust, etc. I’m definitely NOT saying that we should just accept it and be happy about it!
When I wrote about fighting and resisting, I was referring more to the ways we make things harder on ourselves. Like for example, letting outside influences upset our inner peace. Or letting a grumpy boss erode our inner joy. Getting frustrated by not having enough money. Making unreasonable demands upon ourselves. And so on. The more we fight against situations like that, the more of them we attract! What we resist, persists!
By “being in flow” I was suggesting rising above annoyances like these and choosing to keep our emotions in a state of alignment. Focus on something better, something that makes us feel happy.
Now, certain situations are more extreme and we can’t help but be affected by them. The death of a loved one, for example. Ignoring our emotions and pretending to be happy won’t benefit us in that type of situation. Honoring our feelings and allowing ourselves to grieve is the way of least resistance.
I loved what Leon said about intuitively knowing that the correct path lies upstream sometimes! I know exactly what he means, and I’m not saying we should ignore that and take the easy way every time. Hard work can be good for us, and incredibly rewarding.
Being in flow doesn’t mean never working hard or striving for better circumstances - but our mindset needs to be in the right place. Are we in a place of resistance, or acceptance? Are we creating out of frustration and impatience, or from joy? Are we enjoying the process of deliberate creation in our lives, or are we just fed up with our current circumstances? (Actually, come to think of it, being fed up isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be very motivating!
In my own life just lately, I’ve been noticing that the more I focus on simply being in alignment (i.e. feeling good, happy, joyful, grateful, optimistic, etc.), the more easily things seem to flow to me. I still work hard, but at the same time, I know I don’t HAVE to work hard for abundance to come into my life. I don’t have to CREATE, I can simply ALLOW. (and allowing creates, ironically. LOL)
Does that make sense? Hope I’ve answered your questions Leon, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain further!
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Energy, Intentions, Law of Attraction, Positive Thinking | No Comments »
Monday, October 9th, 2006
Have you ever experienced moments when everything seemed to just flow? Moments when you didn’t have to struggle or fight or force things to happen? It’s as if there were a giant hand holding a magic wand a few paces ahead of you at every step, magically shifting circumstances so that everything goes your way.
As a writer, I’m keenly aware of “the flow.” It usually means the difference between my words spilling smoothly and effortlessly onto the page, or each word being wrung stiltedly and painfully from my resistant mind.
The flow seems to happen spontaneously most of the time. We might be working, running errands, doing chores around the house, or even just kicking back and watching television. Whatever we’re doing, we realize that we feel good. Calm, relaxed, alert, happy - we are in a state of non-resistance. We’re not struggling with errant emotions or frustrated desires. We simply feel in tune with the rhythm of life.
Not only do we feel better, but our experiences seem to be easier, smoother, more enjoyable. People we encounter seem kinder, we end up getting the good parking spaces at shopping malls, money comes to us more easily, our relationships seem more harmonious, and so on.
Though we’ve probably all experienced this buoyant state of being at one time or another, most of us don’t experience it enough. On a regular basis, we deal with setbacks, irritations, frustrations, disruptions, interruptions, and moments of pure exasperation. Worse, once we are “out of flow,” it seems incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to get back into the flow.
Well, I’m here to tell you that not only is it possible, it’s quite simple once you understand the steps that will bring you back to a harmonious state. Lately I’ve been exploring these steps in more detail, and I’d like to share some tips to help you get (and stay) in the flow in your own life.
Understand the source - before we move on to the tips, it’s important to understand that this “flow” comes from WITHIN YOU. It’s not some distant essence that you have to locate and draw from. There are no magic words to recite, and you don’t have to rely on anyone else to make your life more harmonious. On the flip side, just like you are responsible for the times when you’re in flow, you also need to take responsibility for the times when you’re out of flow. Most of us tend to blame our outer circumstances for our lack of balance and peace. While they can certainly encourage us to feel a certain way (frustrated, angry, impatient, etc.), they cannot control our emotions unless we choose to let them. And the source of “flow” — IS our emotions! That’s a crucial point to understand. Feeling in flow, or feeling out of flow, is an indication of whether our emotions are in alignment, or not.
Let go - once you understand that you are the creator of the flow in your life, the first step (and probably the most difficult) is to simply LET GO. Let go of your resistance to certain circumstances, your attachment to specific outcomes in your daily experiences, and your desire to control everything that happens in your life. This is challenging to say the least, especially if you’re in the midst of unpleasant circumstances. Still, just for the moment, stop fighting, stop struggling, stop resisting, and just focus on accepting.
Open up - whenever you can, imagine expanding your mind and opening your awareness to your surroundings. Tune in to what you feel and allow yourself to become immersed in the sensations. Don’t judge them or try to change them, just experience them. Allow them. Be present in whatever situation you find yourself in. Rather than focusing on the way you want things to be, stay with the way things are right now. Be okay with whatever you’re experiencing, instead of trying to swim against the current.
Be joyful - find something positive about your current circumstances and focus on it. Tune in to the better aspects of where you are, and be grateful for them. You can use a gratitude journal to record these things in written form, or just concentrate on them mentally and take a few minutes to appreciate them.
Choose to flow - okay, here’s where it gets fun! Rather than focusing on the ways you’re NOT in the flow at any moment - choose to GET into the flow. Say aloud, “I am totally in the FLOW right now.” Or when you begin to experience challenges, say to yourself, “Okay, I’m going with the flow, I’m not going to resist, I will simply go with the flow.” And then do just that. Don’t let yourself get frustrated or stressed, simply repeat the letting go step above, and consciously CHOOSE to go with the flow. Imagine that you are a leaf or a twig being carried along on a swiftly moving stream. Relax your muscles, breathe deeply, and simply allow yourself to be carried along. Even better, choose to enjoy the ride.
Like any new technique, this can take time and practice before you experience the full benefits. But the good news is that the more you focus on it and the more you work on staying in the flow, the easier it will get! Before long, it will seem like an automatic process and every day will seem to hold a spontaneous element of flow, no matter where you go and what you do.
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Energy, Intentions, Law of Attraction, Positive Thinking | No Comments »
Monday, October 2nd, 2006
I find myself thinking about blessings a lot lately; more specifically, the concept of feeling blessed.
In a recent article, I wrote about the bittersweet periods in life when we find ourselves struggling through difficulties at the same time we’re experiencing moments of joy, and the importance of focusing more on the happiness and gratitude we feel rather than pain and fear.
After a couple of weeks consistently focusing more on blessings and gratitude, I’m beginning to see that amazing things happen when we do this. First and foremost, our difficulties don’t seem so overwhelming anymore. They’re still there of course, but choosing not to dwell on them sure does dim their power.
Secondly, focusing more on our blessings strengthens and energizes us. Rather than feeling like a victim, we feel empowered and inspired. Even better, we feel motivated to reach out and share our joyful feelings with others. Doing this in even subtle ways can still make a powerful difference in the world.
Have you ever blessed someone silently? For as long as I can remember, I’ve prayed for people I don’t know. I’m not sure where I picked up the habit, but I routinely send out blessings and positive thoughts for the people I encounter each day. I bless the jogger making his way through heavy traffic, and ask the universe to protect and guide him in all he does. I bless the harried mother in the supermarket and ask for her to be infused with patience and endurance so she can raise healthy, happy children – and keep her sanity in the process! I bless the children playing near the street and ask angels to protect them from harm.
Because I’m such a big animal lover, I also make a habit of routinely blessing our four-footed friends. Yesterday, I blessed a squirrel that was busily gathering fallen acorns from the trees in my backyard. I doubt he noticed, but I felt inspired to send out some positive thoughts on his behalf. (Or was it a she? I forgot to ask.) Anyway, I blessed him and wished him an abundance of nuts and a warm nest to sustain him and his family through the coming winter.
It might sound funny, blessing a squirrel. However, if you stop to think about it on a deeper level, it’s not so strange. Because we’re all interconnected on a spiritual level, why not bless the squirrels, the trees, the birds, and every other living thing?
It feels good to send out positive thoughts to others. Remember, the universe is a great big mirror. Everything we send out, we get back in some form. So blessing others makes sense not just because it makes us feel good, but because we receive the same quality of energy we send out. Finally, keeping ourselves in that place of joy and gratitude where blessings come from keeps us focused on positive thoughts, rather than negative. Positive thoughts keep our vibrations high, which results in greater feelings of compassion, love, joy, and happiness.
It is also just as important to bless ourselves as it is to bless others! How do we do this? By speaking kindly to ourselves, treating ourselves with the respect and love we show others, and by creating lives that are meaningful and fulfilling.
Want to take this a step further? Several times throughout your day, as often as you can, repeat these words: “I am so blessed. Wow, I am so incredibly blessed! I love my life, and I’m so grateful for everything I have.” Really let yourself feel those words, and speak them from the heart.
It may take a little time, but this practice can begin to shift the circumstances of your life in miraculous ways. You’ll begin to feel better, look better, relate to others better, and attract so many blessings into your life that you won’t know what to do with them all!
In the meantime, I’m sending out some blessings to you and yours to help get you started. May you receive everything you dream of, plus a little extra.
Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com
Posted in Gratitude, Positive Thinking | No Comments »
