There are teachings out there that tell you that if you close your eyes, think of a Ferrari and then open your eyes, it will be there.

Technically, this is along the right lines. But manifestation is not wishful thinking. And although working with the Law of Attraction is simple in theory it is not always easy in practice.

Discipline, work and effort seem to be banned words in certain sections of the get-rich-quick ‘create your own reality’ community.

Movies like The Secret are wonderful introductions to the Law of Attraction, but they are just baby steps and the absolute tip of the iceberg. Simply knowing about the Law of Attraction and thinking ‘what a nice idea’ will do nothing to change your world.

Creation is not as ‘fast food’ as taking two quick steps to a sportscar or a soulmate or a multi-million pound bank account. Instead, it is more like a hundred consistent steps to get to our destination and requires a real shift in mindset. It doesn’t have to be a long, laborious journey- but getting on-track does require effort. (And, I have to add here, life is not about manifestation anyway. It is about the joy-filled journey to the manifestation.)

The thing that unites champion athletes or A-list movie stars or anyone at the top of their game is disciplined focus.  They have all practiced their minds into believing they are the best at their craft; they have ‘done the mental work’ required to create their own reality.

It took me a long time to realise that to ‘let go and let God’ was not about sitting back and doing nothing. If many of us were to just sit back and do nothing we’d go back to our own (often negative) thought habits rather than flow to all that we want. It takes effort to let go of those oars and flow with the stream of life; it takes, as Abraham says, a consistent reaching for a thought that feels better.

Further ideas can be found in my first book, The Power of Feeling Good, which offers powerful ideas to help you move from theory to daily practice. And thanks to Caroline Myss for inspiring the title of this week’s blog!

There can be a tendency to get frustrated with where you are whilst waiting for what you want to manifest. You can also begin to wonder if you’re doing something wrong- or negatively compare where you are to where other people are. This is self-criticism and keeps you feeling stuck. Where you are is temporary- it’s no big deal!   

Self-acceptance right here and right now is the key to begin moving towards everything that you want.  

Example: I make peace with where I am. I am where I am and that’s ok. I am doing well. I relax and accept myself now, knowing that things are always getting better. I can love and accept myself right here and right now exactly as I am.  

When you are travelling to your holiday destination, it takes a little time to get there and that’s fine. On the journey you are excited and looking forward to where you are going- whilst at the same time accepting where you are. In other words, you are not beating up on yourself for ‘not being there yet’. In the same way, when we are committing to ‘doing’ our affirmations and trusting in the Law of Attraction, there will still be a short period of time before what we want comes into our experience.    

Example: I can relax and trust that the Universe is bringing me all that I want in the perfect way and in the perfect time. I can relax and trust that everything is working out for me. I relax into the knowing that all is well.  

It is also wise to remember that it is the good-feeling journey that we are looking for in life, rather than the actual manifestation. We might think “I’ll be happy when…” I get the money or the relationships or whatever. But this is backwards thinking. Our life is happening now and we must make an effort to feel good now. The only reason we even want the manifestations at all is because we think we will feel better when we get them.  

Feeling a little better makes your life a lot better. It is reassuring to know that as you deliberately choose better-feeling thoughts, the added bonus to the better feeling is that situations, people, places and things that will delight and surprise you when they arrive are on their way, too. So relax and enjoy the journey! 

“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.

Before you begin to see specific manifestations in your life, you may feel doubtful and wonder if your affirmations are working. Like a seed in the ground, it takes time for your desires to sprout and grow into something you can actually perceive.
In this very sensitive interim period, you need to develop trust in the process. Dwelling on doubtful thoughts is like digging up the soil to check if the seed is working. This action of ‘double checking’ only slows everything down.
Abraham says that over 99% of manifestation is complete before we can see any physical evidence of it- so a faith in the Law of Attraction is vital. You need to expect that whatever you want is on its way, even though you may have no physical reason to believe this is so.
Your improved feelings, which always come in response to a more faithful attitude, are evidence in themselves that change is coming. It is the improving emotional evidence rather than the physical that you are looking (or rather feeling) for. 

Increasing your belief

If you don’t feel you have enough faith in the Law of Attraction- simply tell yourself that you do have faith. Jesus explained that with faith ‘all things are possible’ and many other spiritual masters have agreed with him. Affirm that you believe and you have faith and that all things are possible for you. And then give thanks for being a faithful person. Start seeing yourself as a naturally positive thinker.

Example: I believe that all things are possible for me. I know that the Universe is on my side. I am a naturally positive person. I appreciate myself for being a faithful and naturally positive thinker. My thoughts are constantly becoming more positive and more focused on what feels good. I love my life right here and right now knowing everything is working out for me.

By consistently applying your affirmations you will increase your trust in the manifestation process and things you have asked for will begin to flow into your experience.

I have found that a daily meditation practice is the perfect foundation for doing positive affirmations. It is a way to make the whole process of ‘changing your mind’ a lot easier. Just as a gardener prepares the soil and gets the weeds out of the way before planting seeds- it is beneficial to prepare and clear your mind of old negativity before introducing new thoughts and new ideas. 

Meditation is not complicated. It is simply about quieting the mind long enough to allow inspirational ideas to flow to you and through you.  Practicing meditation dissolves old negative habits of thinking; it calms and cleanses the mind. Meditation also trains the mind to focus, thus making it easier to concentrate on your positive affirmations whilst releasing the grip on obsessive negative thought habits.

Meditation requires effort and consistency. At first, it can feel very difficult to go within and be silent. Your mind may chatter continuously. This seeming rebelliousness of the mind will surprise you and cause you to question who is actually in control. In other words, it may feel like your thoughts are thinking you rather than the other way around. Speak gently to yourself “I am still… I am calm… I love myself” as you find a way that works for you to enter the stillness within.

For some, you may be able to instantly “go blank”. For others it may take many attempts. You may want to envision entering a sanctuary or sacred space, closing the gate behind you, sitting on a cushion in a simple room and closing your eyes and then just being. Each of us will find our own way. A suggestion is offered below to offer you ideas of thought to guide you to discover that inner space of silence and stillness:

A guided meditation

Close your eyes and see yourself sitting in a room. The room is a simple, one-roomed temple; it is a sanctuary for you to rest and relax. You are in a far-off land and you are in complete solitude- and so you are blessed with complete peace and silence as you relax here. You are sitting on a comfortable cushion in the middle of the room, which has a plain stone floor and walls. The small windows allow rays of golden light through, warming the room and bathing you with light energy. The energy flows into you body, revitalising and renewing you as you relax and begin to let go.
 There is nothing for you to do except relax and breathe, relax and breathe, feeling yourself slipping into the bliss within. 

You may be inspired to make meditation a regular part of your life. If you don’t feel you have time, perhaps you could awaken fifteen or twenty minutes earlier to create time. Meditating a little every day brings huge positive changes.