The Subtlety Of Affirmations

Affirmations are so powerful and I'm learning that lesson all over again.  I've been fighting a flu bug that has turned into a cold that has turned into a cough that refuses to leave.  And, I'm pretty sure that I created this flu/cold/cough by buying into the 'flu season' talk.

"It's that time of year again - better stock up Vitamin C."

"Airplanes are filled with germs and spread so easily, I better wash my hands every chance I get."

It's subtle but I truly believe I've been telling the Universe that I expect to get sick.  It's just as easy for me to affirm health and wholeness and yet, I focus my words and my thoughts on avoidance and a 'wishful thinking' mentality.

When am I going to learn to trust in the law of good, to trust that the Universe is always supporting my best health and to really stand in that knowing?

I am just realizing that I have been buying into the lingering fear and doubt that Life can't always be this good.  It's a small crack in my faith and trust which has led me to manifest this lingering illness.

It's the difference between the trust IN God and the trust OF God.  And that small difference is where the real impact of affirmations lies.  Subtle, yet powerful....and life changing, for sure.

So, where in YOUR life are you using subtle affirmations to affirm your faith in what you DON'T want?

Today, I set the intention to have faith and trust in the power of my words, remembering that a subtle change can make a world of difference in my life.

"Every time you praise something, every time you appreciate something, 

every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe, 

"More of this please. More of this please." 

~Abraham-Hicks

"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." 

~John D. Rockefeller

Affirmative Prayer:
Letting go of the day for just a moment, and turning within, there is a Divine Presence that calls out to go deeper.  It is a joy beyond understanding and a peace beyond compare.  It is the fresh air that blows through the trees and the sunshine that warms the flowers.

I know, in the center of my consciousness, that this Infinite Intelligences lavishes me with abundance and loves me more than I can sometimes comprehend.  This Source of Life seeks expression through me, expanding my possibilities and potential beyond what I can even imagine.

I allow this Divine Love to simply wash over me and guide me to my greatest good.  I am open to the realization that life can always be so awesome, so amazing, so wonderful.  I detach from what I think things must look like and surrender to the power of Spirit that shows me how deserving I am of perfect health.  I release the need for any sort of flu bug or lingering cough and feel in my bones the vitality and energy of healing sweeping through.  I welcome the restoration of my easy breathing and peaceful sleep each night.  And I claim the ease with which I get out of bed each morning, ready to something wonderful to happen.

I am filled with gratitude for the wisdom that tells me I can trust the Universe to always have my back.  I am thankful for a healthy, thriving body that runs and jumps and plays with the ease of a child.  And I am grateful that I only need raise my vibration to one of wholeness and I can see the manifestation arrive in perfect, Divine timing.

Returning to the deep knowing of Oneness with the all-good of God, I release this prayer to the consciousness of the Divine, knowing it is already done.  My life is remarkable.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of Celeste RC/Flickr

I Wouldn't Be At All Surprised If I Get What I Want!

"I promise myself...to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future."   As I go through the motions of examining my beliefs and working on changing them to new beliefs, the Optimist's Creed by Christian D. Larson, and this statement, jumped out at me.

It's been a great exercise for me to release old drama, forgive myself for past mistakes and make a decision to move forward.  Then, out of the blue, an old issue that I thought I had truly let go of comes back up to the surface.

What the heck!  I was so confident that I had forgiven myself and shelved thoughts of being a failure.

I heard someone mention recently that it may be that I have not yet learned the lesson I was supposed to receive working through the issue.  It might also be that my subconscious is not ready to make a big leap to what I have been affirming.

<sigh>  That sounds like a valid point.  I realize that I can't just simply say, "I don't believe this about myself anymore", and expect it to be gone.   But, when do I finally just let "stuff" go?

For example, I have been affirming that I am effectively self-employed, and I thought I had forgiven myself for a past failed business.  Yet, that memory of failure keeps nagging and my inner critic tells me that I already screwed it up once - what makes me think I will be successful the next time?

Thankfully, I became aware of another tool to use when working on transforming my beliefs.  It was in the April issue of Science of Mind magazine.  The tool was to specifically break down limited thinking.

Here it is.  If there is something highly unlikely that you would like to happen in your life, say "I would not be at all surprised if.... and then add whatever it is you are desiring to create.  In my case, it would be, "I would not be at all surprised if I became effectively self-employed within the next two months." (thanks to Bob Luckin for sharing this).

What a beautiful way to work through these mental blocks that I hang on to.  And it's wonderful trick to reframe beliefs that are keeping me from what I wish to create in my life.

I don't yet understand how these tools seem to work - but they do!  If nothing else, it raises my energy level from feeling down on myself as a failure to seeing potential for the future.  And, I'm sure that's the premise of the Optimist's Creed - to keep our mental attitude aiming for the highest and best future possible for us.

The Creed ends with "to live in the faith that the whole world is on my side, so long as I am true to the best that is in me."  And there might be my lesson - forget the mistakes of the past and do the best that you can with what you have in this moment.

A magical life is waiting for each of us.  We just need to press on with our journey.

So, what are some tools that have worked for YOU to release past mistakes?  And what motivates YOU toward greater success in the future?

Today, I set the intention to remember that I am always taken care of by a Divine Source, releasing past mistakes and celebrating my achievements as they unfold.  

"If our experiences are the result of our thoughts, then the future, if it is going to be 

given birth to in the present, will be largely the lengthened shadow of the content of 

our minds, of our feelings of faith or fear.  It is no wonder that the future so seldom

 becomes better than the past, and often worse as pessimism takes the place of optimism. 

 We have to learn to speak an affirmative language."  

~Ernest Holmes

"Human beings are already gods, so why take on the consciousness and behavior

 of robotic, soulless slaves and machines?  Trust your Self, not the material mind;

 be fearless and go forth with enthusiasm and kindness."  

~Terry Cole-Whittaker

Affirmative Prayer:
As the trees sway in the wind and the flowers open up to receive the morning dew, there is the feeling of a Power of Good rooted firmly in this moment.  It is peace and harmony, compassion and love and this Power is never wavering but bends easily in the breeze to support and sustain all that is.

Right here, right now, this Power of Good moves through me and I accept that I am a Divine expression of Infinite Intelligence.  That is the truth of my being - perfect, whole and complete - as I claim my Oneness with the Universe, my Oneness with Spirit, my Oneness with Source.  

Knowing there is something great within me, I live my life with the faith that I am always provided for.  And as my greatness emerges a little more each day, I welcome the success that is revealed in my life.  My gifts and talents are brought to light and Divine guidance shows me the next steps for sharing my unique and beautiful abilities.  I let go of any self-imposed thoughts of lack or limitation and instead, I act like the enlightened, Spiritual being that I am.  Everything I need is in my hands right now and I simply need to reach out and live my purpose, believing that I am here for a magical life filled with joy and with fun!

Smiling at that thought, I am thankful for the greatness that is revealed as I do the best I can with what I know.  I am filled with deep gratitude for a Source of love that makes my decisions easy and my choices clear.   And I give thanks for my achievements each day as I stretch past the familiar and step into the new adventures and opportunities for expansion.

Breathing into that space of gratitude, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, into the One Mind, knowing it is already done.  I receive it right now!  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Why You Must Keep Building Your Spiritual Consciousness

"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life."  - Confucius.  It's so true!  As I follow the path to re-evaluate what my passions are, it is giving me an opportunity to connect to what I would LOVE to do for my career.  I yearn for something that is meaningful and inspiring.

So, it's been about a week since I started writing my intentions and affirmations down - four different statements that I write down six times.  Then, I release them to the Universe and go about my day.

At the same time, I realize that part of the power of manifestation is my consciousness.  Now that I am taking small steps in my soul's journey, knowing there is something more that will unfold, I hold it in my conscious thought that my perfect and right career will get my attention.

Whatever it is that I am seeking, I have faith that it is also seeking me.

The minute I wrote those words, Cheryl Richardson's voice pops into my head (I love to listen to Hay House Radio as I contemplate and write what is on my heart).   She is recommending her online event, Fueling the Entrepreneurial Spirit, to a caller.  Shen then continues by giving the caller an affirmation - I am effectively self-employed.

Wait - that's MY affirmation!  Okay, the Universe now has my attention...

Needless to say, I went to the link Cheryl read off and signed up for the online event.  Even better - it's On Demand so I have no excuse NOT to listen to the event (sorry, Ego, no resisting this one.)

As I make the choice every day to keep moving forward in my actions - to keep writing, to keep learning, to keep doing something creative - I am building a life that will allow my dream job to be realized.

My intentions and affirmations help keep my vision honed.  And, my conscious thought that my highest and best career is also seeking me is guiding the Universe to provide messages like "Here is this event, Sandy, sign up now."

In The Power of Intention, Wayne Dyer says, "Being aligned with the Universal field means having faith that your Creator knows why you're here, even if you don't.  It means surrendering the little mind to the big mind, and remembering that your purpose will be revealed in the same way that you were revealed.  Purpose, too, is birthed from creativeness, kindness, love, and receptivity to an endlessly abundant world.  Keep this connection pure and you'll be guided in all of your actions."

I realize that there may be challenges and yet, in the middle of leaping into this journey I am on, I also choose to believe the Universe is working on my behalf.  So, we'll see where it goes from here!

What guidance have YOU received from the Universe today?  And are you following your intuition?

Today, I set the intention to keep my thoughts aligned with my intentions and affirmations, sitting in expectancy of my good and remembering that my true nature is wholeness and unconditional love.

"Your purpose is between you and your Source, and the closer you get to what

 that field of intention looks and acts like, the more you'll know that you're being

 purposefully guided.  You might have zero measurable aptitudes and skills in a 

given area, yet feel inwardly drawn to doing it.  Forget the aptitude-test results, 

forget the absence of skills or know-how, and most important, ignore the opinions

 of others and listen to your heart."  

~Dr. Wayne Dyer

"Expect to have hope rekindled.  Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous

 ways.  The dry seasons in life do not last.  The spring rains will come again."  

~Sarah Ban Breathnach

Affirmative Prayer:
Taking a breathe and going within, at the core of life, there is an essence of Spirit, of Source, of Divine Love.  It is a vibrant, shimmering beacon of hope filled with joy, with peace, with harmony and with grace.  And just as a lighthouse guides ships at sea, so does this Infinite Essence guide all that is, never wavering in the strength and power that it provides unconditionally each and every day.

Embracing my Oneness with this Essence, there is an absolute certainty that the strength and the power of Divine Wisdom and Infinite Intelligence is my true nature.  And at my core, I feel the presence that is wholeness, that is perfection, and I am complete just as I am.  All of Life flows around and through and as me, expressing in beautiful, magnificent ways.

Every part of my being accepts this truth of my Oneness with Source.  And I affirm that in my own unique way, I am stepping into the life I am being called to live.  As I hold the conscious thoughts of living a meaningful and inspiring life, the Universe carries me to an even higher place of my unfolding.  I welcome the transformation that occurs as I accept this calling of living my purpose.  And I affirm that opportunities and success are right where I am now, lifting me to greater fulfillment in my career, in the work that I am here to do.  

I am so grateful for the blessings that are revealed as I trust that the Universe is building me up for something even better than I imagined in my career.  And I am thankful for the love that surrounds me as I take one step at a time toward my dreams.   I am filled with a deep gratitude for the absolute knowing of answered prayer.

Rejoicing in this truth, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  My steps forward are clear and certain.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

The #1 Way To Tap Into Infinite Potentiality

A lot of my focus lately has been on setting intentions and visualizing the life I want.  And, not just life in general but, specifically, the career that I desire.  Some days, though, it seems like I'm doing all the right things and nothing is showing up.

This is a big part of my spiritual practice and when I don't see the evidence, I start to get discouraged. Because of this, I sat for a while and asked the Universe, "How can I see this differently?"  Then I just became open to whatever showed up next.

As thoughts and feelings percolated, I noticed if any seemed fear-based and just let those pass through.  And some things came up that were definitely driven by my ego.  But - what also popped into my view was a book I had purchased a few months ago - Directing Your Destiny; How to Become the Writer, Producer, and Director of Your Dreams by Jennifer Grace.

I had listened to Jennifer's show on Hay House radio a few times and liked what she had to say so I ordered her book.  Of course, when it arrived, I promptly put it on my shelf, thinking I would get to it at some point.

Well, today was the day.

Eventually, what was triggered as I worked through her exercises was this:  repetition.  Jennifer recommended writing out six intentions as well as using positive affirmations to avoid getting sucked into the negative monkey-mind chatter.  Then, keep repeating these until you see them manifesting in your life.

For me, when I was using intentions and affirmations more successfully, I would write them down consistently, each one six times, at the start of my day.  After 30 days, sometimes sooner, I would see results.

I had moved away from repeating my mantras on a regular basis and it was starting to show.

So, starting today, it's back to the basics.  I bought a new journal and listed my intentions and affirmations.  I went one step further and used the Screenwriting Your Future-Life script as well.  I've set a timer on my phone to go off as a reminder to take just 15 minutes each day to keep repeating this process.

I know that everything arrives in the Universe's time, not mine, but in using repetition, I believe I'm creating a deeper environment for my sub-conscious to SUPPORT my journey, not SABOTAGE it.  And, when I do that, I see results much more quickly.  And - when I see the evidence, my spiritual practice becomes that much stronger.

So, how are you using intentions and affirmations?

Today, I set the intention to work more consistently at my spiritual practice, having faith that I will see results as I look for the evidence.

"Beyond anything else that we may actually do in our lives, the belief's that precede 

our actions, are the foundation of all that we cherish, dream, become, and accomplish."  

~Gregg Braden

"Faith is the ability to raise consciousness to a place beyond past experience

 and conditions to an awareness of being one with the All, to move beyond

 the chains of the past to the infinite potentiality of the Universe itself."  

~Dr. Kenn Gordon

Affirmative Prayer:
Surrendering to the flow of the Universe, there is a Divine Presence that guides and supports and sustains.  This Presence is one of love, of beauty, of joy and of grace.  It is clarity in all situations and peace in all circumstances.

Moving through my day, I step into the dance of life with this Divine Presence.  I am in perfect sync with the music of a Spirit that surrounds me and supports me in my journey.  And, I am filled with Infinite Intelligence that reminds me I am never separate from my Source of good.

Focusing on this sacred moment, I am grounded in the here and now.  I am present for every moment of Life that says I can have it all.  I celebrate a Source that directs me in harmonious ways as I am consistent in my daily spiritual practices.  As I repeat my mantras and affirmations and intentions, I see evidence of great things manifesting as effortlessly as a single breathe in and out.  As I visualize the life I desire, I welcome Spirit expressing as me in perfect, amazing ways.  I release anything my negative inner critic might tell me and instead, I claim the awesome-ness of who I am - a spiritual being having a human incarnation.  Confidently, I embrace this wisdom, that the Universe is everywhere present supporting me to rise up and to transform.

Remaining in my joy, I am filled with deep gratitude for the knowing that as I believe, I also receive.  I am so thankful for the life I am co-creating with Spirit and the wonderful ways things show up to support me.  And I am grateful for the expansion of my journey here at this time that brings me such fulfillment each and every day.

Letting the feelings of contentment with Life expand, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  My dreams are fulfilled now.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.