Imagination is the key to creation

When I was in college I had to take a statistics class which, I was told, would serve me well in the working world. The only thing numbers ever did for me was land me summer school but I needed that degree so there I sat, struggling to stay focused. One day the professor said something that blew the dust right out of my brain, "Statistics don't lie but you can lie with statistics." Now that could be handy. Little did I know that bit of wisdom, applied to the Law of Attraction, would lead me to a major shift in consciousness with huge payoffs.

The turning point was the day I received some bad news at work. Management had abruptly changed my hours and that was going to bite right into what little play time I had. My protests were noted and ignored and I went home hopping mad, then spent the evening and the following morning in lingering anger. I flipped through a few of my positive-thinking books, trying to reboot but when nothing kicked in, I ditched the books and got ready for work.

That's when I noticed it - a huge, creeping water stain on the ceiling and wall in my bedroom. I have neighbors above me and surely something was leaking. “Oh those annoying old people,” I thought, “he has dementia and probably left their window open during the storm.” I called the condo management company and the maintenance guy with a 911 then started thinking about what a disaster it was, not to mention the expense of repainting. Like I need this?

By now it was time to leave for work so I turned off the lights, my bathroom light being the last. As I left the bedroom, I glanced at the wall for one more critical inspection but what I saw was stunning. The water stain was gone. What? How could that be, where did it go? I went back to the bathroom and flipped the light on. Bingo, water stain. Then I flipped the light off again and, bingo, no water stain. It took a couple of tries before it dawned on me that the huge, creeping water stain – destined to unsettle my life for days or maybe weeks to come – was in fact the shadow of my ceiling fan.

So I called the maintenance guy and I called the management company and we all had a good laugh over my foolishness. As I was finally heading out the door, it occurred to me how ready I am to see something that’s not there, based on my expectations. Had I not pulled the plug on my imagination gone wild, I would have created an untidy, and unnecessary, mess.

It didn't take me long to understand that I could use this powerful combination of imagination and passion for my benefit so I did, and the results were astounding. Money increased, relationships became harmonious, and opportunities continued to 'come from nowhere.' As hard headed as I am, if I can learn this so can you.

You have the power to change your destiny - right here, right now - because you're making this all up . Every bit of it. Forget about the facts, the 'statistics,' that are staring you in the face. They are only evidence of the past, of choices made with conscious intention or unconsciously born of worry and fear. Your dominant thoughts about any life circumstance are etching out your future and when those thoughts are infused with feeling, the manifestation is guaranteed to follow.

You are not a victim, though you can go off the rails and react like one. You are a creator. That is your inheritance, that is your birthright. "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." Psalm 82:6. The Source of everything that manifests in the three dimensional world remains static, ever-waiting for your command to give it form. The story you tell , the love you give, the complaints you lodge - everything single thought that is launched into this glorious, creative substance is lovingly embraced by It as the desire of Its beloved, Its creator...you. It does not judge the thought as worthy or unworthy, It only seeks to serve.

What is it that you are expecting to see? Are you using your imaginative power to serve you or unravel you? Make a commitment today to be conscious of what you are asking for through your dominant thoughts. If you are fearing a negative outcome to a worrisome situation, stop immediately and envision its opposite, positive outcome. Imagine yourself hearing the good news, being congratulated, feeling a sense of relief and completion. If you do this with unwavering faith and rest in the knowledge the outcome is certain, you will not fail.

Do you have your foot on the garden hose?

While I was working on the title for the book I'm writing, I found myself in desperate need of some inspiration. Everything I wrote sounded like infomercial shenanigans and none of it had heart. I was actually toying with Read This Book when I thought I should check out some titles of writers in the genre who were actually selling books. What a concept.

I went to the mac daddy of resources for readers and writers, Amazon.com, and typed in the keywords law of attraction. All hope of finding inspiration was immediately dashed when the search turned up nearly 1,200 titles, ranging from well known authors to wannabes. "Who am I to compete with the likes of Jack Canfield and Wayne Dyer?"  I said to myself as I slumped at the keyboard. "What could I possibly say that could make a difference?" I sprang right off the diving board and into an empty pool.

I've been there before, a lot, like the time I auditioned for a part in a school play and the director said he could use me...to help with the costumes. Fueled by more passion than obvious talent, the following year I auditioned for a part as the cranky librarian in play that was one of several plays in a district competition. I had no clue I had a talent for character acting. I walked away with the Best Actress award. Never mind that they spelled my last name with an A instead of E, that little plaque cheered me up on the days I was lying on the bottom of the pool. It was time to get back on the diving board.

I decided to visit my friend Shawn, mostly because I feel better when I'm in his presence.  When I arrived, he had just taken a break from organizing boxes of old photographs. At first I thought the framed photos of exotic landscapes and unsuspecting subjects were collected from art shows. He quickly confessed he was the photographer and I was stunned, not at his talent but that he had only mentioned his interest in passing. One photograph of an elderly Greek man, sitting on white washed stairs beside an azure blue sky, was breathtaking. He had captured the man's very soul in such a striking way that I wanted to sail to the island and ask this man what he knew about life. I practically bellowed, "Why aren't you do this for a living?"

Shawn, and his photograph, reminded me of all that is sacred about life, the one and only you. I know this to be true. There is a gift and a talent you have for something that no one else can deliver exactly the way you can. It does not matter how many others are doing the same thing. I know that anyone with a scissors and the right training can cut my hair. Well, most anyone. But I choose to go to Craymon because I love who he is, I love his enthusiasm and the way he makes me laugh. I can find anyone to do home repairs but I choose to hire Tom because he takes the time to explain preventive care and is grateful for my business. Like Angela, my banker. Like Chuck, my mechanic.

Is there some talent you possess that your are dismissing or minimizing because you feel it is common or not valued by society? That is the very talent that will haunt you until you bring it into being. That is also the talent that, if ignored long enough, has the power to age you beyond your years through pure regret.

Remember this: When you think from a competitive mind, you immediately contract the most powerful law of the universe. There is no way the Law of Attraction can yield to your positive desire for expansion if you are standing on the garden hose, so to speak, and choking off the flow of creative energy through fear.  If you are looking over your shoulder to see what the other guy's doing, you are taking your eye off the prize and contracting your power to create.

The truth is there is no competition for magnificent you. No one, and I mean no one, will ever be able to pour the love and passion into your heart's desire the way you can. When you do what you love to do - no matter how many others seem to be doing the same thing -  something remarkable happens. People will show up in droves to support you with money and love and gratitude. And I promise you this, you will attract prosperity into all areas of your life, beyond your wildest dreams.

When you don't feel it, you won't have it

Law of Attraction says whatever we think about most will, eventually, manifest in our life.  That's a powerful statement but it's also a little unnerving  given the sometimes compulsive way our mind works. If the thought is one of fear or desperation, then we're really off to the races..."I can't afford to lose my job, I'm afraid I'm going to fail, how am I going to get out of this one?" You can add your flavor-of-the-day to the mix but as students of the LOA it's important to remember that just thinking a negative thought isn't going to be our Waterloo. For any thought to morph into being, it has to include feeling.

Years ago I got myself into hot water when I managed a large territory for a national clothing company. My job was to oversee the merchandising of men's slacks in various department stores and one day I was assigned to do a floor re-set in Macy's. My new manager called the night before to verify that she would meet me there before the store opened. Because the job would take the entire day, the store's department manager had to be notified so she could do some prep work. The problem was I had done something galactically stupid. I had forgotten to prepare for everything...the re-set, the appointment, the notification. It's safe to say it didn't go well.

When I went home that night I was sure I was going to get fired. My mind raced all the way to the end of the story and by the time I went to sleep, I was wondering if my sure-to-dwindle income would allow me to collect food stamps. I knew enough back then about the LOA to know that if these toxic thoughts continued, I was bound to attract everything I feared. I needed to find a way to reverse the vortex of negative energy I was creating so I decided to start with an affirmation: I am appreciated and congratulated for being an outstanding employee.  

I placed it on the bulletin board in the entryway to my apartment. Every morning as I left for work and every evening when I returned I read it out loud to myself. At first it felt artificial but as I persisted, my thoughts began to turn from 'yeah right' to 'well maybe' to a feeling of relief. As I began to feel better, I behaved more confidently on the job and saw myself as a valued employee. Within weeks I was called on to solve a public relations problem with a major account, which I did, and more requests followed. When I finally left the division to take a transfer, I received a hand written note of appreciation and congratulations on a job well done. Just as I had imagined.

I want to be clear here, an affirmation alone isn't going to turn the tide. Mirrors and walls are littered with affirmations of LOA students who are still reaching for the dream. They are one of many tools that can move you forward but whatever the tool, the goal is to shift out of your present mental state of defeat or fear and into a state of the wish fulfilled. The formula contains both thought and feeling. Emotion is energy in motion and that energy is the creative force of the universe. It is non-judgmental, however, and will either produce results that benefit you or hinder you so be keenly aware of how your are feeling when you think a thought.

I'm a huge fan of starting small when I am on the learning curve. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your current circumstances and don't know where to begin, start by going general. One of my favorites phrases comes from Louise Hay, inspirational teacher and founder of the mega publishing company, Hay House. She rules her days with the thought that "only good goes before me." I like that one because it's easy to remember and it instantly emits a feeling of well being. You'll know the phrase that works best for you when get a feeling of relief as you say it. Again, you are after the feeling.

Don't collapse because you fail and slip backwards when you begin. You'll grow stronger in time as you learn to be conscious of defeating thoughts and turn them around before they grow claws. Success, however you define that, is an inside job. There is no one waiting to fire you - in fact there is no one in charge who can fire you - because you are the CEO, the Chief Emotional Operator. Choose the new thought, infuse it with feeling and persist till it exists. The results will astound you.