Do you believe you have the power to create your reality and manifest your dreams, or do you believe that your future is pre-destined and so what’s the point of trying?
I believe in a little of both (not the ‘no point in trying’ bit) as I have experienced the power of focusing on my future consciously and how that can create exactly what I want, both short term and long term.
The process of creating your reality and manifesting your dreams is the whole spectrum of dreaming or visioning (even if it feels impossible at the time), setting intentions of how you want to be, writing down goals or things you want to do or achieve and taking action towards your dreams.
This is how you can consciously create your own reality – how bloody brilliant is that?
The flip side is, if you worry a lot and you’re focusing on things going wrong or something not happening, you will create that too! What you place your attention and focus on, is what grows, like a plant you’re watering daily. So focus on what you do want, not what you don’t. I can’t stress enough how important that is.
I only started focusing on what I want as a conscious practice about 4 years ago, before that, I dreamed, I desired change, I worked towards some goals (like going travelling) but, I wasn’t doing it through any kind of practical system or with any ritual or sacred ceremony, I wasn’t even writing my dreams or goals down!
If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!
– Benjamin Franklin
Planning may not be a very sexy word, but it is so important to take your dreams, and make them into plans, then to take action towards them – as this action creates momentum and also the universe responds and supports you when you ‘show up’. Two of the definitions of ‘plan’ in the Oxford English Dictionary are “a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something” and “an intention” and I think both are important.
If you feel like nothing really changes in your life, like you’re stuck or you never get anywhere, then try doing something differently, try consciously asking your heart what it is you want and take steps towards making it happen. Since I started doing this 4 years ago, I have seen bigger (and the most amazing) life changes than in probably the 15 years before that! If you don’t know what they were, check out my story here.
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
While wishes do come true, I believe it is the balance of yin and yang that creates results; the yin being dreaming, allowing, surrendering to the ‘how’ and the yang being focusing in a direction and taking action towards your goals.
Here’s a simple practice to help you create your reality and manifest your dreams and if you want to go deeper, keep reading below.
Your Practice
#1 Allow yourself to dream and vision what you really really want, not what you think you should want – which comes from your conditioning. These desires are more true for you and come from a deep place within you, from your heart, soul and spirit. It takes courage to listen to these dreams as they’re often huge, crazy or massively different to where you are right now, but you’ll know when you hit on a true heart’s desire because it will feel exciting.
#2 Commit to achieving your dreams. This is important, without commitment its unlikely to happen. You may have no idea how to get there, it may feel scary to even think about moving towards your dream, but it is feels good and right, then set an intention and say to yourself something like “I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I want this so much that I’m going to get there”. State your dream in the comments below – this alone will be a statement of commitment!
#3 Make a plan. This could be as simple as writing down your dreams or creating a vision board (collage of pictures which represent your dreams) and placing it somewhere you’ll see it. If you’re ready to take it further, brainstorm ideas of what you can do, to take you closer to your dream. These can be big or small steps. Even putting the intention ‘out there’ will start to bring what you need into your reality. Remember, the universe will guide you with the ‘how’, so make a plan but be flexible to alter it too!
#4 Take action. Actually do something, take a step, then another. Consistent action will get you there quicker than anything else!
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