“Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.” ~Sarah Ban Breathnach
Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way. No matter what it is that we are trying to accomplish, if we stay clear and remember what we already know, things will flow and inspired action will result.
“Thought is the creative power, or the impelling force which causes the creative power to act; thinking in a Certain Way will bring riches to you, but you must not rely upon thought alone, paying no attention to personal action. That is the rock upon which many otherwise scientific metaphysical thinkers meet shipwreck–the failure to connect thought with personal action.” ~Wallace D. WattlesThe Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. When we place our focus on a particular subject, the energy becomes concentrated and attracts more opportunities to produce similar thoughts. This is not a passive thing; one must not only have inspired thought, but take inspired action as well!
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Many people misunderstand the Law of Attraction and believe that if they merely sit back and visualize, things will materialize in their lives. If that were true, none of us would ever leave the house. We would sit around thinking all day, and there would be gold coins falling from the sky and elephants walking around on the streets. While the visualization process is a very powerful tool, it is not the thought alone that will produce the biggest results. We require inspired action to create the results we want, and it all starts with our thoughts.
Positive thoughts attract more positive thoughts, new ideas are born, new ideas stimulate inspired action, inspired action creates results. The thoughts generate activity, and a ripple effect is created. Because the ideas come to us so effortlessly when we are inspired, sometimes we don’t even realize our contribution to the process of creating the results we see. There is a big difference between an inspired action in response to a thought, and a physical or conditioned reaction in response to a thought.
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When our hand comes close to hot stove, we pull our hand away from the heat. That is a physical reaction. When we are told that certain things are right or valuable, we adopt, or sometimes inherit, a belief system that causes us to act a certain way. This is a conditioned reaction. It is up to us, as intelligent beings, to use the power of our thoughts to direct the energy in positive ways. We can do this by being aware of our thoughts and our thinking patterns, by paying attention to how our thoughts make us feel, and by questioning our “automatic thinking” and behaviors. Of course, this does not mean you should question whether or not you should pull your hand away from the hot stove, but you get the idea!
We have so much more power than we realize, and it is only because we have been told that things are out of our control that we do not realize our power. We get what we think about most of the time, and if we do not believe we can do or have something, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. To see positive results in your life, remember this simple formula: Positive Thinking + Inspired Action. Throw in some belief that good things are on their way and some patience, and you will be amazed at how well this formula works!
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As we learn techniques to help improve our lives, things make sense in that logical “left-brained” way, but it is not until we make a concrete connection in our lives that this information has true meaning. When we have a situation in our own life to which we can apply knowledge or theory, that is when things take on a whole new meaning!
Because we are looking out at life through our own eyes, it makes sense that things have more meaning when they apply directly to us. When we are able to apply what we have learned to something concrete and meaningful in our own lives, the lesson is internalized and our new-found connection creates a unique bond to the information. This is exactly what has happened for me recently by applying two methods to situations in my life. While these were not new concepts to me, it was only after seeing the results and feeling the connection, that I felt the confidence to know they work!
The first is RELEASE. If you know you have done (or are doing) everything you can physically do to solve a problem, there comes a time when we need to release the situation. Previously, I have had a very hard time with this concept. When we are experiencing something that is putting us in a negative state of mind, it is hard to let go. The negative emotions sometimes take hold and create a life of their own, but we have to break the cycle. The way I was able to release a few things that were keeping me in a negative mind loop, was to force myself to let it go by asking for help. Whether you ask God, the Universe, or your Inner Being, ask for assistance, admit your need for help in dealing with a situation, and then let it go for a while. Stop thinking about it, and know that you have someone or something helping to direct things in a way that will bring you resolution. I used to resist asking for help, as I felt that this was a loss of control on my part; however, it is quite the opposite. You are very much in control because YOU have found a way to promote a result.
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The second is GRATITUDE. We have all heard the importance of gratitude, but sometimes it seems difficult to feel grateful for things when we are feeling like things are not going our way. If we practice looking for something (anything) to be grateful for, then we will soon begin to notice there are more and more things for which we can feel grateful! When in an undesirable situation, or when feeling stuck in a predicament, I start out by looking for anything I can be grateful for, even if it needs to be simplistic or down to the fundamental elements. When I find that too difficult, I look for anything I can be grateful for, even if it is unrelated. Feelings of gratitude are very powerful. When we begin appreciating things, the situation itself will begin to change, or new opportunities will present themselves.
Give this a try for yourself, and you will see that these methods do actually work. As I mentioned, even though I had read this somewhere at one time myself, I didn’t fully understand or believe it until I saw the results in my own life. At the very least, you will feel better, and that is what makes it all worthwhile!
I have spent countless joyous hours reading personal improvement books. The universal theme in many of the books I have read is the importance of positive thinking. What we think about we attract to ourselves, and I believe this wholeheartedly. When I sit in a contemplative state reflecting on this, the path to happiness is perfectly clear: Think positive thoughts; always expect great things. So, why is it that when we are experiencing something undesirable and feeling a negative emotion, all of this wonderful knowledge seems to fly out the window?
I always found myself struggling with the how? How do we change our thoughts when we are in the midst of something we feel is stimulating negative thoughts? Whether it is unhappiness with our partner, dissatisfaction with our job, or seeing an unwanted reflection in the mirror, once we are in that negative space, how do we change gears and think positive thoughts? We cannot just lie to ourselves and say that something does not bother us, so what do we do?
Think about anything positive. Rather than wallow in the negative thinking about what does not please us, we can change our thinking. Get out of the negative loop you are stuck in, and start thinking of anything positive, even if it is not related to the current situation. Focus on something that makes you feel good, and when your mind goes back to the negative thought, think about yet another thing that makes you happy. Literally redirect your thinking as much as you need to until the negative thought is diffused and the sting of negativity is not as strong.
Look for what is good. When the emotional charge has settled down a bit, look for what is good in the situation. There has to be something that is good, or something you can appreciate about the circumstance. If you are unable to look for what is good about the current situation right away, then you might need to go back to diffusing the negative emotion, but once the negativity is not so powerfully charged, return to identifying something you can appreciate about the situation.
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Change your vibration. I recently re-read “Ask and It Is Given,” by Abraham-Hicks, which explains that we are part of a vibrational Universe. Our thoughts carry a certain vibration, and because of the Law of Attraction, the Universe responds to the vibration we are offering. Abraham uses a great analogy of a radio signal: “In every moment, with every thought, you are offering a vibration, sort of like a radio signal, and the entire Universe is responding to that signal. And so, by Law of Attraction (that which is like unto itself is drawn), those things that are a vibrational match to the signal you are offering are what you receive back. It’s not so different from your radio tuner. You are dialing in to that specific station you’re wanting to hear” (http://spiritlibrary.com/abraham-hicks/radio-tower-controlling). We attract things to us that have a similar vibration, and when we change our thoughts, we change our vibrational frequency.
Let it in! Stop looking for more evidence to confirm the negative thought. Allow the feeling elicited by the new positive thought to wash over you and bring you the happiness you are seeking. It is impossible to feel good and to feel bad at the same time. If you are consistently reminding yourself of why you are unhappy, you will block any progress you have made. Don’t sabotage your efforts by not letting the good feelings in when they come! Look for what is good, be willing to allow your attention to shift, and then relax into the good feelings as they arrive.
Being prepared with the proper tools to handle a negative situation is the first step in regaining control over the situation. Rather than allowing the situation to dictate our happiness, we can make new connections and practice new ways of thinking. Some occasions require more practice than others at redirecting our thoughts, but when we get the hang of it, we can spare ourselves from a lot of discomfort!
*For more insight on The Law of Attraction and our vibration, I recommend reading any of the wonderful books in the Abraham-Hicks collection. Visit the Abraham-Hicks website here: www.abraham-hicks.com
This year, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Veggie Fest 2012. Veggie Fest is billed as one of the biggest vegetarian festivals in North America, with a large variety of delicious vegetarian foods available in the food court, food demonstrations, interesting vendors, and several different speakers giving talks on vegetarianism, spirituality, and healthy living. Although this was my first visit, this was the seventh annual Veggie Fest. This free outdoor festival is held in Naperville, IL, and I have to say, I probably had the most fun I have ever had at one of these events!
I was greeted at the entrance by friendly volunteers who provided me with a program guide and a book full of vendor coupons. All of the vendors, events, and special attractions were outlined in an easy to follow program guide, and I got started taking everything in right away. The walkways were lined with tents, and I stopped by each one to take in the information, see the displays, and chat with interesting people.
There were so many exciting things to see; I strongly encourage you to attend next year if you are in the Chicago area! Some of the things I particularly enjoyed were:
The Gerson Institute’s Christine Becker (christine_lmt@yahoo.com) and Bonny Jones (bonfire928@gmail.com) shared information about healing the body through healthy eating. Christine had a very interesting display demonstrating the amounts of sugar in commonly consumed beverages, which was a big eye-opener!
I enjoyed an awesome raw food demonstration by Mona Grayson Wimmer (www.somelikeitraw.com). Mona talked about the benefits of a raw food diet, and she showed the audience how to make raw versions of Basil Stuffed Tomatoes, Chili with Mushrooms, and Tropical Chia Pudding. She gave a very dynamic presentation, and we all got to sample the recipes! Everything that Mona made was so good and so healthy, that I have decided to give some raw food recipes a try in my home this month.
I was very excited to learn more about the Science of Spirituality, and I spent a lot of time at the booth speaking to volunteers and picking up information about the benefits of meditation. As much as I have read about meditation, this was probably the most enlightening and helpful information I have received to date. I am very anxious to learn more and further explore the benefits of Jyoti Meditation (Jyoti is a Hindi word that means light).My day at Veggie Fest 2012 was certainly one to remember! I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I learned so many new and interesting things to put into practice as I continue on my quest for more insight for living a happy life. Veggie Fest is held every year in August, and I will definitely be attending next year!
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The outer world is always a reflection of our inner world. Our thoughts direct our actions, and our actions dictate our results. If we believe something to be true, our minds will seek out ways to confirm that belief. That is why it is so important to take the time to re-evaluate our beliefs from time to time, and decide what is still true for us and what is merely a conditioned thought?
Our experiences influence our thinking process, and we often become the victims of habit. Habitual thinking patterns are like thinking on auto-pilot. When we are not seeing the results out of life that we have intended, or when we too often find ourselves unhappy or afraid, that is a good indication that we are operating under false beliefs. As described by Abraham, “A belief is only a thought that you keep thinking.” We have the power to change our thoughts, and the first step is to identify what beliefs we have that do not serve our well-being.
False thinking can limit our potential to act in ways that are more consistent with the results we want to achieve. Through conditioning, we may have beliefs that are incorrect, or that are no longer true. A harsh word from someone in our past may have created a belief that we are unworthy, a prior disappointment may have created a belief that others cannot be trusted. Previous failures may have programmed us to believe we incapable, while past successes may have lead us to believe we no longer need to try. The intricacies of our experiences have woven a web of thoughts, that when left unquestioned create a network of beliefs that drive our external reality. We actually unconsciously seek out evidence to confirm our beliefs, which then creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Think about the results you want in your life. Decide how you want your experiences to support the results you desire. Once you have done this, take a closer look at how your life is currently unfolding. Where can you see a match, and where do you see a disconnect? It is time to reflect and discover what beliefs you have that may be holding you back. Decide which beliefs no longer serve you, and begin to think the thoughts that will lead you closer to the result you want.
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To help determine what your thoughts or beliefs are, take a look around for clues. You see, the “fruits” of your thoughts are your reality. Everything outside of you is a direct result of the thinking patterns you are using to drive your experiences. If you don’t like what you see, then change your mind! You don’t think you are smart enough to do do something? Change your mind! Not good-looking enough? Too slow, too fat, too unsophisticated? Change your mind! Just as you were able to limit yourself by believing these things, you can free yourself by believing positive things. You have the ability to open up so many new possibilities, just by creating NEW beliefs about yourself. Now how’s that for power!
No matter what the situation, when closely examined, all reactions can be traced back to two motivators: fear and love. When we are acting out of love, we do things that bring happiness or joy to ourselves or to others. Kindness, helping someone, compliments, sharing knowledge, all of these stem from a feeling of love. Criticism, judgement, anger, or jealousy, on the other hand, are all born from fear. Fear of what we feel threatens us, fear of what we don’t understand, fear of what we wish we could be, or fear of what we wish were not.
Many times, our reactions to other people are indicators of how we feel about ourselves. When we find ourselves reacting negatively to something someone else is doing, it is usually because of something we fear within ourselves. Our ego mind can shout pretty loudly, and it is always screaming words of fear. Once we accept and love ourselves, fear is diffused and the ego mind is quieted. Once the fear is gone we can accept others, because the things that once triggered negative feelings no longer have the same effect.
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When we act from a place of love, we get into a routine of practicing positivity. Positive thoughts quickly become our dominant thoughts. The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like, which means positive thoughts will act like a magnet for things to give us reason to have more positive thoughts. When we attach a loving feeling to those thoughts, that is where we find our true power!
The way to conquer fear is to replace the fear with love. Love can mean many things, but it always stems from a sense of caring, respect and acceptance; anything that creates feelings of joy. With love as our motivator, our thoughts and our actions will be in alignment with the happiness we all truly desire. What motivates you, fear or love? We always have a choice, and sometimes all it takes is being aware…
