A friend called me last night. He was confused and depressed, unsure why he wasted precious time when he could be doing something positive and productive for himself. He began to list off the litany of details that he needed to get around to. His "list" was long and ever-growing, and he was feeling overwhelmed. He mentioned that since he didn't have caring parents (he was essentially dis-owned for being gay), he had no one who could track his life-long attempt at progress, thus giving him an objective sounding board. No one to say "hey, you're doing all right for yourself!"

I told him that he was doing many great things for himself, and that all he needed to do was to sit back for a moment and look at how far he'd come in the last two years- despite some heavy set-backs - to be proud. I said that all these great things were for himself, and no one else, and that it can be incredibly empowering to change ones mindset from "I can't" or "I'm not" to "I can" and "I am". That this simple semantic shift can be a powerful, magical linguistic tool to puncture the barrier between dimensions, in this case from the thought-dimension to the reality dimension.

And about that list? We all have them, they are ever-growing until we die, so we might as well just enjoy noodling over them like a crossword puzzle. You don't get upset if you don't finish that crossword puzzle, right?

I sensed his relaxation almost immediately. I felt him take responsibility as he pondered this way of thinking. I could tell that this simple exercise was giving him the boost he needed, and might be something that could sustain him through his future.

It also brought me back to how I deal with stress and negative emotion: I purge negative thoughts and bring in positive ones.

And I thought about how I do this automatically. I guess I learned at a very early age that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, and that the world around me changed drastically, almost immediately, the moment I changed a thought pattern.

It brought me back to how important it is to master these basic grounding skills, and further, to use these same skills to manifest the results we want in our lives.

So, backing up from the advanced skill exercises I've been posting of late, let's take a moment to review some basic manifesting exercises that we can all benefit from, courtesy of clear and conscious writer Julia Jablonski. I found her piece this morning after my talk with my friend, and was happy to find that the Higher Power that spoke through me when giving him advice is indeed some tried-and-true methods of visualization (gee, I thought I'd made them up all on my very own!!!).

JB

Manifesting Exercises

by Julia Jablonski

Copyright 2000



To begin today to develop greater prosperity consciousness, you can:


Determine those things you love spending money on and relish the experience. Linger in that feeling of joy as you count out the cash or write out the check. Ponder and examine this feeling, and keep it in the front of your memory. Before you write out checks for your bills or other expenses, draw this feeling up first. As you write out a check for your rent or mortgage, give thanks for what you've received. Take a moment to generate gratitude for the home that you sleep safe and warm in every night.

Surround yourself with those who have what you want to develop. If you've already got a good handle on your own money issues and prosperity consciousness, you can probably hang around those who struggle and not suffer as a result. You can then be a positive influence on them. If, however, this is an area where you have difficulty, at first you may need to avoid those with lack mentalities.
Remember when you were young and your parents didn't let you play with kids they thought would be "bad influences?" Well, if you're around people who mirror those qualities or issues you want to leave behind, it's going to be a lot harder to change. Begin to seek out people who can model for you what you want to become. Surround yourself with positive, successful people.

When you must be with folks who demonstrate negativity by complaining or worrying about what they don't want, remain awake and alert! Use the experience to remind yourself that this is not what you want, and not what you're creating in your life anymore. Use it as a reminder to be MORE positive. If you want to get fit, and your whole family is overweight and out of shape, you probably can't avoid your family, but you can look at their health problems or low energy and allow it to reaffirm your dedication to creating greater health and vitality in your own life.


Visualize/Ask for what you want, and be specific. As described in the article entitled "Prosperity Consciousness," begin by determining how you want to FEEL. Get into that feeling state by imagining yourself fulfilling your dreams or desires. This is the key element in all manifesting work. It's not getting crisp in the details that leads to success, it's getting deeply into the feeling state you desire that works magic. In fact, once we get that feeling state moving, we're wise to surrender the details to the Universe. Holding on to what we think will make us feel a certain way can block the Universe from delivering what would indeed make us truly happy.

Look for reasons to be grateful. Gratitude is in itself PROSPERITY! All we're truly seeking when we want anything is a feeling of fulfillment and well being, that we are loved, cared for and blessed. That feeling can be ours in any moment when we stop and reflect on all we already have. Even if we just lost the spouse we think we can't live without, got fired because we were so neurotic about the spouse, and found out we had two cavities at the dentist, we can give thanks we we're still alive, our whole lives are ahead of us, and we have the opportunity to start over with unlimited potential to create new relationships and career opportunities. We might even give thanks for the state of modern dentistry; two hundred years ago we might have been giving thanks we had any teeth left! Opportunities to be grateful abound!
Reflect on all the abundance you have now and in the past. If you're reading this, you have access to a computer and the Internet. How amazing is that, when you stop to think about it? Imagine the pioneers battling to survive the winter on canned goods, half rotten potatoes and squirrel meat, in cabins heated by a wood-burning stove. Our lives are incredibly rich with comforts and blessings; we have only to look for them.


Remember that what goes around, comes around. We can apply this at a metaphysical level in what we think or wish for others. I have a thriving personal spiritual reading practice, for example, which is something that many psychics or readers find difficult to manifest. While I strive to provide a great service at a great price, I also wish each and every client not only total satisfaction, but also that the money they pay for the reading be returned to them tenfold. They don't even know I'm wishing this, yet I know it is in part what keeps the abundance flowing through our lives.
On a more literal level, be generous! If you're wishing your husband would come over and rub your sore neck, but you know he's tired and you don't want to ask him, get up and go rub his neck! If you're wishing someone would invite you out to dinner, be the one who invites! Give without attachment to any return, however, for if you give in order to receive, you've not really given anything, you're still holding onto it energetically. It's not only draining to "give" in this way, but also often disappointing. Remember that what goes around, comes around. You may even end up rubbing that man's neck for three years, and never getting any neck rubs back. What may happen, however, is that the Universe will lead you out of that relationship, and toward a relationship with someone who is generous like you.


Journal or write about what you desire, but write it in the past tense. I have worked miracles with this technique. At one point I wanted to continue to work freelance, but to have a more stable base income. I visualized/journaled that I manifested contract work that was regular and paid X-amount a month, that was in the field of spirituality or metaphysics, and that still allowed me total flexibility over my time and schedule. I then closed that file and went on with my life. Five months later, I went back and read it again, and realized that not only had I manifested just what I had asked for within two months, it paid the exact amount I had requested. (I then wished I had requested more!)

If you find yourself worrying about something, or locked into a "rut" and unable to move forward, just do something. MOVE. Either take some action, even if it seems impractical or silly, or move physically; take a walk, go for a run, swim in the ocean, clean out your closets. Taking action will get your energy moving again, make you feel empowered, and distract your conscious (limited by beliefs and prejudices) mind so your higher mind or subconscious/creative mind can lead you out of the woods.
Similarly, if you want new clothes, get rid of the old ones! If you want a new couch, get rid of the old. If you hang onto it because you're afraid you'll be couchless, then you need to examine your beliefs and expectations. Make room for the new good you desire in your life.


Play with manifesting. Begin small and light. Some of my favorite things to manifest when I'm "playing" are flowers and friendly, happy people. Last summer I decided to manifest flowers, and soon I had flowers everywhere. Not only did my new sweetheart love to show up at the door with a bouquet in hand, my other friends and family began sending me flowers, dropping by with flowers, and flowers even began sprouting up in my yard in unexpected places. It was delightful to watch it all unfold!
Friendly, happy people are easy and fun to manifest as well. Next time you go out with someone who shares your spiritual outlook and understands this idea about how we create our own realities, join forces to manifest friendly, happy people. The synergy you create together should lead to a very pleasant and interesting evening.

Similarly, if you're working at manifesting and you need a boost, ask for signs! If you want money, for example, say, Universe, show me signs that my perfect good is already on the way. You might then decide the sign will be pennies, and then discover pennies everywhere. You might find a penny in your shoe, pennies jangling in your jacket pocket, pennies on the sidewalk, or even more radical signs like a penny under the lettuce in your salad (it's happened!) Another fun thing to try to manifest if you're feeling lonely is phone calls. I can get my phone ringing off the wall if I "put my mind to it!"


Use affirmations. Write them, say them, sing them, dance them, FEEL them.
Some possibilities:

(My own personal daily affirmation at the moment): "My life is rich with lavish abundance, passionate love, health, beauty, harmony and ease."

The infinite and endless abundance of God flows ever through me.

The Universe is abundant, therefore, it is natural to feel abundant. As a child of the Universe, I am naturally at ease, and all my needs are met.

I embrace goodness for myself and others. Nothing is too good to be true; anything is possible.

With God as my Source, anything can happen.

I give freely and fearlessly to life and life gives back to me with fabulous increase.

I let go of worn out or obsolete conditions and relationships and allow the unlimited abundance of God to flow into my experience now.

I feel good, and in feeling good, I know the heart of true abundance. In seeking to express my highest potential, I am honoring the God within me.

I have all the resources, time, energy and wealth to do what I want in my life.

I'm always in the right place at the right time, doing what I'm meant to do.

All answers are within me. I follow my inner wisdom.

I think and dream in unlimited ways.

I trust that everything comes at the perfect time and in the perfect way.

The more I joyfully give, the more I gratefully receive.

I bless all channels of my unlimited supply of wealth, prosperity, abundance, happiness and good health.

I take my first step into a new life today.

I accept today more good than I experienced yesterday.

Total trust in God alone as the Source opens the gates of plenty in my life. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."