W      hat are the lofty aspirations you have set for 2018?

Perhaps the question should be, what is the true message you are transmitting? Much has been written about the manifesting process, including my book Unconscious Decisions.

Those who have studied the Law of Attraction know that the process includes:

• Getting clear on what it is you want
• Writing it down
• Releasing any unconscious beliefs that block your ability to receive what you want
• Taking inspired, focused action

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Your goal may be to improve your health, repair a relationship, boost your career, increase your income or help others. 

It doesn’t matter, the process is the same. The basis of the Law of Attraction is the universal Law of Vibration. As you may know, I firmly believe that it is our vibration that communicates our desires and fears as prayers.

Let’s assume you’ve decided on what it is you want and have written it down.  You’ve also taken the time to uncover any limiting beliefs about your goal and changed them.  Congratulations! That last step is vital and can be very uncomfortable. Now you’re spending hours repeating affirmations, visualizing and focusing your attention on what you want, as you scrupulously work to distract your thoughts from those things you do not want.

Unfortunately, the results are often mixed and confusing. Discouraged, you may believe there’s something wrong with you (but there’s not) or, all of this is just malarkey (but it’s not).

There are two reasons most people do not receive what they want.The first is they did not follow step three above and eliminate the negative beliefs. If deep in your unconscious mind you believe you are unworthy or don’t deserve the best, then you’ll never succeed in obtaining the things your really want in life. Likewise, if you have a belief that all rich people are bad, then you’ll never  be wealthy; or, if you receive money you will quickly lose it. After all, your unconscious mind doesn’t want you to be a “bad” person. These programed fears, values, prejudices and beliefs hidden in your unconscious are running 95% of your life, so you need to deal with the ones that do not benefit you. As previously stated, there is plenty of information available on how to accomplish the needed changes. I discuss several techniques in my book as well.

The second and most misunderstood cause is we don’t let go of our attachment to what it is we want! This was hard for me to accept and I still have difficulty with this concept at times.  How can I not be attached to something I want?

The wanting and desiring of, for example, a million dollars is sending a vibration of wanting and desiring the money in the future. You’ll continue to receive circumstances that will generate more wanting and desiring!  You must understand, wanting and desiring is not having.  Get out of your head and stop thinking about the future. Feel the vibration of gratitude for having the money NOW. Your ability to be happy and appreciate what you already have is very important. As Rabbi Hyman Schachtelsaid, “Happiness is not having what you want.  It is wanting what you have.”

Another component of letting go is not allowing the ego to dictate exactly how, when, where and in what form you receive the object of your desire. Perhaps you are convinced that the million dollars will come to you from a project you are bidding on, but what if you don’t win the bid?  Will you then become frustrated and angry and believe that all of this is rubbish?  What you must understand is that the million dollars will come to you not because you won the project, or because of your education, connections or talent.  They are just possible avenues through which the money can flow.

What you want comes to you because you consciously choose to receive it.

This doesn’t mean you throw out common sense and sit on the couch eating chocolate and the money will magically appear in your bank account.  It does mean you take the action that feels right to you and gives you purpose.  By acting on what aligns with your soul, you provide the channels through which the million dollars can come to you.  It may be through that project or a better one down the road.  There could be an opportunity for a new job, start a new business, an investment or an inheritance.Take the action that feels right, but as Mike Dooley preaches, “don’t try to control the ‘hows’.”

Can you imagine telling God or the Universe how to do his or her job?  That’s what you’re doing when you place restrictions on your intentions.  Our society has taught the ego that we need to be in control.  It’s not possible to see the infinite possibilities available to us.  Only a much Higher Source can maneuver the people, events, and circumstances to bring them together for our benefit. After declaring our intention, it is up to us to be aware and recognize the opportunity when it presents itself and follow up with action.

When I say don’t constrict the Universe, I’m not instructing you to be vague or to ignore step number one in the process.  Instead of writing a statement of intent such as “I want to have a million dollars from my employer by the end of June,” consider “I choose to receive at least one million dollars now and am happy for all that I have been given.”

Although you may not physically have the money in hand, this declaration expresses appreciation for what you do have and gratitude for what you know is coming.  The amount is not limited to only a million dollars but allows for even more, and it doesn’t place a constraint on how and when you physically obtain the money.

Continue to affirm, visualize and feel how the money has now given you financial freedom, the ability to experience new adventures and help those you love. Just don’t obsess on how it flows to you.

The strange thing is, the more you vibrate how happy you are with the good you already have, the Universe responds with more of those things for which you can be grateful. However, you must remember, if you’re preoccupied with fear and worry, you will get more of the same.

There will always be those with no understanding of this law that will believe you are just “lucky” without ever realizing this law is available to all.

It is my sincere hope that by the end of 2018 you have manifested only those things that will improve your life and help you grow.