Do we live in the now - or work on manifesting a dream future?

Creating your reality

Popular books like Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now and other ‘non-duality’ teachings (such as ‘The Work’ of Byron Katie) suggest that this moment is all there is - and teach us to be fully present with it. In other words, fully embrace and enjoy the present moment - because it’s all you’ve got.

The Law of Attraction teachings acknowledge the power of the present moment, but also tell us that we create our own reality and what we focus on can become our real-life experience. This teaching tells of a law which gathers together likeminded thoughts, experiences, people and situations. When you are fully in the now, satisfied through the moment through accepting it or daydreaming about your future, the Law of Attraction philosophy says - you receive your dreams.

I used to think these two ways of looking at life were incompatible. And, it seems, other authors agreed with me. Some years ago, when I talked with a well-known proponent of ‘the now’, she acknowledged that by living in the moment seemingly good things (and synchronicities) happened to her�- but stopped short of discussing how. Creating her reality wasn’t a point of interest for he and she didn’t see the two theories and reconcilable.

Since our conversation - and after facilitating hundreds of groups on the subject - I now understand that not only are both vantage points describing the same truth, but they are also a great help to one another. Both teachings are actually all about fully enjoying your ‘now� moment.

True passion is found not just in ‘making do’ with the lives we have now - to feel fully alive requires a little excited anticipation. And yet, we don’t want to anticipate so much we fall into a feeling of longing or dissatisfaction with our current lives. It’s a fine line and requires practice.

“I’ll be happy when…”

I spent years ‘on my way’ to being good enough in my life. Just one more yoga class or one more technique and I’d be ‘healed’ or ‘enlightened’. When I initially discovered the Law of Attraction, I took this ‘on my way’ attitude with me. “When I manifest more money or I get a relationship or have my dream career,” I said to myself, “then I’ll be good enough”.

And just like tomorrow never coming in the popular phrase, neither did my ‘reward’ of being good enough. Because when I did get the relationship and the career, I still wasn’t happy.

I remember one woman telling me about her Vision board - which is a where�someone arranges a collage of pictures and words, usually taken from magazines, describing things they would like to experience in their life. This woman was lonely and wanting to be married and so she put up a photograph of a married couple on it in order to ‘manifest’ it. But her approach backfired. Every time she woke up, her Vision board was there to remind her that she wasn�t married. And here she was, years later, single and lonelier than ever�- the now-tattered board still up on her wall. She was completely deflated about the Law of Attraction.

That’s not to say Vision boards don’t work (they do) - but they need to be balanced with a healthy dose of loving the now.

A word about Desire

There�s something about desire and spiritual teaching that don’t always blend well. When you realise that being enlightened or finding peace is a desire too, you realise that we are all creatures of ongoing desire, whether we like it or not. It is attachment to desire which causes problems, as Buddha said - not desire itself.

We are all living in the now. The question is, how are we doing that? You can be in the now in misery or be in the now in happiness. The misery holds you away from the manifestations you want and the happiness allows you to flow toward them.

The way to bring these teachings together is to express and expect our desires to be fulfilled - and then fully engage with the moment. The perfect combination to living a joyful life is to excitedly anticipate a wonderful future whilst fully loving your current life.

Accepting where you are

Accepting where you are often requires confronting your frightening thoughts rather than trying to resist them. As a child, I remember a short picture book that highlighted this. In the story, a child was walking through a forest away from a cat that seemed to be following her. With every step, the cat grew bigger and bigger in her mind. Towards the end of the book, she turns to face this ‘monster’ and begins confidently walking towards it. It gets smaller and smaller until by the end it’s just this sweet little kitten - which it always was.

I see a lot of people trying to push away their fearful thoughts - and the war begins. You have to allow them and even learn to love them. People are scared that if they accept something it will take over � but the opposite is true. ‘What you resist, persists’ said Carl Jung.

Meditation and deep, conscious breathing are ways to relax into the present moment. The silence - and the breath - connects you with the best of the now.

Appreciation and gratitude

Another process I teach and highly recommend is making lists of things in your life you appreciate. But don’t just write one or two statements. Set some time aside and keep on writing until you run out of things to write about. Then you will be forced to start looking for the good in ‘unwanted’ situations, which will transform them.

When you are outside, feel your feet on the ground. Slow down your walking pace. Feel you breaths in and out. Relax into the moment. When eating, eat slowly and taste your food. Appreciate this moment.

Visualisation

In my experience, appreciating the now alone can give you peace, calm and contentment - but it won’t give you the charisma, spark and excitement that ‘forward focusing’ brings. And that is why I also teach Visualisation.

Another reason I recommend that people visualise - that is spend some moments anticipating a ‘dream’ future - is to practice a pleasant, good-feeling scene to ’switch to’ to replace any images of fear. For example: if you have images of a fearful scenario about health, by conjuring an image of you feeling healthy and beautiful running along a beach, you create a mental space that in time and with repetitive practice will replace the fearful one. The more you practice, the more the scene will become real - similar to a memory. It’s not so much to ‘make anything happen’ but rather to create a relaxing sanctuary for you to return to. Making something happen is hard work, whereas visualising for the fun of it is a pleasurable experience. It sounds subtle but it’s a huge difference: you want to go to the relaxing image for the enjoyment of the image not to try to change anything. It’s again about enjoying the present moment.

Enjoying your life, now

As you read this article, admire the technology of the internet and how it can deliver so much information to right where you are. Feel your breath going in and out. Look around you and look for things to appreciate. Imagine good things. Your life is now - so enjoy it.

Whatever you are doing, there’s no choice but to be in the Now. The question is, are you enjoying it? You don’t attract what you want - you attract what you are. As you fully enjoy this moment, whether it be though imagination or appreciation of what’s around you, you open the doorway to your best future.

First published in Mind Body Spirit magazine Spring/Summer 2012

“One of the things people are afraid of- they’re afraid that if they start admitting that there are things about where they are that they like, the Universe will say: ‘oh never mind, she’s satisfied now- leave her there’. Nothing like that will happen because your Vibrational Escrow is full of all the new stuff calling you and satisfaction with where you are frees you up to go to that new stuff” Abraham

Many ways of looking at What Is

“Looking for the good where you are puts you in the place of allowing the good that is in your Vibrational Escrow” Abraham

You are where you are right now. And there are many ways to look at where you are. In other words, you can be happy or unhappy with this moment regardless of what is going on. Sometimes we may think we haven’t got a choice- but there are always many, many interpretations of our current reality to choose from. Changing our story about our current reality is a way of accepting it. And with consistent practice you will do this.

All thinking- all good

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalm 126:5

I used to believe that if you think happy thoughts, you are creating a happy life and vice versa (with negative thoughts). But the truth is- when you think about what you don’t want, the desire for its opposite erupts and so you are also creating what you do want. It’s a win-win situation.

The challenges of life create an abundant harvest. And so does the joy. We can sow in tears or sow in joy- it’s all good. So a lifetime of negative thinking will create huge, wonderful possibilities- but then you have to find a way to let in. To reap the rewards of our life’s journey we must find a way to feel good- because asking is only the first step of creation. Allowing, or feeling good, is the other step. But there is no rush to do this.

If a negative thought comes up, welcome it. Why is it here? For one thing, it is adding to the huge storehouse of wonderful things which is waiting with your name on it (The Teachings of Abraham calls this your Vibrational Escrow or Vortex). All thoughts are to be welcomed and embraced as they are indicators. All thoughts are gifts.

All thoughts have a loving message for you

There is only a stream of well being. There is no right or wrong- only right. There is only good. The Universe- everything in the entire Universe physical and non-physical- is on your side. And everything around you- including your thoughts- are merely kindly indicators to show you how you are doing and to inspire joyful changes in attitude.

“I see thoughts as the beloved- not as someone to be sent away” Byron Katie

Just as critical comments from others are a gift to show you where you may want to make mental changes- so it is with our own negative chatter in our minds. Rather than going into defence every time we hear something we don’t like from another or in our minds (our own ‘inner talk’)- we can accept it and even embrace it. Then, as the teacher Byron Katie says, “the thought will let go of you”. It is our defending that causes the pain and ’sticks’ us to the negativity; by Law of Attraction, we attract more of what we defend against- what we resist, persists.

“If you’re dissatisfied with What Is it can’t come. So you have to make the best of where you are or you can’t move toward what you want- it’s vibrational law” Abraham

When we realise that ‘It’s all good’, then there’s nothing to push against: No person, situation or even thought. Everything- including our every thought- is a teacher. We can accept this- or we can kick and scream. We always have a choice- and both choices are ok (although one feels a lot better) Everything that is happening to you is nothing but a mirror of your attitudes. And this reflection is a gift, inspiring transformation. Make peace with where you are.

“Hear this, it’s the most powerful thing that we’ve said to you ever: Until you have made peace with where you are you cannot float downstream. Until where you are even in the absence of everything you want is alright with you, you cannot turn in the direction of what you want.” Abraham

You are where you are… and all is well

A challenge that sometimes comes up for people who study the Law of Attraction is to try to desperately ‘manifest’ to escape the present moment and be somewhere else. Fighting with What Is is painful and a waste of your powerful now, where all of your power is. Yes, we want to let go and go with the flow, but before we can let go we need to accept that we are holding on; and then our grip automatically loosens.

Accept where you are (and then you can begin telling your new story)

Resisting reality is a horrible place to be. I used to flail about in attempt to make my unwanted current reality (or negative thoughts about my current reality) go away and what I want immediately appear in its place. Of course when I stopped my tantrum, reality would still be there just the same. What I was doing, in effect, was stamping my feet and demanding that the Universe would bring me the reality I wanted. Knowing about the Law of Attraction only made me resist even more- out of fear of what my negative thoughts may do. And so more negative thoughts came at me. It became an addictive habit. Without accepting my reality, this ‘pushing against’ vibration was nailing my feet to floor and seemingly keeping me stuck.

Carl Jung said “What you resist, persists”. So instead of pushing against, we can actually accept and embrace whatever it is. So embrace your body however it is, embrace your finances however they are. Your body is the way it should be right now- because it is. Your finances are just as they should be right now, because they are. If you’re overweight, be willing to be overweight. What choice do you have? Hating being fat will not change the fact that you are fat right now- because you are where you are. Once you accept it and love it and laugh about it- off you go and you are then freed up to begin to tell your new story.

Accepting where you are means letting go of your battle with reality; which means letting go of your battle with your thoughts about reality. Embrace everything, including each and every thought.

“Thoughts are friends; they’re not enemies. I would meet them at the door with open arms- and I do. Because until I do, they just keep knocking- and rightfully so. They’re the key to my heart. Why would I close the door on them?” Byron Katie

Everything- including the thoughts that you are attracting- are indicators of your vibration. And so everything is a gift to lovingly show you what your vibration is on each and every subject.

Could What Is be Ok?

“Nothing’s good or bad but thinking makes it so.” William Shakespeare

Some people would feel wonderful having a million in their bank. For others, who are perhaps used to having hundreds of millions, this reality would inspire unhappy feelings. Some would be delighted with a size 16 if they had been a size 20 all their life and others would feel uncomfortable being a 12. It’s all relative. What Is is a perception. So accepting What Is is not just about accepting a static truth but about playing with our perception and looking for the positive aspects of the moment.

“Within every particle of this Universe is that which is wanted and the lack of it” Abraham

Looking for the positive aspects of your now is a wonderful process. As you are reading this you are sitting comfortably, in a warm room, all is well. What is your perception making of this perfection? You could be happy or sad. What Is does not have to instantly change for you to feel good and will not. However you can change your attitude about What Is. And then What Is will change.

“Seek not to change the world, but to change your mind about the world.” A Course in Miracles

God sees this moment as perfect. With a little practice, so can you.

The idea of creating our own reality can be empowering yet daunting. Empowering, because it allows us to realise that we are not powerless beings buffeted about by a random Universe, but daunting because we may think we have to do it all ourselves. But we don’t. We are not alone in all of this.

We are co-creators of our reality

We co-create our reality with the divine. Whether you pray directly to God, the archangels, Buddha or Krishna or Jesus or one of the many other myriad of non-physical helpers (and extensions of God), you are tapping into the vast stream of Well-being that flows through the Universe. Your role in creation is to believe and expect (the asking comes automatically) and then you will receive. It is the Divine’s job to orchestrate what you want and to answer your prayers. It is a collaboration.

Prayer and the Law of Attraction

“What ever things you so desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them” Jesus, The Bible

Jesus was a master of the Law of Attraction- and the power of prayer- and I will be using his wisdom throughout this article. His quote above says it all: Ask for what you want, believe that you will achieve it and then what you want will come to you.

Many people ask from a negative attitude and stay there- and this is exactly what Jesus was correcting; we must ask and then move into an expectation of a solution for the prayer to ‘work’.

Why do some prayers get answered and others not?

“When you ask, it is given. It is always given. It is given every time. No exceptions.” Abraham

All prayers are answered immediately- the question is: ‘are we allowing in the answer?’ God never fails to answer our asking- but it is for us to do our work and match the vibration of the solution.

If you ask and believe that you will be answered, you will be. It is the difference between asking or praying from a state of hope and expectation- or from doubt and fear. You need to ask and then get out of the way in trust, letting the Universe work on the solution.

There are no limits

“All things are possible to him who believes” Jesus, The Bible

All things are possible. The key is ‘to him who believes’. You have to do your part by working your thoughts into an expectation that your prayers will be answered- and they will, as Abraham says ‘every time, no exceptions’.

There are absolutely no limits!

“Whoever shall say to this mountain, ‘be removed, and be cast into the sea’; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatever he says” Jesus, The Bible

It was true over two thousand years ago and it is true today. It has always been true. With faith you can accomplish anything.

“If this life experience has inspired the desire within you, this life experience has the where with all to fulfil it down to the very last detail… Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have” Abraham

Let go and let God

Once you’ve asked- and you are asking or praying every time you have a desire- you can release the request and focus on something else entirely, trusting that the Universe is working on the solution. Imagine the vastness of the pure, positive, Universal energy- infinitely more powerful than the sun; it is this energy that creates worlds that flows through you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

“Ask, and it shall be given to you” Jesus, The Bible

This philosophy sounds simple- and it is. But believing in it takes practice. Just as you could spend a lifetime reading thousands of books or attending seminars with different opinions on how to ride a bike and still not be able to ride a bike- it is the same with reading spiritual books about the Law of Attraction or spirituality. You learn how to ride a bike by getting on the bike; you change your life by applying the processes. If you are anything like me- you may have shelves full of spiritual books and you may have listened to dozens of motivational speakers. Where have they got you?

“The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” Jesus, The Bible

Now is the time to do it. You know the truth. Now it’s about practice, practice, practice. The good news is it’s a great-feeling practice- in fact it must feel great as you do practice for it to work.

“If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you” Jesus, The Bible

Stop reading and go for it!

Once you have identified an old story, you want to immediately say ‘now I know what it is I don’t want- what is it that I do want?’ and begin telling your new story.

Many people talk endlessly about what they don’t want, seemingly unaware of how this is blocking their good from coming to them. On the other side of what we don’t want is what we do want- and it is here that our practice begins. In every moment, we have the choice of choosing a thought that feels a little better from where we are now.

When you experience anything unwanted, the possibility of what you desire is immediately created. And so any time at all spent dwelling on the unwanted experience is time spent holding you apart from what you want. And the negative emotion you feel is your indicator of this.

So what’s your new story?

My romantic relationship

Finding someone to spend your life with is a major part of many people’s lives. The simple truth is that finding our partner has nothing to do with our looks, body size, age or finances. It is the story we tell ourselves that defines our lives, including our romantic relationship. So let’s begin.

There’s someone out there who’s looking for someone just like me and the Universe brings us together easily and effortlessly and in perfect time.

In all of the moments that you felt lonely or met the ‘wrong’ person you were creating a possible future of exactly what you do want. However, telling the story in the negative way is what is preventing you realising this and meeting your dream partner. So forget how long you may have been alone or in an unpleasant relationship- and focus on the wonderful relationship that is coming.

I easily meet the most spectacular partner and we adore one another and enjoy this wonderful life together.

Are you talking predominantly about what your partner looks/feels like and what qualities he has? Are you talking mostly about your new lifestyle with your partner in it; where you are going to live, your new jobs, possibly children or pets, your day-to-day life? Are you talking about all of the fantastic relationships out there and the knowing that your partner is on his way? If you’re not- it is time to begin telling a new story.

Example: I love the amazing qualities that I have to share with my partner and I love the way we compliment each another. I love how he feels when I hold him. I love the way he smiles. I love how similar we are and all the synchronicities in our lives. I love how I can totally be myself with him. I love how open and loving he is. I love how we bring the best out of each other… etc (you can go into more specifics)

When you wake up, you can imagine your partner is in the shower or getting ready to work. You can luxuriate in bed imagining that breakfast is being prepared and about to be served and enjoyed. You can imagine he is off to work (if he goes out to work) leaving you to bask. This makes for a much better morning alternative to ‘here I am, on my own again…’ With practice, your imaginings will feel so good you won’t miss not having a partner and at this point the virtual reality will become your reality.

As you move about your day, you can conjure images of your partner in the same way as if you were actually with him. As you wonder through the streets on a lunch break, you can look for qualities you may like in your partner- who is on his way:

If you walk past someone with perfect partner qualities don’t go into thoughts like ‘that guy will never like me’ or ‘why can’t I ever meet someone like that?!’ Instead, tell a new story: That’s more like it! There’s the kind of man I’d like to date. There’s someone to take into my visualisation/virtual reality process. Seeing him means I must be coming more into alignment. Seeing him must mean that I’m nearly there in meeting my wonderful boyfriend. I must be aligning with what I want now I’m beginning to see evidence of what I want. It’s wonderful that there’s so much variety in the world to get a feeling of what I want…

Your choice of story is the difference between whether you move towards what you want or turn around and go the opposite way.

Whenever you think about the subject of romantic relationships, your feelings will let you know if you are moving toward or away from the relationship that is waiting for you. As you go through your day, feel for the thought and constantly reach for thoughts that feel a little better.

A little reminder

These ideas are useless unless put into practice. Telling a new story is not something you do for ten minutes in the morning and then forget about it, thinking random thoughts for the rest of the day. It is a moment-by-moment process. Initially, you need discipline to get the momentum going but after a while it will become easier and increasingly more fun. Our minds are the most powerful tool we have and practicing using them in a way that serves us is the best thing we can do.

“Each and every component that makes up your life experience is drawn to you by the powerful Law of Attraction’s response to the thoughts you think and the story you tell about your life.” Abraham

Once you achieve a vibrational shift on a subject (i.e. a sustained feeling of relief) you have created a thought that is next time easier to find and return to. And on it goes. In other words- the more often you tell the new story of your life the easier it becomes to tell the new story. So keep on going!

You might think you can’t do it, and that every time you try, you revert back to the old story. But that is a story. You are finding it easier and easier to change. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve being in your old way of thinking- with consistent practice you can shift a lifetime habit in a relatively short time. I know- because I have changed my story on subject after subject.

“I can’t change- I’ve been telling this same old story for as long as I can remember” becomes I am willing to change. I know there must be people who have been where I am: Universe- bring me evidence of people who were once where I am, who have told a new story and have absolutely transformed their lives. They did it and I know I can do it.

It may shock you when you discover some of the negative stories you have been telling; when you see areas of your life that ‘aren’t working’ you will instantly know why. It is always the same- your life reflects the story you are telling. Change your story and your life will change to mirror your new story. Yes, it really is this simple.

When you are deep into an old pattern of thought and feeling the negative emotion that accompanies it, it may be too difficult to suddenly start telling an incredible-feeling story. For example, when you are depressed about money issues it may be too much of a jump to talk about your amazing wealth. You will know by how this new thought feels. If you can’t quite make the leap, go for something else: That successful guy was once where I am and look at him now… She was once single and now she’s with her dream partner etc… Keep going until you feel relief and keep going whether it’s self-talk, talk out-loud or writing.

In more uncomfortable moments, attempting the good-feeling story may put you into a battle with the old story and you won’t feel good. Feelings are your guidance to how you are doing. In these moments, it may feel better to do something else- go out with friends, exercise, watch uplifting television programmes, go to sleep… anything to distract yourself. When you are feeling better, begin to tell the new story.

The longer you continue with telling the new story the more you will establish this habit. So stay in the good feeling place and keep going. Don’t just try this process for one day and then give up. Just as a river creates a path of easiest flow down a mountain (carving out a canyon), your new thoughts will carve a path of easiest flow to more easily return to. The solution to addiction to old thoughts is to create new thought habits that feel good and before long this will be your new habit, on all subjects. The physical evidence to match your story will show up and it will become easier to believe, and on the cycle goes.

And there’s more good news: with the flow of this ‘river’ of thoughts on your side (there is only a stream of well-being)- you will create this new thought habit quickly.

Yes, it takes a consistent effort but it is enjoyable to tell the new story. When you have spare moments, rather than letting your mind idly wonder over ‘what is’ you can be visualising amazing things happening to you; a luxury holiday, you in an amazing outfit etc, having a great time with your soulmate.

Everything always works out for me

You can do it. Others have done it and are doing it and I know you can do it too.

Our life is how it is because of the story we tell. Whatever is happening to us- the fulfilling relationships (or lack of them), our bank account, the way we look and feel- everything- is about the story we are thinking and speaking (by ’story’ I mean our thoughts and beliefs; the stream of opinions and attitudes that make up our internal dialogue each and every day).

Some people think that telling things the way you want them to be is like telling a lie or somehow being unreal. But when you ask, it is instantly given- and telling a new story is about tapping into this greater reality of what you want, rather than focusing on the temporary reality of what you don’t want.

Your new story doesn’t have to be something you have lived before- it is whatever you want and whatever feels good.

“I don’t like working for controlling people” becomes: I always work with wonderful people. My workplace is filled with beautiful, interesting people. I love my job. I love the atmosphere of my work- it is full of such variety of people living their lives and finding out new ways to feel good. Everyone respects me. I am always surrounded by good-feeling people who allow me to be as I am…

Millionaires who came from poverty learnt to ignore reality and tell a different story. You often hear well-known actors or singers saying that they imagined themselves on stage or screen from an early age- repeating this story over and over; they spent more time in the success story than in the more visible ‘reality’ story around them.

“I feel plain and unattractive” becomes: I am abundant, dressed well, feeling good, feeling happy, speaking to happy people and being happy myself. I radiate attractiveness. People notice me and are interested in me. I am youthful, beautiful and full of life. Beautiful and interesting new people are constantly coming in into my life and are drawn to me like a magnet…

Changing your story is a profound yet simple enough concept- but it is easy to see why many people’s stories don’t change very much. Early on we have experiences and start observing them. We come to believe that ‘this is the way it is’. As we observe what we believe, we create more situations like that. In other words, we prove ourselves right. As this continues, our beliefs get stronger. We are right but are we happy? We create our own reality and we can make anything true for us by giving it our attention.

The faces and places may change- but the essence stays the same. No longer can you blame ‘that particular partner’ or ‘that particular boss’ or even ‘that particular town’ when you realize that you have experienced this situation before, with you being the common denominator in each case. We are the creators of our reality and it is easier to lazily observe your life the way it is and create the same reality, again and again.

As I’ve said, those who have moved beyond their humble beginnings are more focused on what’s coming than what is or what has been. They have made the effort to tell a new, better-feeling story. This is the secret to those true-life rags-to-riches tales we hear about.

“When am I going to meet my soulmate?” becomes I love my partner. He is a perfect reflection of me. He is beautiful and charismatic and funny and sweet and romantic. He deeply respects me and adores me. It’s amazing how easy it was for the Universe to bring us together. It is wonderful how perfect we are for one another. I love the way he feels. I love the way he smells. I love the brightness and connection in his eyes. I love him and he loves me. He adores me… he really does love me and this appreciation from one to another is so good-feeling…

How do we break the cycle and improve our lives?

It is all about practicing the new story. Many people read a new idea in an article or book and say ‘that’s fantastic’ and then just go back to their old way of doing things. And this is not surprising- we may have been telling that old story for a long time and it has built up quite a momentum (plus a lot of supporting evidence). The new story needs to be practiced too- and it makes sense this takes a little time and effort. You may go a little forward and then revert back to your old story and that’s ok. Just keep going with your intention to tell a better feeling story. Spend a little time every day practicing your story- it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to fell a little better. Write it down, close your eyes and spend a few minutes seeing yourself living the way you’d like, record it and play it back to yourself over and over until it becomes an easy story to tell. The new, better feeling�version has behind it the support of the Universe- so change will be swift. A little willingness to tell a new story will allow the Universe to get to work assisting you with evidence, which will feed into encouraging your new, good-feeling story.

“If you will let your dominant intention be to revise and improve the content of the story you tell every day of your life, it is our absolute promise to you that your life will become that ever-improving story. For by the powerful Law of Attraction, it must be!” Abraham

For us to truly let go and begin relinquishing our control, we must have trust in a power beyond ourselves. This is not to deny our own power- for this power is part of us; it is our higher self. Some call this energy guardian angel- others speak of spirit guides. Some trust in the saints or the ascended masters. How we choose to communicate with this energy is not important; but to know it exists is vital for us to let go. Otherwise we may fear that our life will fall apart with no one running it. You are loved and you are constantly guided; letting go allows you to get in touch with this intuition; your gut feeling. Letting go lets in the assistance- because there is a whole host of Universal forces to help you out in life. And it is in your relaxing, releasing and letting go that you allow this help in.

For those of us who are very logical or analytical or strong-willed, I suggest asking more often for help through prayer. Prayer is simply handing you wants and desires over to the Divine, be it relationships, prosperity of all kinds or healing. It is ok to ask for what you want- You are not alone and you do not have to struggle alone. Ask- and then let go knowing that ‘it is done’. Ask and let go. Ask and then relax and release

I let go. I give up the struggle. I surrender. I allow. I trust that Life in on my side and everything is working out for me. I let go knowing that ‘it is done’.

When I realised that I didn’t have to run life all on my own, a huge weight dropped off me. My taking responsibility for everyone and everything (which of course was not working) fell away, only to be replaced by a grounding sense of peace and trust. Wonderful solutions appeared in my life in ways I had previously not conceived of. The vastness of the Universe far exceeds my limited thinking and it is reassuring to know this! This is how I live my life now. Constantly relaxing, releasing and letting go; less controlling and less trying to figure things out. Often, what I once perceived as a problem is revealed to be a blessing in disguise. Life is truly amazing- and so simple- when you get out of the way and allow it to be.

I know the Universe is sorting everything out for me. I know that life is on my side. I know that everything is always working out for me.

So how do we let go? For many of us who have made struggle a part of our lives, letting go can be a new skill to practice. The first step is to be willing to let go. Battling with thoughts will get us nowhere- and we will simply activate these thoughts even more so. You cannot erase a thought by wrestling it to the ground. A gently willingness to release, thanking our thoughts for sharing with us and then allowing them to drift away is what we can do to lovingly let them go.

I am willing to release. This too shall pass. I am willing to let go and go with the flow of Life. I am willing to relax into a better feeling. I am willing to release and let go.

Listening to music, doing exercise or dancing (which increases breath flow- relaxing us and allowing our cells to be energised) are all ways we can relax, release and let go. Daily meditation is the best technique I know of to encourage a calm, allowing mind (see my previous articles on meditation). Spending time with uplifting friends or doing anything that feels good and soothes us are other ways to uplift and distract us into our feeling of relaxation. Once we have got ourselves out of the way, Life can now work on a solution.

I relax, release and let go.

Finally- and most importantly- be willing to have patience with yourself and with Life. Letting go takes everyday practice- so give Life the chance to respond. Be kind to yourself and be sure to be light and easy about it. I remember reading that in the account of Jesus, there were three full days between his crucifixion and the resurrection. Whether this is real or metaphor is irrelevant- the point being that the ‘happy outcome’ did not happen immediately. When experiencing problems, allow time for a solution to appear. Do whatever it takes in the interim to relax, release, let go and trust. I assure you that a solution will be there- often in a surprising way that you hadn’t even thought of. And in this solution, life will be even better than it has been and your faith will have increased in the process.

For the�audio CD�Relax, Release and Let go: Tools for finding peace and feeling good again please see: www.emergingjourneys.com/store.php

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I used to constantly use the analytical part of my mind in my career as a journalist; finding statistics and other information, collating this, sorting that and offering my opinions. When I discovered the Law of Attraction teachings, I took this over-thinking into the realm of spiritual practice. My new questions were “Which technique do I use?” (Visualisation? Appreciation? Scripting?) “Which affirmation do I use?” (Love? Gratitude? Forgiveness?) I was ably supported by the hundreds of self help manuals out there, each packed with hundreds of different techniques. I was confused and missing the point; Life was not becoming easier or more fulfilling and I wondered why.

It has taken me time and practice to get out of my own way and learn to relax and let go. And I am still practicing. The answer to the question “what do I do?” is always the same: relax, release and let go.

I can let go and relax. I can release and let go.

Living a good-feeling life is all about relaxing and letting go, trusting all your wants will be supplied. It is about making peace with you are, knowing you can get to where you want to go. It is about having faith and releasing control. And in this release, everything you need to know will be revealed to you.

It’s going to be alright. I relax. All in good time. I release and I let go.

You really have no choice but to accept where you are and relax- because you are where you are right now and struggling will not change this. Love yourself and let go. Love others and let go. Relax and let go. What you are trying to fix won’t change instantly; and fixating on it won’t help. Where you are is where you are. Accept it, relax and go with the flow.

I can relax. I can let go. I can take a deep breath. I can trust. I can know that All is well. I can know that everything is working out and everything is going to be ok.

It’s not your job to make anything happen- that’s the job of Law of Attraction; that’s the job of God and the Angels or whatever words you use to describe the power that flows through all things.

“There’s nothing for you to do. Universal forces are in motion. Things are unfolding. Your work is to relax and allow. To RELAX and allow. To relax and allow. No matter what! No matter what. There is nothing that steps outside of that. There’s nothing more important than to relax and allow. Nothing. Not one thing, ever.” Abraham

I have counseled many people who have learnt about Law of Attraction and yet are terrified of their thoughts. And I can relate to them. They are trying so hard to figure things out that they get lost in the confusion of sorting out the correct thoughts to think. I want to repeat- your main job for this life is this: to have fun, to chill out, to relax, to do what you like doing, to go to the beach in your mind (or in reality). Let go and release into the river of life. Leave it to God to bring you uplifting thoughts. Reach for feeling better and the thoughts will sort themselves out.

I can release and let go. I can breathe deeply and trust. I can know that Life is on my side. There’s nothing for me to do but relax and release and know that everything is as it is and working out for the best. All is well.

There’s nothing for you to do except relax into the natural flow of Well-being knowing that everything is working out for your highest good. So breathe, relax and let go. And as you do you will feel the relief in the moment that indicates that positive change is on its way.

For the�audio CD�Relax, Release and Let go: Tools for finding peace and feeling good again please see: www.emergingjourneys.com/store.php

“This above all: to thine own self be true” William Shakespeare

Pretending to be someone different from who you really are may fool some people for a short time; but it won’t fool the Universe and it doesn’t serve you. We may do this because we think that the ‘real us’ is not good enough- but this is not true. We are not only good enough, but perfect exactly as we are.

Being true to yourself and having integrity is a wonderful gift to yourself. Integrity means ‘being whole and complete’. When you are whole and complete, you are empowered. And so keeping your word was never about keeping someone else’s rules to make them happy; It is keeping true to your own beliefs so that you can be happy. The Universe doesn’t see your ‘act’ or see the mask you hold up for the world. The Universe sees only the real you and loves you as you are. So you could bring the real you in integrity with the face that you show to other people. And your life will be a lot more successful in all ways because of it.

“I am who I am and that is that” Guru Singh

People who are true to themselves are very attractive. Think of those in the public eye that crowds go wild for; the ones we say have charisma. What do they all have in common? They are all authentic people who know who they are and are not afraid of what others think. They have integrity because they confidently speak their truth.

Our heroes are not people pleasers trying to look good or polite or nice. Our heroes are the ones who are powerfully being themselves. They mean what they say and they say what they mean. When they are angry, they show it. They do not put on a smile to impress you; they smile because they are happy. They have no need to lie, because they are unafraid of what you think anyway! That is the way we all were before we got conditioned by people who wanted us to behave a certain way. 

In my own life, for a long time I tried to hide my true self, in fear of what ‘they’ might think. For years I kept my head down, shamefully fearing the rejection of being ‘found out’. My own self-doubt and self-judgement created judgemental experiences and I was giving my power away. I was depressed and I felt like I was carrying a dark secret; as if I had done something wrong. How wonderful and empowering when I realised what I had always known; the message at the heart of all spirituality:  that I am loved exactly as I am. 

“What you think of me is none of my business” Terry Cole Whittaker

Being authentic means being open; there are no secrets and nothing is fearfully hidden. Being yourself doesn’t mean forcing your opinions on other people. You can love yourself and be who you are and allow others to be as they are (no matter what they think of you).

I suggest if someone asks you why you are this, that or the other all you need to calmly say to them is: “Because I am who I am and that is that”. You owe no other person an explanation or justification of who you are. You are loved by the Creator, exactly as you are. In fact the core of your being is love and nothing that you can do can disconnect from that love.

Perhaps it is about time you emerged from the shadows and admitted to yourself and the world how perfect, whole and complete you are, as you are.