Setting a clear intention

Setting a clear intention is not always easy to do. You may have a tendency to be more focused on what you see around you than what is possible.  In other words, your attention is on the here and now. Your job. Where you live. Your relationships. Your health. If they are not what you'd hoped for, then you have a problem.

Energy flows where attention goes.

The more you focus on what already exists, the more of the same you will attract into your life.

If you want to change "what is" to "what can be," then you need to shift your focus. You need to find a new vision of your life - a vision of what you want, not what you don't want or not what you're willing to settle for or accept as your lot in life.

The difficulty lies in that it is generally easier to know what you don't want. You can see what you don't want all around you. But, that is actually a great place to start when you want to change your reality.

You can take all the things you don't want and turn them around into what you do want by asking yourself some questions.

Here's one way to do this:

Let's say you are unhappy with your job. Sit down and make a list of all the things you dislike about your job. For example: (1) It's repetitive. (2) It's boring. (3) It's mindless. (4) It's a dead end. (5) It doesn't pay very well. Now, you've identified some specifics. You've also given yourself into some insights as to the type of job you do want: (1) a job that is changing all the time (2) each day is different, something new happens (3) so that I have to think in different ways and maybe solve problems (5) for a company that offers possible advancement and (5) pays a high salary.

Now ask yourself, "What types of jobs or occupations meet my new criteria?" Write them all down. No matter whether or not you think you are qualified to do the job. Just write it down. It could be a job in sales or maybe even nursing or teaching. Whatever job comes to mind that you think would fit the list of things that would be good in a job.

"Impossible," you say. "I've only ever worked on an assembly line. I can't sell and I'm not trained as a nurse."

Stop right there. As long as you keep thinking that way, you'll keep working at the same or similar jobs that don't satisfy you. It's time to forget what has been and currently is. It's time to set an intention for what can be.

And here's the good news. Once you set an intention to find a job that matches the qualities you've identified as the things you want in your job, your subconscious mind will start to help you find the way.

Your focus will be on what you do want, so suddenly you may spot an ad for evening courses in becoming a real estate agent or nurses training. The ad may have been there for months but because you weren't focused on sales or nursing, you never saw the ad before. You now have an opportunity to take an action toward changing your situation.

Obviously, for the sake of brevity, I've simplified the process somewhat. But even taking just one small step can lead to huge changes.

Active Creating is a participatory process. You can't just read the information. You have to take action.

Your Action Steps then for setting a clear intention are:

(1) Start somewhere and start now. It doesn't have to be perfect. You just need to do something.
(2) Choose one area of your life that you would most like to change. A lot of people right now are focused on finances and maybe you are too. Or you may have a health problem that you'd like to fix. Whatever it is, decide that this is the issue you want to change first.
(3) Take a piece of paper and write down all the negative things about your current situation as it relates to the area of your life that you have chosen to change first.
(4) Now, look at the things you've written and ask yourself,  "How can I state that in a positive way?" Or, "What would be the opposite?" Using the example of finances: "I'm broke all the time" to "I am making more money."
(5) Choose one of your positive statements and describe what your life would be like if that were true. Be as creative and specific as possible. Again, sticking with the example of finances, describe what your house would look like. What clothes would you wear? What job would you have? How would you feel when you got up in the morning? What hobbies would you have?

You've just set your first intention. Your description of how your life would be if one of your positive statements were true is your intention of the life you want to have.

Keep that piece of paper. Read it over as many times as you can throughout the day. At the very least, read it every morning and every night just before you go to bed. Start getting into pretending it is true. Feel that it is true. Imagine yourself seeing your friends and relatives excited about your new life. See yourself having people over to your new home. Be playful and have fun.

Don't worry about the "how." As all the metaphysicians and new age thinkers will tell you, "How is not your job." The more real you make it, the more you'll activate the power of your subconscious mind in finding ways to make it true. Your subconscious mind doesn't know what's real or what's imaginary. It responds to your emotions and feelings. The more you can feel rich, the more the power of your mind will work to find ways to respond to those feelings. You may get an idea on how to turn a hobby into a money-making venture. You may hear about a job opening that offers a higher salary.

In the wonderful words of Captain Pickard from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," once you set an intention you are telling your mind to "Make it so."

Again, there are a number of different ways to help you set a clear intention. This is just one. But the key is to do something.

If you would like help or additional information on how to set a clear intention, you can request a complimentary copy of "Intentional Change," a workbook of different methods for setting a clear intention with worksheets to help guide you through the process. To request your free copy, email me at: service@activecreating.com

I lied

In my last post I said that the next one would be on setting a clear intention. However, as I sat down to write, I realized that I should probably explain a few things about the active creating process before moving forward. Nothing "earth-shattering" but possibly helpful nonetheless.

While I have numbered and ordered the five steps to active creating in a certain sequence, they are not necessarily sequential.

For example, even though it's listed as Step 5, an attitude of gratitude is something you can start practicing right now before doing anything else.

Step 2 is about eliminating negative or limiting beliefs. However, you may need to work on eliminating these beliefs before you are able to set a clear intention. In fact, eliminating limiting beliefs tends to be an ongoing process. Some may be so deeply entrenched within your subconscious mind that it's going to take time just to uncover them. Since these beliefs are formed early in your life, they may also be extremely tenacious and require more time before they let go.

You will also continue to run into obstacles or challenges along the way. They are part of the human experience. They do not automatically mean that you are doing something wrong or that you're not working hard enough on one of the steps.

First, active creating should not be hard work. Some of the tips and techniques I will be sharing with you can be a lot of fun and rather playful.

Second, an obstacle may mean you're heading in the wrong direction. Just don't assume it. The obstacle or challenge could be just that: a temporary block that needs to be cleared or overcome. Before you throw in the towel and give up, explore some different options. Examine the situation more closely. Or just let it "stew" for a while and let your "gut" feelings guide you.

Finally, relax. Remember, your thoughts are simply habits. It takes time to change a habit and create a new one. When doubts or old limiting beliefs show up - and they will - just say, "Thank you," and let them go.

I'll be discussing each of these points in greater detail as I explain the active creating process. But, for now, I wanted to make sure I hadn't confused you by numbering the steps. I also wanted to touch on a couple of the more common misconceptions about the process of creating your own reality.

Next blog will be about setting a clear intention. Truly. Honest. Well, maybe. Or not. You see, one of the wonderful benefits about active creating is that once you tune in to your inner voice, you will begin to trust your inspirational guidance system. And sometimes you will be inspired to go in a different direction than the one you originally intended.

But, then, life is a journey, not a destination. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.

Welcome to Active Creating

You create your own reality. Pure and simple.

If you believe you are a victim of circumstances, that things happen to you because of outside sources, you are doomed to continually be a victim. But it is because you believe it to be so. Not because it is necessarily reality. It is a choice. It is what you focus on. You can change your choices and change your focus. When you do, you will change your life.

If you saw the movie, "The Secret," then you heard the authors, teachers, writers, life coaches, and scientists talk about how most people focus on "what is" or what they "don't want." And they are amazed when they keep getting more of what they already have - stress, bills, an unhappy relationship - or what they don't want - stress, bills, an unhappy relationship. You get the picture.

While the movie had some excellent points (mainly introducing the concept of "The Law of Attraction" to millions of viewers), it really was just an overview.

There is more to creating the life you truly desire than simply thinking something into existence. It does, however, start inside your mind. And your mind will be the driving force behind all that you do.

Your mind is the most powerful tool you possess. The power of the subconscious mind cannot be measured. It has been the driving force behind every great leader, teacher, inventor and scientist. Everything that exists started as an idea in someone's mind. But the idea alone is not enough to make it so.

There are certain steps you will need to take to turn an idea into form. I call them "The Five Steps of Active Creating."

They are:

1. Set or identify a clear intention or desire.
2. Look for and eliminate limiting beliefs.
3. Visualize and feel as if it already is completed.
4. Take inspired actions and keep on taking them.
5. Maintain an "attitude of gratitude" no matter what.

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Martin Luther King, Jr.


Over the next few weeks I will be going over each of the steps in more detail. A web site of tools, techniques and resources is also currently under construction.

In the meantime, you can subscribe to my blog and follow my posts as they become available. Or, to get started right now, subscribe to my weekly newsletter for some quick tips and tools to get you over some of the biggest hurdles most people face when first learning the process of active creating.

Next post will be on setting a clear intention.