Have you ever tried doing something for the first time without receiving any direction on how to do it? On rare occasions, that can lead to invention or innovation. Most of the time, it just ends up making a mess. With any example, a certain strategy will work better than others. Everything essentially follows an ideal pattern of operation. No matter what the thing is—be it working with an object or machinery, a project or process, or a situation with other people—there is a way to do it that will work best for all concerned.
Our mind is the tool that we use to understand things. It can discern what something is and how it might work. We naturally learn through reasoning by using the memory and imagination. Think about it. Have you ever encountered a situation that was similar to something you had experienced before? Of course, we all have.
In similar situations, memories will naturally float to the surface of awareness, reminding us of what did or didn’t work the last time. This becomes the basis for the workings of imagination as we apply it to the current situation. Add in the possibility of new experience and insights gained since the last time, or new information learned, and the mind will start to come up with a plan.
We do this all the time. We do it whether it is conscious or not, or even intelligent or not.
We come up with a plan to achieve a desired result. We come up with steps that have to be taken to execute the plan. Sometimes we come up with plans on how to take the steps that are part of the larger plan. This is all part of the process of direction: Where are you going and how are you going to get there?
This ability is a beautiful function of the mind. And yet it does not fully serve the self if it is not coupled with diligent physical action. You can come up with the most amazing plans for change and transformation and if you do nothing with them, it will remain only in imagination.
We live in a physical world, a world of manifest form. When we want something to occur in our life or have a desire for a particular thing, then we have a part to play in bringing it forth and making it happen. We feel into it, generating feelings of joy from imagining having the thing or experience. The mind thinks about it, comes up with a plan and gives direction for what we have to do to bring that into form, to make it real. Then we take action, and diligently follow through on the plan until we achieve success.
The biggest problem that most people have with manifestation is giving up too soon.
If something doesn’t happen after a couple of tries, most people will just give up and decide that it’s not meant to be, it’s too tough or they’re not good enough. The truth is that we live in a world of cause and effect that is tempered by time/space for relative experience. Things take time. When we are doing something for the first time, it always takes longer to achieve a desired result than it does when we are skilled and experienced at something.
Sales people often only get a yes after navigating through many nos. The successful person is one who will hold to their dream and keep pushing through resistance until it manifests. Inventors will often experience a long string of failures until they finally perfect their invention. Entrepreneurs are usually not successful until at least their third attempt at creating a business.
A huge key to help a person pursue their goal in the face of opposition and discouragement is to look for the learning. No experience is a failure if there is something learned that can be applied to the next attempt. An experience is only truly a failure if there is nothing learned and you choose to give up and stop trying.
If you are clear with your intent, have a genuine desire to achieve a particular experience and an inspired plan for action, then you are already well on your way toward creating that experience. The only thing left is to birth it into form through taking action.
Review your own accomplishments and victories through life. You can draw upon these to build the confidence and courage necessary to step into the unknown and take on something you’ve never done before, or push a little further with what you have been doing.
Just when you think that you’ll never get there, success is waiting for you right around the next corner. Keep going and stay diligent, opportunities will appear… and have fun along the way!
-Gary Goodhue
Gary Goodhue is a student and teacher of consciousness and creation. He focuses on bringing deep principles of Truth and Love into practical, every day application. The results are increased presence, clarity, peace, focus and power.