Why isn't this working?

What we think about becomes our reality. The Law of Attraction is always working, and works every time. So why do we not always get what we want when we want it? There are reasons why some of the things that we wish for come to us, while others take longer or never seem to show. Why?

Well, I would say that the most common reason we do not receive what we want is because of our beliefs. What do we believe is true? For something to manifest in our lives we must truly believe that it is possible and that we deserve to have it. A lot of our ideas seem so far away and impossible sometimes. Because that is what we believe to be fact. When we change our beliefs then we can change our reality. What is on your mind? Abraham (Ester & Jerry Hicks) put it simply as "your habitual dominant vibration," this is what will create your world. What are you focusing on? What is attracting your attention? These thoughts are what will continue to create your world. Your dominant thoughts. But, the beauty of it all is that we are choosing what we think about, just like we can change our thoughts if we want to.

The next reason that could be causing our desires not to show would be a lack of patience. Louise L. Hays compares the Law of Attraction to a seed. When we ask for something, our desire, we must give it time to appear - just as if we were to plant a seed. It takes time for a seed to grow, it doesn't just happen over night. Some plants take little time, while others can take years. We must be patient and believe that it is happening. And we must not be so desperate for our desire to come about. Once again, Abraham (Ester & Jerry Hicks) says: "The most common misunderstanding that prevents people from getting control of a situation and gaining their personal balance is the belief that I need to get where I want to be right now or as quickly as possible. The urge works against you. When you feel an urgency to be somewhere else, you are pushing hard against where you are." And although we are asking for more we must continue to be thankful for all of the things that we do have. When we are in that happy, thankful, joyous mood then that is when the magic happens. Our positive mood is like fertilizer to our plant, it helps it along, gives it nourishment.

And lastly, another reason we may not be seeing our desires in our lives could be because we are focusing more on the bad then the good. If you are ill and want better health, yes you may ask for that better health but you are focusing on the uncomfortable situation, the pain, it's all you can talk about. Or if you need money - you ask for it, but then all you can think about are the things that you don't have instead of the things that you do. You keep thinking about those bills or how you never have enough. What are you focusing on? You can't ask for prosperity and then expect it to come out of your thoughts of being deprived. Sometimes it can be very hard to change our thinking patterns, but with practice it can soon become natural to us.

So ask yourself, "What am I really thinking about?" When you put forth those thoughts of desire, do you really believe it is possible? Do you really believe that you deserve it? Are you practicing patience, or doubting because it hasn't happened yet? Are you thinking about what you want more than what you don't have? These are all very important questions which will really steer you into the right direction when it comes to fully utilizing positive thinking and the Law of Attraction. Believe it is happening, your dreams are right around the corner!

Appreciation

I've recently been talking a lot about appreciation and being grateful for the things that we have. I have mentioned a few good techniques that were recommended by different authors and books. But what I have really come to realize now, after applying some of those ideas is just how much I really did take things for granted. Sure, I always thought of myself as a very appreciative and thankful person... that is until I really started reading and getting into some of these books about positive thinking. I am realizing now that there are so many different ways to show gratitude.

"The Secret", Louise L. Hays, Deepak Chopra, and Abraham all speak about being thankful for every little thing that comes into our life. It has also been mentioned that if we are not thankful for all of the little things, or the things that we have now then we will not appreciate all of the good things that are to come. New, great things cannot come to us until we are thankful for what we have. So I have really been thinking about that concept... because of course like many, there are things that I desire in my life that I have not come in contact with yet. So, I have been thinking about all the little things that I am thankful for and keeping a Gratitude Journal like I mentioned before. In doing so I have really noticed all of the things that I have that I am taking for granted. I have several examples in fact. The first one was my car. I have a very nice car compared to many. I have a 2001 red Chevy Camaro, with 20" rims. A nice ride. It wasn't the car I was originally trying to get, but it is still very nice. Anyhow, I don't remember which author said it, but they said that you can tell how people feel about their cars by the condition they keep it in. Some people keep their cars very clean inside and out, while others just don't seem to care. Well, I am very neat when it comes to keeping the inside of my car clean... I don't like trash, soda cans, papers, or any odd debris. But I did start to notice that I wasn't keeping it the way I should if I really did appreciate it like I thought. I noticed the outside was dirty, the rims could use a cleaning, and the inside was needing a good dusting. So I got to work on it, cleaned it all up... and boy it looks so much nicer. Other examples of things that I have been taking for granted would be my clothing and accessories. I have a closet full of clothes and shoes that I never wear. I just got into that "comfy" mode and only wore nice things on occasion. Well that is silly! I realized one of the things I have been wanting is to go shopping and buy new clothes and accessories. Well, if I don't appreciate what I already have, why should I go shopping? Well so now I am striving to wear a different outfit everyday. I wore a dress the other day, and I felt so good in it and looked so pretty. My boyfriend loved it! And it was about damn time I wore it, because I have never wore the thing since I bought it! In over a year! How ungrateful is that? Not only was I taking for granted my clothes, but all my different shoes too. I have so many, and in different colors, but I got into the habit of just always grabbing those black comfortable tennis shoes. And I have a whole jewelry box full of jewelry, most of which I haven't wore in years! WHY? I was organizing my jewelry box and I love all of it, and just never wear it. Rings, necklaces, bracelets... talk about unappreciative! And when I was styling my hair I noticed how many decorative hair ties, headbands, and barrettes that I own, some of which I have never even wore. How sad is that? But it just goes to show how easily we can take things for granted, and not even realize it. I was taking all of those things for granted, and now that I am using them I see that. Another example: finger nail polish. I used to have my nails done, and since I haven't been working that was something I have cut back on to save money. But I wish that I could have them done. Well, so I started painting them on my own, something I haven't done in years. But I am really trying to embrace what I have and be truly thankful. On the same lines, I have a foot spa, and foot scrubs that I've been wanting to use, but just haven't gotten around to. Well it is time that I do. It is time that I make time for the things that I want to do - and more importantly use and appreciate all the things that I own!

It is so easy to say that we are thankful for all that we have, but are we really? I thought I was. What can you do in your life to show that you are grateful? Are there things in your life that have gotten neglected? We must appreciate all that we have before we can appreciate anything new.

Five Senses

Most of us are given five valuable senses for our existence. Sight, Hearing, Feeling, Taste, and Smell. We use these sense every day without even realizing it most of the time. We rely on what our senses tell us. Our senses are a direct link to our brain, which processes the given information. We live and learn through our senses. They immensely affect our lives. So, with as much as we depend on our senses we should also use them to our advantage, more than what we already do anyhow.

Many of the authors and supporters of the Law of Attraction and the whole positive thinking movement suggest and personally recommend using our five sense to help attract the things that we desire into our lives. They say that we are to use all of our given senses to feel how our dreams would feel. We need to hear it. We need to see it. We need to taste it. We need to smell it. And lastly we need to feel it! Feel how it would make you feel inside when you have accomplished your goal or finally have that something you've been wanting for a long time. The mind can conceive anything. And if we can imagine it, then we can make it our reality. They say that the mind cannot differentiate between reality and imagination. The mind knows no difference. So take that into consideration. The mind cannot tell the difference between real and unreal thoughts! So we can choose to think about whatever we like. They say we can trick our mind into believing something is real. I'm sure we are all familiar with the Placebo Effect. It's the same idea. The mind will respond to what we choose to believe is real. We can think about whatever we want, so why not think about the things that we enjoy, and want to come into our existence? We can imagine what our dreams feel like. We can see them in our mind. Use all of your senses to draw in whatever it is that you desire.

Our five senses are valuable tools that we should take full advantage of each and every day. Bring your dreams into your life by imagining them first, and see the results. What is it you want?  

Gratitude Journal

Recently I have been reading a lot of books all about positive thinking, the power of the mind, and the Law of Attraction. It is amazing how it doesn't matter the title of the book, or the author, but each mentions how important it is to live a life of gratitude. To live a life of happiness and joy we must truly be thankful for every little thing in our lives. If we are in a constant state of gratitude then we are consistently attracting more of it into our lives, more things and reasons to be thankful. If we would change our outlook to being appreciative for each and every thing then we would see what kind of a difference it makes in our lives.

Several of these books and authors recommend making a daily ritual of being thankful. Some suggest mentally coming up with ten things everyday that you are thankful for. Another suggested making a list, writing all the different reasons to be thankful for and continually adding to it as we think of things. Some speak of writing to the people in our lives and tell them what we appreciate about them. I liked one particular idea, which was making a Gratitude Journal. The object is to make a journal with all of the things that you are grateful for. You could do this many different ways. You could keep an online journal, you could write on lose leaf paper and put it together as you go, or you could use a notebook or journal. Whatever you choose, each day write about one thing in your life that you are thankful for and why. This should be extremely easy to think of reasons to be thankful. Each day write about a new idea, it should only take a few minutes. But the point is that when you are thinking and writing about thing in your life then you are expressing those thoughts of gratitude and the Law of Attraction will respond. The Law of Attraction will continue to give you things to be thankful about. Make it your focus in life to recognize the wonderful things that come your way. And don't be afraid to say thank you.

What a wonderful process. And its so easy. We can all make time to come up with 2-3 minutes a day to be thankful. And when is a better time to start then now? Try it, see how you feel about it, and see where it takes you. Whatever you choose to do, just remember how important it is to live a life of gratitude.

Strive to Be First

"Strive to be first: first to nod, first to smile, first to compliment, and first to forgive."

-Anonymous

When I read this quote I really enjoyed it. I thought others would as well. Wouldn't it be nice if everyone acted that way? If everyone smiled and complimented each other. Wouldn't it be great if we could forgive each other like our pets or small children? They hold no grudges. Neither should we. Wouldn't it just be a wonderful world if everyone strived to make peace with others and supported and encouraged everyone we met? Everyone would simply love each other. I say let's make an example. Put your best foot forward every time. Make a difference in each others lives by being such a positive example that others can't help but notice.

We choose how we live, and how we deal with situations. We should choose the best possible outcomes, and choose to want to inspire others. Our thoughts make us, and they make our world. We can practice everyday by choosing purposely to uplift everyone we come in contact with. We should make the conscious decision that we will live a positive life, in all aspects, whatever we do. Remember to be the first!