What you focus on you attract. If you keep looking for the positive experiences and circumstances that surround you, you will see and attract more positive situations and experiences. You attract what you look for. You get what you expect.
Focus on the positive
It took some practice for me to stop thinking and saying negative things. First, I had to become aware I was focusing on the negative. Sometimes I was literally speechless because I couldn’t find the positive in a situation. Nevertheless, I learned and I consciously monitor my thoughts and words every day.
What you think, what you say, what you do, attracts more of the same. If you focus on what is not working around you, you will attract more of what is not working. When you begin to focus only on the good stuff around you, – the blessings, the people, and the circumstances – you will attract more of those types of experiences. What are you focusing on – the negative or the positive?
The Gratitude Exercise that creates change
The act of gratitude will create change. Each evening before you go to sleep, offer gratitude for three things that happened in your day. Then offer gratitude for three things you appreciate about yourself. Finally, look back over your day and ask, “What am I taking away from this day.” It may be an insight, a lesson, an idea, a feeling an understanding or a new determination. This Gratitude Exercise creates change. The vibration of gratitude you have sent forth will act as an attractor for more positive things
Giving gratitude shifts your focus. It makes you look for the positive that flows throughout your day rather than the negative. That shift in focus alone will change your life.
Give gratitude for the events and lessons of your day. As I reflect on my day, my gratitude might include something I wrote that day, a person I talked to, an idea I had, or a chance encounter that was rewarding. I offer gratitude for my home environment because it nurtures me. The best days are when I am thankful for a shift in my awareness, when I discover a new framework for viewing parts of my life and when I embrace a new concept that enhances my inner work.
Give gratitude for yourself. The friend who taught me this technique said it was harder for her to give gratitude for things about herself. That may be true for you too. I am always grateful for my mind – it leads me on wondrous adventures and is strong, capable, and interesting. You may be grateful for your kindness, or your ability to learn new things. You may be grateful for how you are in service. What are you grateful for about yourself?
What is your take-away? I end my coaching sessions by asking my client what she is taking away from our time together. It helps her realize what she has learned, or achieved and it helps me see what was important to her. When I identify something I am grateful for, I ask myself what insight I am taking away from the experience. Looking for that “ah-ha” moment allows me to go to sleep with a deeper appreciation for my day.
Let go of resistance
What you resist persists. In martial arts, they teach you to yield and let the force that is coming toward you propel itself past you. Stop worrying. Stop thinking the worst that can happen. Allow events to show up as they will and make your choices then and only then. The Tao De Ching says, “The Master allows things to happen. She shapes things as they come. She steps out of the way and lets the Tao do its work.” What a relief to know that we can simply allow things to show up and address them in the moment, shape them as they appear. Even better is to know that our thoughts attract through the Tao and we can change our lives simply by changing our thoughts.
Stop picturing the bad stuff
There are several possible scenarios that could show up in my life around a certain group of people. I can either picture all the worst possible things that can happen and steel myself to handle it. Or, I can let go and let the Tao take care of it, knowing that whatever shows up will be perfect, that I can manage it, and that whatever I need to learn from the situation will be clear. The biggest step is for me to start picturing the positive way I’d like it to play out. That sets up the vibration of attraction that will bring the positive experience to me. However, in the end, I simply have to trust I can “shape things as they come.”
Let gratitude be your magic wand
Gratitude is magic. What you focus on you attract. Let gratitude release your resistance and bring to you the very best of everything.
