LOA Basics: Appreciating is Not Settling

One of the basic teachings of the Law of Attraction (LOA) is that it’s important to have an appreciation for what you have. Sometimes people misinterpret this to mean that they’re settling for less. Therefore, it’s important to understand that appreciating what you have in your life now doesn’t restrict what you’ll have in the future.

It’s certainly understandable to feel like you’re settling if you believe that by expressing appreciation for your current life, you’re attracting more of the exact same circumstances in the future.

Fortunately, that’s not how the Law of Attraction works.

The confusion arises partly because the LOA works on energy and vibrations.

These are things that you can’t see and because of that, they can be a bit more challenging to explain and grasp.

Imagine a cowboy wants to rope a cow. He sets his eyes on his target, picks up his rope, and lassos the animal. Of course, the cowboy has had lots of time to practice roping, and he’s had his share of misses. Yet with practice, his skill grows and it’s easier for him to consistently throw out his rope and get what he wants.

In a way, the Law of Attraction is like the rope. With practice, your skills at applying the LOA improve and you get what you want more consistently and easily. Unlike the rope, the Universe will deliver your quarry to you. You don’t have to pull the rope in to get it. Your job is merely to throw the rope where you want it.

The cowboy appreciates where he is before he ever picks up his rope. He may or may not be conscious of it in that precise moment, but on a regular basis, he expresses gratitude for his current situation.

He’s grateful for his horse and expresses that in both words and by caring for the steed. He’s grateful for good boots and a saddle that make getting his job done easier. The cowboy is even grateful for the weather, both rain and sunshine, knowing that both are needed for the grass to grow. The grass that feeds those cows he’ll one day lasso.

Your life in this very moment is a result of your thoughts, feelings, and actions you’ve taken in the past. You might even say it’s a result of the hours you practice with your “rope,” and the times you neglected your practice.

When you’re resentful of where you are today, you’re therefore trying to change the past. This is something that you can’t do. You can only change what you do right now. It’s precisely your current thoughts, feelings, and actions that will give you results in the future, whether your bid is successful or you come up empty.

When you express your appreciation for anything in your life, you’re raising your vibration or your rope. Just like the cowboy, you can’t get what you want without taking that first step. Appreciating his rope, horse, and saddle don’t preclude the cowboy from getting the cow; they enable it. It doesn’t mean he can’t get a faster horse or better saddle either -- his appreciation allows for more opportunities for things and experiences he will appreciate.

Think about what you have in your life right now to be thankful for. Speak words of appreciation for them. Show your gratitude with your deeds. Be grateful for what you have, aim for what you want, and be open to more opportunities in the future. The only settling you will find is the dust.

For more, please visit www.SharonBallantine.com.

Shake It Up, Baby

This is a good time of year to remember to get out of your rut and try something new. This is especially true if you find yourself shaking your head and wondering, “How did I get here?” or “Where has the time gone?”

Life is supposed to be about having fun and being creative. Sure, most people have to work for a living, but that doesn’t mean your life has to be a grind.

So if you’re tired, bored, or it just seems like life isn’t going your way, then it’s time to shake it up, baby.

Don’t think of these changes as resolutions that you have to keep.

I’m talking about having fun, not making more rules that you have to remember and follow.

So if you’re going to make it a resolution, make it something like this: “I resolve to have more fun this year.”

Shaking it up may include creating a “Bucket List” of things you want to do before you die, like in the movie of the same name, but not every goal has to be huge.

Be willing to try a variety of different activities, especially if you’re out of practice with “playtime.” You might start by writing down any idea that sounds like fun. They can be small things that take just a few minutes or longer adventures. It could be as simple and potentially silly as getting on the swing at your local park.

Having a variety is a great idea. That way when you notice you’re in a rut and having difficulty getting out of it, you can reach for your list and find something that’ll fit in the moment.

I encourage you to have fun with family and friends. If you’re a parent who’s been stuck for a while, be prepared for your spouse and kids to maybe wonder about your sanity at least at first. Be okay with that. Explain what’s going on to them and I bet that most of them will climb on board.

Just because you sit down and write a long list of activities, it might not be necessary do all of them. You don’t have to suddenly take up skydiving just because you wrote it down, but there’s no rule against that either.

While you can start at the top of the list and work your way down, I would encourage you to have more fun than that. After all, this is about shaking things up. You’re not creating another to-do list where you check off each task after it’s accomplished.

One of the best ways to help cull your list down or to determine the best things to do in the moment (with or without consulting your list) is to check with your Internal Guidance System (IGS). It’s a good indicator for determining how excited you are about doing something.

There will probably be things that bring about a neutral “eh” response while other things will be a sure “nope.” By checking in with your IGS, you’ll be able to distinguish between true disinterest in the moment and fear or hesitation because you’re climbing out of your rut.

So get on your climbing shoes and have fun.

For more, please visit www.SharonBallantine.com.

You are the Most Powerful Person in Your Life

Is your life filled with people and experiences that you want? Or do you find yourself doing things you do not enjoy, surrounded by people you don’t even like? You are the most powerful person in your life and whether you believe it or not, you are the one creating your life whether you love it or hate it. 

This is great news. It means that you have the power to change your life if it isn’t going the way you want. You aren’t a victim of other people, of fate, or even of your past.

What you are experiencing right now is happening because of the choices you made and thoughts and beliefs you have held in the past.

So while your past creates your present, it does not have to create your future.

By applying the Universal Law of Attraction, you can shift your life so that you are experiencing the magical life that you desire and deserve.

The Universe is constantly sending out a stream of well-being. Your negative emotions and limiting beliefs are like a dike that you put up, temporarily blocking the stream from reaching you.

There are many natural laws such as the Law of Gravity, but the Universal Law of Attraction governs the Universe. Like all natural laws, it doesn’t judge or choose. The law only responds. That is all it can do.

Your thoughts and feelings are sent out to the Universe as a signal; a vibration. The Law of Attraction simply states that what you get back in response to your vibration must match. When you send out positive vibrations, you will attract things that match that vibration and get things that you want. When you send out negative vibrations, you will attract things that you do not want.

The things that you attract may be literally things, or they may be thoughts, people, or experiences.

If your life experience is not what you want, then you can change it by changing the vibration that you send out to the Universe.

Often people believe they are sending out positive signals and are disappointed when they do not manifest their desires. If this is happening to you, then you are out of alignment with what you want. As much as you believe you are on the same frequency, the energy that you are sending out does not match what you want -- it always matches what you are getting.

In order to get what you want, you must remove any dikes that you have constructed that are blocking that flow of well-being. You must think about what you desire and you must also believe that you deserve it.

The key is to feel good as often as you can. When you feel bad, you block the flow of positive energy that the Universe is trying to send to you. That doesn’t mean you should push down or deny your feelings. It just means that you should work to feel better.

Fortunately, there are many tools that you can use to raise your vibration. It may be as simple as getting a breath of fresh air or petting the dog. You might put on some music and dance around the living room. Or you might take a few minutes remembering a specific time when you felt really good. These are just some of the ways you can improve your vibration so you’re in alignment to receive the stream of well-being.

Make your happiness the highest priority. When you do that, you will begin to see your life shift right before your eyes. Soon you will be living the life of your dreams.

For more, please visit www.SharonBallantine.com.

Shifting Our Thinking Creates Heaven on Earth

Many people think of Heaven as a reward for life here on Earth. Some even believe that in order to receive that reward, our life here must be difficult. What if you can actually have “Heaven on Earth”? 

When you are open to all the possibilities in life, then you are in a blissful state of mind.

That is what Heaven is, so surely you can consciously set out to achieve that goal.

The shortest, fastest pathway to bliss is to have fun.

Your self-talk plays an important role in whether or not you are going to experience fun.

When there is a task before you, how do you think and feel about it? Listen to how you describe what you are doing or going to do. Do you say to yourself and to others that you “have” to do this? Do you feel like the task is a heavy weight, bearing down on your shoulders?

It doesn’t feel very good when you think you have to do something. How much better does it feel when you get to do something?

Do you think fun is your treat for working hard or accomplishing an unpleasant task? Rather than reserving fun as a reward, how about shifting your thinking to make every task fun?

To shift your thinking about the tasks you must do, think about the things you enjoy doing. What are the activities that you refer to as “getting” to do? What about those activities makes them fun for you?

In order to manifest what you want in life, you need to be in a place of allowing. You are far from a state of allowing when you feel burdened and impressed upon. It all boils down to this: you want to be having fun with everything that you are doing.

Let go of the idea that “work” must be dull, boring, or difficult. Be open to the idea that it can be exciting, stimulating, interesting, and fun. Now, go back to the thought of the activities that you enjoy. What can you take from those activities and apply to make your “work” activities fun?

You can manifest Heaven on Earth by shifting your thinking. Make a conscious decision that whatever you are going to do, it is going to be fun.

The task may be one of your own choosing, something you have been directed to do by a boss, teacher, or family member. It could be a significant task or something quite mundane. Regardless of the source or scope of the task, choose to have fun.

For more, visit SharonBallantine.com.