2) Be willing to sacrifice for your greater good. - Previously I wrote about my infected tooth, and how strange it seemed that this developed just when I was trying to focus my thoughts on abundance and prosperity. I pondered whether my infected tooth was simply a representation of some deeper issues that were playing out within my psyche. I know that seems like a big jump, but bear with me. The human mind is still a great mystery, especially the subconscious mind. It is very possible that I had some blockages that just wouldn't allow me to move forward until I processed them in some way; purged them from my system, so to speak. Just like our outer circumstances can affect our health, so can our inner beliefs affect our physical reality.
Maybe the tooth was completely unrelated to my prosperity experiments. That's entirely possible also. But the point is that sometimes we DO need to sacrifice what may no longer be serving us, in order to gain circumstances that do serve us and more closely resemble our dream. Take a few moments to think about things that may no longer be serving you, and ask yourself if you are willing to release them. As I described last week, this can be any number of things: stagnant relationships, too much idle time, or not enough discipline. Or perhaps your "sacrifice" is simply to take a chance on something you want, rather than holding yourself back out of fear. We'll go more into that in a moment.
3) Affirmations and intentions. - Now that you have a clear idea of what you want and you know what you're willing to sacrifice, it's time to begin stating your intentions to the universe, in the form of affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements spoken aloud (or at least mentally, though verbally seems to give stronger energy). Basically you are taking the "I Want" statement from above, and turning into an "I Have" affirmation. In other words, state aloud that you already have what you desire. Using the same example, you'd say, "I AM a successful sculptor creating fulfilling and meaningful work. I work no more than 25 hours per week, and I earn $40,000.00 per year." No, of course your mind isn't going to believe this right away, because it hasn't happened yet. But by saying it aloud repeatedly, you are training your mind to believe it's possible, and attracting the right energy to make it happen.
You might also include some generic affirmations because they help reinforce what you're trying to accomplish. Here are some that have helped me: I am wealthy. I am blessed. I attract abundance and wealth. I deserve abundance and prosperity. I can achieve anything I desire. Anything is possible. Say these aloud several times a day. Write them in a journal, over and over. Write them on a sheet of paper and post it up where you will see it during your day, and say these phrases out loud as often as you can.
4) Practice consistency. - Here is where I went wrong for so long. :-) I was really good at saying my affirmations for a day or two, but then I'd slip back into my whining and complaining voice, and undo all the progress I'd made! In order for affirmations and intentions to really work, we need to keep working them. We need to retrain our minds to think positively, rather than negatively. The only way to do that is by repetition. Say your affirmations as many times as you need to. Positive thinking is just like anything else, practice makes perfect. The only reason you feel stuck in negative thinking patterns now is because you (or your surroundings) have reinforced them for so long. You can change it though, moment to moment.
5) Active faith. - This is another one I had a difficult time with. Faith is a challenging concept when things around us seem so dark. How can we believe that things will get better when we have no assurance that they will? Ah, but that is the very definition of faith! To believe in something you cannot see.
How can we create positive change when we have so much working against us? By using what I call "active" faith. This means affirming that things will be okay, even if you don't know for sure that they will. Ironically, it often requires you to state the exact opposite of what you truly believe.
Let's use an example: You have been struggling financially and you are trying your hardest to create more abundance and prosperity. Then one day your electric bill arrives in the mail, and you see that it is much higher than you expected it to be, and you don't have the funds to pay it. Your first reaction would be to cry, scream or sink into depression and wonder if you'll EVER be able to create better circumstances.
But practicing active faith would instead have you look at that electric bill and then say aloud with passion and power in your voice, "I don't know how yet, but I WILL acquire the funds to pay this bill on time. I affirm it, and I intend it to be so. God (or universe), I know you will help me to find a way to make this happen. Thank you!" And then allow yourself to feel thankful that a solution is on the way. Don't fret about it, don't let yourself get tense or anxious.
I know, this takes a tremendous leap of . . . faith! Yes, exactly. :-) I must be honest, this technique has worked for me every single time I've used it. The problem is that I kept forgetting to use it. Give this technique a try, even if it's on smaller things first. Keep practicing this type of mindset, choosing to believe that success and abundance is right around the corner for you, even if you can't see any possible way for it to happen yet.
6) Be willing to try and accept. - How often do you hold yourself back from trying something because you don't believe it would do any good? I think most of us block ourselves from success before we can even get started! Perhaps we don't have faith in our own abilities, or we feel we're not talented enough, or experienced enough, or deserving enough. If we don't believe we have what it takes, and if we don't believe we deserve to achieve our dreams, then we definitely won't do it.
Imagine standing outside a restaurant and saying to yourself, "Boy, I'm hungry, but I bet they wouldn't serve me anyway, so there's no point going in." It sounds laughable, but yet we are doing the same thing to ourselves if we refuse to even try. So in addition to changing your thoughts, be willing to TAKE ACTION! Apply for a job, sign up for a class, do something to make a move toward your dream. Even a small step will begin to open doors for you.
When your prosperity arrives, embrace it with joy, even if it arrives in a form you weren't expecting. Keep affirming aloud each day, "I accept the blessings the universe holds for me now."
7) Patience, timing and acceptance. - I do believe that timing has a lot to do with the achievement of our dreams and goals. There are many factors we can't control, and timing is one of them. If we've reached the point where we've done all we can possibly do, then the wait can be maddening. But rather than sinking into frustration and despair, we can keep practicing active faith and affirmations, which continues to lend positive energy to our vision.
Keep repeating to yourself, "I know this is going to happen for me, I just know it will. And it will happen soon, I'm so excited!" Keep infusing your energy into your dream to give it power to manifest.
And lastly, work on accepting your current circumstances. Acceptance does NOT mean you choose to remain where you are forever. It simply means that where you currently are is exactly where you need to be in this moment. I know that's a tough pill to swallow if you are in unhappy circumstances. But be willing to believe that there may be a reason for it. Perhaps you are there to learn patience, or humility, or to be strengthened by your struggles. Accept these lessons with grace, while affirming that they will not last forever.
