Is Your Saboteur Showing Up?

Not so long ago, I had a run-in with my Saboteur. She's the part of you who seems to put obstacles to your dreams in your way. She's the one who can talk you out of anything.

This time, she was cleverly disguised as a loving, very rational friend who was looking out for me. And, in fact, she has that intention most of the time. However, she made it her duty to tell me all the horrible things that were to happen if I moved forward with a project that I had been dreaming about for some time. How did I know if it was going to turn out OK? I need to pull back, look at all my options, have my guard up.

It was difficult at first to figure out how much was her, just doing her thing, and how much was my inner wisdom guiding me to be cautious. So, I decided to ask some reasonable questions of the other people involved with this project and got some satisfactory answers. And then the next issue came into play. I stopped again, riddled with confusion, doubt, mistrust. I could have discussed this project and all the options with hundreds and even though it all sounded reasonable and logical, I would still be stymied and stuck.

That pattern of being stuck and confused and then OK for a little and then stuck and confused again led me to the conclusion that my Saboteur was showing up. She's there to stop me when I am process of manifesting my desires and this was a big one.

My coach then reminded me of all the great accomplishments that I have achieved as a result of working on this project. In fact, the most important part was complete. The rest was gravy. I thought about all the great success that I have enjoyed by allowing myself to feel the connection with my HigherSelf and how it has affected my work, my family, my friends, and this project. I started to appreciate all the things that I had learned. This appreciation helped to shift my thoughts and feelings. I realized that everything was clear and fine. My paralysis was about keeping the continued manifestation of this project away and no longer a wise sign of going slow.

I decided to have a little chat with my friend the Saboteur. She could be confident that I took her needs seriously and yet still go forward. I would take her hand and walk through the door with her. And when I made that decision, it was like an energy flood-gate was opened. Within a day I took two huge steps forward in this project. There was one piece that had a two week delay and so I blessed that delay and used it to review some details. The process was exciting and filled with "Yahoo!" and "I did it!" I celebrated each step. It felt great!

So, is your Saboteur showing up? Look for the signs: confusion, doubt, mistrust, fear, paralysis. Did you confirm things and still not feeling good about moving forward? Do you see the horror stories before you? Do you want something, but just can't take another step toward its manifestation? Perhaps it's time for a chat. A kind, gentle, but firm chat with your Saboteur. Yes, she has something to contribute and you will listen to her, but it will not stop you from moving toward your dream. Take her hand and take the next step.

The Power of Vision

Our family, (my husband, three kids, and I), just returned from Walt Disney World this weekend and I was so excited to reflect upon this trip here today. The excitement was due in part to the unanticipated thoughts and feelings I had while making the trek from car, to tram, to monorail, to Magic Kingdom. I was giddy and teary-eyed as my daughters and I spotted Cinderella's castle in the distance, the music swelled, and we noticed Mickey Mouse ear confetti on the ground. Here I am, almost 43 years old, and I could feel the magic of the place. (No, I don't work for Disney!)

The biggest recurring thought I had was about Walt Disney himself. He was a man with a vision. His vision was so clear and strong and passionate that it inspired hundreds and thousands to help him manifest this vision into the physical world. And here we were, so many years later, witnessing his creation. Just Magic Kingdom alone must be the size of 4 or 5 amusement parks. After three days of exploring it, we still did not see everything.

An accompanying thought was about the Disney characters and parade at 3 pm every afternoon. The parade displays many of the Disney characters on floats, with dancers sandwiched in between. All smiling and sweating and smiling some more. Everyone stays in character without fault. The kids are mesmerized and adults impressed. Once again the music made a huge impact because it called forth Walt Disney's "Secret" to his power. The song was about celebrating the dream come true, celebrate yourself, and that anything is possible.

I know it sounds hokey, but that is the central message to manifesting what you want. You must celebrate yourself and all your passions, desires, talents. You must celebrate your existence and that you are here to feel the joy and expansion of yourself. And if you want to manifest your desires, you must believe that your dreams will come true and that anything is possible- IF you believe it. When you feel good and you believe in your dream, the Universe- through people, events, ideas and so on- will bring to you what is needed for the dream to become alive. Yes, action is necessary part of this formula, but if you have a shaky belief, results are mixed at best.

For me, that was the magic of Disney. This magic that he subtly but directly was letting us in on. The formula for how he did it all. And, in that moment, I realized how a large part of my dream was coming true. My dream to remind my children about their own power of vision of their dreams in a world that often resists this power as childish.

It also rekindled my hope in my dream for my life- Yes, I am on the right track. Yes, if I keep the dream alive, so many people and events will come into my life to help me manifest it all. Within 48 hours of my return, I had one of my articles published and waiting for me in my pile of mail and a musician call me to coordinate the music for my CD of Guided Meditations. Amazing!

Have you celebrated yourself today? Have you seen the power of your vision? Can you believe in your dreams long enough so that others can be inspired as well and help you? If one man can build an empire of film, music, toys, theme parks, television and more, could you believe that you can see your dream come true? The world is waiting just for you...

Getting the Opportunity

I was channel-surfing the other night and stopped on Evan Almighty. Steve Carrell plays a congressman who is told by God, played by Morgan Freeman (of course), to build an ark because there is going to be a big flood. Sound familiar?

There was one moment in the film where Morgan (God), who is posing as a waiter in a restaurant, has a conversation with the confused wife of Steve Carrell. He says to her that she has an opportunity in this relationship. He states that when people pray to God for patience, they don't get patience. They do get an opportunity to be patient. I loved that!

I felt that this notion of having opportunities for becoming what we think we don't have or what we need really resonated with me. It comes down to this. We have and are everything! I mean everything. The Universe is contained inside us, just as we are part of the Universe.

We forget that. We don't believe it. We confirm our disbelief whenever we look outside ourselves for something that we think we don't have already. So, our relationships, so perfectly, provide us with opportunities to experience and be what we think we don't have.

I took Morgan (God) at his word and applied this idea to my life. When I was feeling impatient with my kids, I began to look for opportunities to be patient. They were certainly there, instantly. I took advantage of the opportunities at some times and not at others. When I did not take advantage, I found patience within myself for myself.

So, consider trying this at home: Think of what you are needing or wanting in your life. Is it peace, security, love, abundance, passion, patience? Whatever it is, see if you can see the opportunities to be those things with yourself and others. What happens? Let me know....