By Carolyn Campbell
Manifesting: hogwash or hogwild?
Or perhaps, simply creating your life…your style, your way. Here’s how it’s done:
STEP ONE: Learn and commit to the most important rule: Break or bend any rule contrary to your heart and soul truth.
STEP TWO: Imagine your life as fun. Here we go, already breaking the ‘rules’—you remember, the rules you learned about how homework is called homework because it’s work, and you’ll have to enter the ‘real’ world where work is work, so get used to it. In the world of manifesting, you gotta let go of those!
Truth: if you really honor yourself and your style, building your business can be fun. Having an awesome career does happen! Finding a partner, yes, that too can be fun. Perhaps not jumping-up-and-down, ‘party’ fun, but your own unique form of fun—enjoying the way you walk through life.
If you’re thinking that this is when I’m going to proclaim some woo-woo hogwash about how the ‘right attitude’ makes things magically happen, not to worry. Not so. Well, other than this fact: when you connect from a personally inspired place, it inspires others, and, if you do nothing more than get sincerely curious about others, you’ll be amazed by what might occur…which IS kind of magical. Ah, but I digress.
STEP THREE: Now let’s get into the thick of it. Step number three is about the “S” word. You know, that thing you’re never supposed to be. Yes, my friends, I’m going to stick my neck out and say it…Selfish. I am not interested in creating a culture of greedy, uncaring people. Yet far too many people ‘sacrifice’ their core desires in order to ‘fit in’, ‘be normal’, ‘not rock the boat”…(fill in your own version).
Have you noticed yet that every stage incorporates step number one—breaking or bending every rule that does not honor your heart passion and soul desire?
Back to step three. Write down, maybe for 10 days, what really inspires you and perhaps what has inspired you for years although you never took action. Before you begin, here’s a little heads-up: If your first dream is to sit on the beach all day, no worries. That’s just because you’re fed up and exhausted from doing a job, or life, you don’t like.
As you note what inspires you, notice all the rules running through your mind. They might be “I can’t do THAT”, “Who would ever hire me to do THAT”, or “I’m being too picky”.
Get ready—if you really let go and write down your ‘kooky’ ideas, it’s going to feel weird. And you’re going to think, “Wow, I’m weird!” Bravo, you get an “A” for actually stating your dreams!
Interestingly, once you allow your Self to create a life that enriches you, you will start being in the world in a far more giving way. Sound like a lot of hooey? Well, it’s not. When our core needs aren’t met, it’s hard to truly give to others. [Unless, of course, you live to be a martyr, and in that case I’d suggest going to beingamartyr.com for how tos. (Hmmm, I just looked it up and found out that the domain name is for sale…if you want to start a martyr business, it’s all yours!)]
STEP FOUR: For those of you more interested in creating a life and career that inspires you, our next step is to focus on who you want to work or be with.
Yup. If you haven’t guessed it yet, one of the main reasons people don’t manifest is that it takes time and focus. It is much easier to be at the whim of life and a victim of circumstance.
If you get stuck here, remember that you’re not alone. Most people were never given the tools to know what they really want. Ever wonder why so many successful people are a bit ‘off’? They were often the ones who couldn’t color inside the lines. They may have found themselves in the principal’s office more than others in their class. Or maybe not in school at all. Some had ‘learning challenges’ and had to make their own way. Or, like Bill Gates, they were itching to create their own thing and dropped out of college to get started. I would never disparage teachers—they truly are doing the best they can with the resources at hand… BUT…if you want to manifest your life, there is no better teacher than you to tell you how!
So, don’t stress. Or do, if it makes you feel better. Living out the heart of your truth and the soul of your desire takes practice and courage!
STEP FIVE: Get out in the world and connect with curious intention and visionary purpose.
Sound highfalutin? Well, it should. I call this SPOT & CONNECT. So often we are awash in the world, moving through our days in a haze as we try our best to ‘sell’ ourselves, our products or our abilities. I refer to this as the scattershot approach to life—if you just tell enough people, or send out enough letters, or post your work and yourself on enough social networking sites, something is bound to happen. Oh, how networking and “business” meetings doth make me shiver!
I want to yell, “Stop the chatter! Choose. Connect. Get curious.” Take time to look into the world and see who is on a common path…both personally and professionally. Then, reach out. Build connections. In Joy. In Purpose.
One final rule-breaking, mind-challenging tip. As you begin to manifest, it’s okay and, in fact, important, to fail. Holy moley, yes, I did just say the “f” word. You will stumble. You will flail. You will indeed fail. So get ready to laugh, cry, grumble…whatever you need to do to shake it off. Then get back up. Take a moment to assess what you learned. What part of the steps above did you forget to honor? Then step again.
No magic. Just truth, intention and connection. So simple.
And yet, some of the most challenging work you may ever do.
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Carolyn Campbell has more than 30 years’ experience working with non-profit and for-profit businesses. In creative and connecting ways, Carolyn melds her expertise in community outreach, education and business development to help clients expand their reach and increase their impact…using their unique approach to life. Her areas of specialty include leadership, visioning, outreach and community building.