“The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment.”
- Earl Nightingale

If you are one of those who often find your life a struggle, you may want to reverse the situation through harnessing the power of your subconscious mind. You do not have to settle with constantly being in self-sabotage, having a dark rain of cloud following you or living an uninspired existence.

Think of the subconscious mind as like a hard drive on a computer; virtually everything you see, hear, smell, taste, experience, learn, and even imagine gets stored in this internal hard drive. It also has a huge capacity. It stores archives of the past that you may not consciously aware of.

The subconscious mind can also influence actions. Reportedly, it drives 90% of your outward behavior, especially during stressful situation. Soldiers, for instance, do “what they are trained to do” in combat with little or no conscious thought as to what they are doing or even happening to them. On an everyday basis, you access your subconscious when you do things on the automatic, such as when you are driving or cycling.

The main thing to keep in mind is that the subconscious has no analytical ability. It simply stores what it is fed, then either provides back information as it is requested by the conscious mind, or influences the conscious mind based on what it has stored in it. Thus, it can be said to be the case of “garbage in, garbage out”. So, if you are to take charge the untapped power of the subconscious mind, you have to start feeding it good information.

If you have never tried to unleash this power, much less even heard of it, now is the time to do something. You can do so in the following ways:

- Remind Yourself Constantly of What You Really Desire
- Condition the Subconscious Mind to Focus on Why You Desire
- Avoid Letting Negative influences get in the way
- Access Creative Channels

Remind Yourself Constantly of What You Really Desire

“Only one thing registers on the subconscious mind: repetitive application – practice. What you practice is what you manifest.”
- Fay Weldon

Most of us want more money, but our subconscious often sees money as scarce. We have been programmed to perceive lack because of past conditioning and/or upbringing. So maybe we have the belief that “it is hard to make money” or that “life is a struggle”. If we want more money, we must remind ourselves that money is instead plentiful.

Many self-help gurus will tell a new student to get a money clip, and always keep a $100 bill on the outside of the clip. They may only have a $5 or a couple of singles inside, but their eyes see, and the power of the subconscious mind picks up on that $100. This creates an illusion of, which then forms an affirmation in the subconscious that money is plentiful, and will automatically influence the conscious mind to attract more.

But this idea is not limited to your money clip. Putting up pictures of houses you would love to live in, cars you would like to drive, places you want to visit, things you want to do all enter into and stoke the power of the subconscious mind. In short, create a vision board. Put up pictures on your bathroom mirror and your desk at work. With a clear picture of what you seek, your subconscious will silently but powerfully influence and guide you toward those desires.

Align with Abundance Consciousness

“Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.”
- Robert Collier

Doing this is different from the previous tip, as this involves using internal methods to tap into the power of the subconscious mind. Most people focus on the negative, or the lack they experience. And just as the subconscious can influence the conscious mind, the opposite can occur, but with greater result.

Remember, the subconscious does not analyze or filter the information it gets in any way. If all it gets are thoughts of how broke you always are, how much you hate your job, or that your significant other is out cheating when they are 20 minutes late from work, it will begin to feed back that negativity when you are not thinking about it.

Instead, align with abundance consciousness by reprograming yourself with beliefs that are positive. One way that you can also do so is by framing your thoughts as questions. Instead of bemoaning how broke you are, ask, “how can I make more money” or even better, make it a concrete number such as “how can I make $5000 this month?”. Your subconscious will not be fed with the words “broke” or “poor”. Instead it will be fed with “make more money”.

Avoid Letting Negative Influences Get In the Way

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Avoid letting outside influences and people affect your energies. People who are close may turn out to be the worst offender. Their negative attitude may affect you, especially if you are not aware. Note that the idea is not to blame these people but to create awareness that you need to establish clear personal energy boundaries especially where relationships are toxic.

Remember, the subconscious has no analytical ability, and it will let negative words, energy, and images right in where they will begin to exert their influences. While it is impossible to avoid all negativity, minimize it if you want to truly harness the power of the subconscious mind. Better yet, work on addressing your negative emotions such as anger, hurt, shame or frustration. As you gain strength, you will invariably find yourself less affected by others.

Access Creativity

“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.”
- “Edward de Bono”

If life seems dull for you, it may be because you are not accessing your creative channels sufficiently for inspired living. Your subconscious mind is the powerhouse for creativity. It is where you can access ideas for problem solving, new inventions and breakthrough solutions.

Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, Alanis Morissette said, “I saw music as a way to entertain people and take them away from their daily lives and put smiles on their faces, as opposed to what I see it being now, which is a way for me to actually communicate, and a way for me to tap into my subconscious.” Then, there are also many talented people such as Thomas Edison, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Klee and Beethoven who are known for tapping into their subconscious mind to enhance their creative abilities.

The Power of Your Subconscious Mind

“Infinite riches are all around you if you will open your mental eyes and behold the treasure house of infinity within you. There is a gold mine within you from which you can extract everything you need to live life gloriously, joyously, and abundantly.”

The first time I was introduced to the idea that the subconscious mind holds much power is through reading The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. I recommend reading the classic, if you have not done so.

Ever since I learned about how to harness the power of the subconscious mind, I have been living in greater empowerment. I found out that there are many ways to access the subconscious; namely via dreaming, meditation, visualization, intuition and so on. Obviously, nothing beats learning it through practical application.

A big problem with our education system is that it does not teach our students to avail themselves of their subconscious abilities. Now that we are adults, we have to learn to harness the power ourselves. In addition, as parents, we need to learn to apply it before we can hope to teach our children. It is a great gift that we can offer to our children. For a start, I highly recommend the comprehensive The Silva Life System. Do check it out!

Abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Share Your Tips
Share how you have been using the power of your subconscious mind for inspired living. What specific technique has worked for you?

Magic commands a mystical force that brings about change. It has the transformative power to turn our dreams into reality. Like the puff from a powerful dragon, magic breathes hope to situations of helplessness. It leaves a trail of twinkling stars in the wave of a golden wand. Within an instant, a moment touched by magic is changed forever.

Think back to your childhood. Think about the times when you have been enchanted with bedtime stories of Peter Pan, Cinderella and Merlin. Think back about the times when your eyes widened with curiosity, excitement and triumph when the hero uses his or her magical powers to conquer the enemy. Transformation is magical because change happens almost immediately.

On the other extreme, many people think of magic as the use of supernatural powers. Some do not like the idea about the use of magic because the thought stretches their imagination and requires them to reach beyond their comfort zone. While magic can be used for positive transformation, it can also be used to do the opposite too. Historically performed in secrecy, magic is shunned by conventional society. The Harry Potter series also alludes to this.

As we grow old, we lose our beliefs in the power of magic. We realize that there is no such thing as manifesting something out of thin air like what we see in the movies. The tedium of our everyday lives rob us of our child-like quality; one of wonder, possibility and openness.

For a long time, I was cynical, suspicious and melancholy. Demanding that all evidence has to be supported by my five senses, I lost the intuitive connection with my heart that there could be much more beyond all that is material. I tried to grasp to all that was known but eventually had to open my arms in surrender.

I have come a long way since then in my understanding of what magic is. I choose to view magic as the art of turning an ordinary moment into an extraordinary one and that it is possible to experience more everyday magic in our lives. Magic in this case is applied with a positive intention. If magic is the art of turning a moment positively, then it is possible to experience more joy, laughter and love.

Just imagine experiencing each day as one of dreariness. You feel depleted, in the lack and deprived. You leak energy. There is not much hope to live for. You are just going through the motions. Identify with this scenario? Well, magic can change that.

If you are hoping to enjoy more aliveness in your moments, take heed. The following are some ways of how you can start to enjoy more magic:

Alter Your Perception

“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

You do not have to climb the highest mountain or go to an ashram for a month-long meditation retreat for experiencing magical moments. Simply changing your perception will do the trick. You view things as half-full instead of half-empty. It is possible to have a new set of eyes right this instant. You world suddenly changes. It takes on color, dimension and vibrancy.

Live in the Moment

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. ” – Buddha

You do not have to look far, just being present fully allows you an awakening experience. If you can appreciate just a tiny part of nature completely, you would have experienced a miracle. It happens when your consciousness merge with a singular flower into eternity in an instant. You become one with the flower that moves gently in the breeze.

Transform with Joy

“The Universe is responding to your vibrational calling.” – Abraham Hicks

If you want to experience more magic in your life, then you will need to infuse your moments with joy. Just think about what usually happens when magic takes place. We hold back our breaths and as we witness the transformation that magic brings, we shift into delight, bliss and joy.

Infusing joy can be made in a variety of ways such as singing out loud, saying yes to a new adventure and dancing on the streets. The idea is to capture the positive feelings of bliss and joy. With sustained joy and by virtue of the Law of Atrtraction, you attract the vibrational match of the same in your desired outcomes.

Practice Gratitude

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton

Try expressing gratitude and see if your vibrational state changes. You should experience an uplift. Reflect over the many things to be grateful about. You may also want to list down the things that you are appreciative for. For more information and if you are interested, read this article on How to start a gratitude journal.

Live with Passion

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey

When you live passionately, everything works like magic. Living with passion usually happens when you love what you do. You are able to create meaning from the work you produce. By aligning with your true self, you become a force of inspiration. Others are drawn to you. Inevitably, life becomes smoother. You know yourself as a co-creator, manifesting your heart’s desires powerfully.

Make Your Moments Magical

It is really up to you. You have the power to choice differently in how you perceive things. If you believe in magic, then you will see miracles everywhere. You live with greater excitement, possibility and are open to receiving.

There is no better time than now. Christmas is a great occasion for making your moments magic. After all, it is a period of festivity, love and celebration. The twinkling lights on the streets, fairy sightings on cone-shaped trees, and stories of a man in the red-suit that traverse the skies in a reindeer-drawn sleigh add to mystic. Not to mention, the secret gifts that you have purchased and carefully wrapped for your loved ones.

Do share your ideas on creating magic in your life too, in the comments below.

Abundance always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

P.S. Don’t forget to participate in my online 12 Days of Christmas Magic Contest on my Facebook Page: Abundance Tapestry. Stand to win a physical copy of Abundance Alchemy: Journey of Gold book, Adventures in Manifesting book and a US$30 Amazon gift certificate. The contest ends on 12 December 2011. Join in the fun and at the same time, share words of wisdom with your family and friends on Facebook!

In my personal growth journey, I have found that what helps are positive affirmations, quotes and sayings. The more I repeat these, the greater is my ability to make a positive shift. Thus, I am reminded about loving and accepting myself unconditionally. I am reminded about believing in my dreams. I am reminded not to listen to the debilitating stories that I have been telling myself.

Having experienced benefits, I intend to now share affirmations, sayings and quotes from my Abundance Tapestry Facebook Page. Well, I had been having a blast with creating banners with inspired sayings and posting them on my FB Wall in conjunction with my online launch of Self-Love Secrets. Many of the background photos come from my personal archives.

All in all, I posted more than 21 banners during the last 3 weeks. From these, I have selected 10 of my best-loved ones and am republishing them here….

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #1
The key to greater self-love is no longer making lies, excuses or apologies for who we are. We accept ourselves completely. ~ SelfLoveSecrets.com

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #2
Every success story has a trail of failures behind it. Remember that. So don’t give up just yet.

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #3
Everybody is a Genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~ Albert Einstein Quote

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #4
My Self-Love Intentions: 1. Love myself unconditionally 2. Forgive myself unreservedly 3. Accept myself fully 4. Honor my dreams truly 5. Listen to my intuition closely. ~ SelfLoveSecrets.com

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #5
Make your life an amazing story of love, courage and perseverance. Create a meaningful legacy.

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #6
You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.- Buddha

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #7
What disrupts us emotionally is an unfulfilled expectation of how things are supposed to be. Free Dreamstime Image.

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #8
Summoning courage does not mean wishing for the absence of fear. Courage is the spurt of energy that motivates you into action, even in the presence of fear. A gathering momentum of strength dissolves the energy of doubt once you kick into gear. ~ Self-Love Secrets book

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #9
It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble, how hopeless the outlook how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. If only you could love enough, you would be the happiest and most powerful being in the world. ~ Emmet Fox Quote

Inspiring Facebook Banner Quote #10
Change begins with you. Be a luminary of Love and Light! ~ Self-Love Secrets Book

Adventures in Manifesting Online Contest

What is next?

“Adventures in Manifesting” launches worldwide today. I am a co-author to this book, alongside with other authors such as Dr Joe Vitale and Dr Fred Alan Woof (teachers from The Secret) and Dr Brian Tracy.

To celebrate the launch, I have decided to hold another online contest from my Facebook Page, this time giving away 2 physical copies of “Adventures in Manifesting”. I will continue to post banners…this time focusing more on the theme on “manifesting abundance”, in reference to the chapter on “Creating a Life of Abundance” that I had contributed to the book.

Contest Guidelines Are:

1. To qualify, you will have to go onto my Facebook Page and click on the “share” button for any of the banners. Obviously, the more times you share, the greater your chance. Only sharing of banners qualify!

2. Contest starts today 1.11.11 and ends on 11.11.11 (the number “1″ is auspiciously great for setting intentions apparently). Taking into account time differences, the contest ends on…..
USA – New York Nov 11, 2011 at 23:59.
This works out to Singapore Nov 12 at 12:59.

3. Winners will be notified by FB message.

Hence, if you like the banners above and would like to inspire others with similar sayings, don’t forget to join me on my Facebook Page first. It does not matter whether you are from Singapore (my home country) or not; so long as you are the winner, I will mail a physical copy of the book to you.

Be a luminary of Love and Light!

Shine from the Soul always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

What Is Your Favorite Inspiring Quote

Do you have a favorite inspiring quote to share with me? Based on your suggestion, I may just make a nice banner for it to share with others too

If you are in the habit of saying negative things to yourself, then you will need to change your self-talk. Obviously, if you love yourself enough, you would not be constantly criticizing yourself. Instead, you will be encouraging and supportive of the self. And using affirmations is a great way to start rewiring your habitual talk-patterns.

Negative and Limiting Self-Talk

Through studies, it has already been found that we make 300-400 evaluations per day. About 70-85% of these evaluations are negative. When we dissect the content of the things we say, it can be easy to observe that we make a lot of negative comments about others or external things.

However, by tuning in closely, you are likely to discover that you have also been using the same judgment on yourself. Thus, you have been applying the same standards, guidelines or criteria to make assessments on yourself; such as between “right” and “wrong” or “good” and “bad” or “unacceptable” and “acceptable”. Should you delve more deeply, you may well discover that underneath these assessments is a conclusion on whether you are worthy of being loved or not.

It is hard to feel good about yourself if you are constantly beating yourself up. While being harsh is used by most of us to motivate ourselves for personal improvement, problems arise when we are not aware of how much our own judgments have been eroding our spirit. In my Self-Love Secrets book, I shared that studies have shown how self-compassion (and not criticism) have resulted in improved productivity and happiness levels instead.

Change Your Self-Talk

To make a change, switch to using kind, loving and inspiring words. In fact, whether you are saying something about yourself or to others, you use the same positive language. Thus, you build congruency. Just remember: a harmful word can create emotional havoc whereas a loving word can create miracles. The same principles apply both internally and externally.

Because you are in the physical, you need to also make a physical change. Words and actions seal the energy for a complete shift. And the more you affirm yourself in the new path or behavior, the more the new energies take hold. There is congruency at every level and throughout.

Self-Love Affirmations

My book, Self Love Secrets, comes with an additional report on 101 Self-Love Affirmations. The report provides a guide on what you can say to yourself. You can either pick some affirmations to work with or using the guide, craft some on your own.

For added inspiration, I have introduced music and turned a couple of the Self-Love affirmations into a video. Some of the nature shots are taken at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the national park near my home. Here is a look…enjoy!

Holistic Approach to Self-Love

Don’t be mistaken. Changing self-talk alone is not going to do the trick for greater self-love. Loving yourself has to be a mind-body-spirit approach. Changing self-talk is to address difficulties with self-love at the mental or even the emotional level. As Albert Einstein once said, “You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created.”

Hence, if you are hoping to learn more, be sure to keep a lookout for the online launch of Self-Love Secrets on October 25, 2011. There will be an early bird discount during the first three days.

Details and Launch of Self-Love Secrets eBook

Opening Launch For Early Bird Discount: October 25, 2011 Tuesday
Singapore 19:00 SGT UTC+8 hours
USA – NY 7:00 EDT UTC-4 hours

Closing Day for Early Bird Discount: October 28, 2011 Friday
Singapore 23:59 SGT UTC+8 hours
USA – NY 11:59 EDT UTC-4 hours

Please note that the downloadable version is being published first. There may be plans for a print version later, but these cannot be fully confirmed at this point in time.

Contest Details

Don’t forget to join the online contest over on my Facebook Page. I will be giving away two lucky draw prizes. The winners will receive a free copy of my book. To qualify, you will have to go onto my Facebook Page and click on the share button for any of the tips or other postings. Obviously, the more times you share, the greater your chance.

The contest ends on October 24, one day before launch. The details are:
Contest Ends October 24
Singapore 19:00 SGT UTC+8 hours
USA – NY 7:00 EDT UTC-4 hours
I will be informing the contest winners via email over at facebook. So remember to check your inbox!!

See You Next Week

Well, as it often happens, unexpected things can crop up just prior to a major event. So I will be busy looking into last-minute items for the rest of this week. Have fun in the meantime!!

Hope to see you back here next week!!

Shine from the soul,

Author. Adventurer. Life Coach. More About Me.

Self-sabotage is an unconscious subversion, disruption or obstruction to hinder your own cause or endeavor. You consciously have a desired outcome but you work against yourself unconsciously. Not aware, you have been putting obstacles in your own path to success.

(Photo Image: Your obstacle course on the path to success is illusory and caused by self-sabotage syndrome.)

“Self-sabotage is when we say we want something and then go about making sure it doesn’t happen.”
- Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby

Through words, actions or behavior, you make things worse instead of better. Instead of becoming the best you can be or having the best that you can have, you eventually find yourself having to settle for less. It is certainly not desirable if you are hoping to live life fully.

According to some sources, the word Sabotage comes the Industrial Revolution in France. Disgruntled workers threw their wooden shoes or clogs (known in French as sabots, hence the term sabotage) at the looming machinery, thereby disrupting the production process. What was ironical was that while choosing to express their dissatisfaction with their work conditions, they had also foiled any job prospects.

If you are engaged in sabotage, you are known as a saboteur. Many of us have experienced self-sabotage at one or another. I have experienced many instances of self-sabotage in my life. More recently, I have been observing how clients, friends and even celebrities prevent themselves from achieving the success and wellness they would like to have due to their self-sabotaging behaviors.

5 Life Areas of Self-Sabotage

Relationship. Tricia used to be involved in relationships that are abusive. She would be attracted to guys who would ill-treat her. They did not always start out that way, mind you. But even after she found out about their abusive tendencies, she would give plenty of excuses. “This one is different”, “he has promised to change”, and “maybe it is me”, she would declare. It was only when she was able to step aside that she could see the similar pattern. And usually by the time she was able to gain the bigger picture, she would have already spent months crying, agonizing and fretting before she had the guts to call the relationship quits.

Family. Lucy’s father had abandoned the family when she was young. Lucy swore that she would not want to have a broken family of her own. However, things turned out a lot harder in setting up a home than she had initially thought. Because she had unresolved childhood issues, she would continually project her fears. Lucy almost ruined her own married life due to the perceived mistrust of her husband. Her children were also traumatized by her self-sabotaging behavior.

Health. Taking drugs, alcohol or any form of addictive behavior is clearly a sign of self-sabotage. The recent death of Amy Winehouse shows what self-sabotage can lead to in extreme cases. Amy Winehouse died at the young age of 27 due to problems with drug and alcohol abuse. She was a talented, Grammy-award known for her powerful deep voice and her eclectic mix of musical genres. Even Lady Gaga was one of her many fans. Winehouse’s addictive problems and self-destructive behavior were regular tabloid news until her death on 23 July 2011.

Career/Work Self-sabotage have kept Peter stuck in the ladder to success. Up till recently, Peter had been performing well. However, he came to a point when he found that he was not able to make any headway. Progress appeared limited. Dreams of ever reaching the top became more and more distant gradually. I pointed out that it was as if he was applying brakes at the same time as putting one foot on the accelerator of his car. His car had stalled. While Peter had big dreams, his beliefs on being unworthy of greater success were in the way.

Money. Samuel who had grown up in poverty wanted to become rich. He managed to achieve his dream of becoming a millionaire through setting up a business, only to lose it shortly. It was sad that he had tripped himself with his beliefs on scarcity and lack. Till today, Samuel has been unable to let go of the fact that from previously having the world at his feet, he has now got nothing to show for.

Reportedly, there are also many cases where lottery winners lose all their money after striking it rich. Despite their good fortune, they engage in self-destructive behavior that causes them to spend foolishly. Eventually, they are back at their starting points.

The Reality of Self-Sabotage

Engaging in self-sabotage is essentially “digging one’s own grave”. It means being responsible for your own downfall. You may be wondering why would you be so crazy to thwart your own progress. Surely you would not do things that would set yourself or your own dream up for demise?

What is the case is that your subconscious is the part that welds more power than your conscious mind. You may consciously declare to the whole world what your goal is but if you have a subconscious belief that you are unable to reach it, you are likely to put yourself in your own way. Actions that you can possibly take including running away, giving excuses, not showing up, making things difficult for yourself or just about anything that ensures failure. On the extreme, self-sabotage can lead to destructive behavior.

Self-sabotaging beliefs are pretty much an illusion. They are not real. They are internal conflicts that you have created for yourself. In fact, they are precisely the life lessons that you need to transcend over. You go through the same repeated life patterns until you gain enough clarity to step aside and see the bigger picture.

It is possible to keep yourself stuck for years. However, once you understand that you have been engaging in self-sabotaging behavior, you will stop blaming others for your miserable plight. You stop pointing your finger at your spouse, children, parents or even God. You learn to take personal responsibility. You overcome your own demons.

“Latent in every man is a venom of amazing bitterness, a black resentment; something that curses and loathes life, a feeling of being trapped, of having trusted and been fooled, of being the helpless prey of impotent rage, blind surrender, the victim of a savage, ruthless power that gives and takes away, enlists a man, and crowning injury inflicts upon him the humiliation of feeling sorry for himself.”
- Paul Valery

Self-sabotage can be traced to issues of feeling unlovable, unloved and unworthy. If you are hoping to learn more, check out my book Self-Love Secrets for some answers >>>

Abundance Always,

Author. Adventurer. Life Artist. More About Me.

Share Your Story

Have you recently been engaged in self-sabotage? What were your fears about? Share your story in the comments below.

If you find yourself constantly drained by others, is an empath and/or sensitive to energy interferences, then learning how to create a personal energy shield can be extremely helpful. I shared this as tip #57 of my 70 Ways for Self Care. Under the blog comments, Lei – a reader to the article – asked how she could create one as she has found herself surrounded by toxic people.

I will be responding to her question in two parts; one specifically on how to create a personal energy shield and the other, on how to handle toxic relationships, in a second article in two days’ time.

Creating A Personal Energy Shield

Each and every one of us has the ability to create personal energy shields. Since we are all energy, shields are simply an extension of ourselves. In the movie, Star Wars, we know energy as The Force. As narrated in the movie, The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the universe of the galaxy. Yoda points out that “a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force” while training Luke Skywalker; Yoda also explains that “you must feel the Force around you.”

The Star Wars movie has a lot to teach us about energy, if you haven’t realized. Here is an example. Being connected as One at source, we can get affected by the negative energies of another. This happens when we have a weak energetic boundary. We allow others to invade into our “space” or field. An energetic boundary is an invisible shield that screens incoming and outgoing energy. It keeps our own energy field within a closed, safe and contained system. Holistic well-being arises when we have healthy, vibrant and luminous personal energy.

The first thing to know is that no one can invade our “space” without our permission. Hence, a big part of energy leakage is caused by the failure on our part to take actions to protect ourselves. Oh yes, it is our personal responsibility. We cannot shift the entire blame to others if we leak energy. It is very important that we take steps for self-care and protection.

Signs of Energy Leakage

So, what are the signs of energy leakage? Signs can be one or more of the following: feeling persistently tired, a sense of chaotic energy, constantly ill, heaviness and migraines as a result of contact with others.

An empath or someone highly sensitive and compassionate can be like a “sponge”. Empaths are prone to soaking up unwanted energy from others. They unconsciously absorb the feelings, difficulties or pain of others. When they do, they carry an extra load of negative energy that can affect their clarity.

The thing is to remain vigilant if this is the case for you. You need to learn how to shield yourself appropriately, even whilst you are sympathetic to the problems of another and wish to help.

Types of Energy Shields

There are many ways that you can create personal energy shields, such as visualizing that you are inside a cobalt-blue egg, circle of love, roses and so on. All variations are just as effective if and only if conscious intention is used to create one. Random thinking does not count. You won’t also want to create a weak and sloppy one with holes. The idea is to focus your mind and use your senses to experience the shield.

I share one variation that will be useful for Lei, since she needs to protect herself from toxic people.

Pink Rose Quartz and Mirrors Protection Shield

1. Be quiet for a while.

2. Release any stresses or tensions that you feel and relax.

3. Take in a few deep breaths.

4. Focus your mind on creating an energy shield using light from source.

5. For this shield, visualize and tangibly feel yourself surrounded by a wall of mirrors – around, over and under. The mirrors face out. Hence, if there is negative energy that is directed towards you, it is reflected back outwards.

6. Your shield is completely sealed so that no external negative energy can enter.

7. At the same time, make the intention to allow only love to pass through both ways.

8. With you inside this shield, you may want to visualize yourself surrounded and embraced by the energy of pink rose quartz.

9. See, sense and feel the completeness of the shield for a few moments. Hold that in place with your intention.

10. For your future reference, make a mental note of how the shield feels like. This will make it easy for you to bring it back into existence whenever you need it. You will need to repeat steps 1-9 as the shield dissipates over time.

Extra tip #1. You can also call upon your spiritual team for extra protection from all people who are toxic and negative. Don’t be surprised when you receive evidence of their support.

Extra tip #2. Before you step out of your room in the mornings, make creating personal energy shields as part of your getting up ritual! If you perceive that there are any gaps, cracks or holes, just repair it with new mirrors.

Extra tips #3: The Mirrors Protection Shield is also excellent if you need to go into a crowded space. Protect yourself before entering a bus, train or shopping mall.

Share Your Favorite Energy Shield

Share your favorite visualization for an energy shield, if you have one. Alternatively, share about any other energetic tools that you use for protection.

And lastly, may The Force be with you

P.S. Today’s post is part of the Abundance Alchemy Answers series. Look out for the next article, How to Handle Toxic Relationships, which will be published on Thursday!

Many people go around in a state of want and lack. They feel like if they have the right hair, body, face, clothes, or the right amount of money, they’d be set for happiness and therefore, a life of abundance. Certainly, marketing media would love to bank on this belief.

(A leaf from my scrapbook album to remind me to “just go for it!”)

Product sellers and service providers make millions of dollars based on people’s insecurities. Constantly bombarded by pictures of grandeur, consumers are left to wonder if they would be complete after making an additional purchase. Myths are perpetuated as a result.

What is being left out in the marketing messages is that we do not need the right shade of hair, face lift, boob job, designer clothes, mind-blogging gadget or lots of money to be happy. We need not wait for an external event to happen before we can feel joyful. We do not withhold any chance to celebrate just because we are “not there” yet. Neither is success or abundance dependent on the attainment of an outcome. In fact, we can have a life of abundance if we can just believe that we are already abundant and very deserving of love, happiness or whatever abundance means to us.

In a way, we may end up feeling somewhat fulfilled immediately after a buy. However, the sense of satisfaction does not usually last very long. Fulfillment from materialistic desires seldom have no permanence. We are left with a hollow feeling after a while. It’s when the craving for more starts. The cycle repeats with more hankering. And more money being made by the big establishments out of our ignorance and insecurity.

Your Mental Screen of Abundance

When you close your eyes, what do you imagine? On your mental canvas, do you dream of a life of abundance and then think of 50 reasons why it could never happen for you? Do you have beliefs of unworthiness or that you are not deserving? When you let the universe know that you are not entitled to have the happiness you deserve, then you will prove yourself right. On the other hand, when you close your eyes, and imagine yourself having all that you dream of and desire, and you allow yourself to live in that experience, then you are saying that you are entitled to have it.

This can apply to anything in your life. Should you feel inferior in any way, and think that you don’t deserve any better, you won’t get better. To proclaim your right to abundance, you first need to work on your sense of worthiness. You need to have faith, trust and belief that you are just as deserving as anyone else. Think of all those who have succeeded even though they come from dismal backgrounds. They place their energy on thoughts and feelings that would lead them to positive outcomes. And they go on to lead lives of abundance.

To already feel abundant, even when you are “not there” yet, is not an exactly easy thing to do for most. A good place to start is to examine if you have bought into any of the marketing myths. You will need to ask what abundance really means to you. Is it about the attainment of financial wealth, driving a new car or having love, peace, freedom, and joy? Admittedly, you do need to have a certain amount of money to enjoy a certain level of modern-day comforts. However, focusing on the right thoughts will help you with the energetic tweak you need. It is your inner state of abundance that drives your outer experience. When you focus on the qualitative aspects of the experience that you hope to have rather than the money or the end result, you are more likely to be successful in manifesting what you hope for.

Truly when you think about it, it is not the money, Tiffany diamond rings, the Jimmy Choo shoes, or the latest ipad that would mean the world to you. You don’t need these to feel abundant. You can already feel abundant because you already are. Just review your gratitude journal to re-count your blessings! Hence, you can see how worthy you are to already enjoy all that you have to-date.

Claim Your Right to Abundance

If you have not already done so, claim your right to abundance! Claim your right by sharing your thoughts about what abundance means to you in the comments box below. I look forward to reading about them

Abundance always,

P.S. In the book that I am currently writing, I share about the universal principles of abundance. Knowing what these are can help to shatter the myths that we currently buy into. Due to new challenges that have cropped up, the book is still not ready yet. Oh well, I hope to get them addressed as soon as possible. Stay tuned for more news!

Why Ask Yourself A What-If Question?

Posing yourself the all powerful question “what if” helps you unlock your creative visualization ability. “What if” is an act of allowing your mind to dream up the possibility of new options. You break the conditioning of your mind from its fixed routines, limited patterns and past thinking. You venture into the playground of imagination to toy with an idea that is not yet manifest. Should you apply the power of intention to a what-if pathway, you allow your inner mind to assemble required resources to answer this question.

(Flipping through magazines is fun visualization time – a favorite activity of mine!!)

If you do not already know, you are born with the potential to do many things. You have a set of unique skills that you can draw on. Your past offers a rich set of experiences that you can rely upon for venturing into the new. Playfully asking yourself what-if questions enables you to introduce possibility onto your mental screen.

What is to know is that your subconscious mind simply accepts what has been impressed upon it. It is unable to differentiate what is real or unreal. The act of asking additionally summons universal energy to help answer the question. By connecting from inwards, you are able to draw on source which is creative, infinite and intelligent. If you think about it, it is how prayers work. Your inner or subconscious mind helps you to connect with source, God or the universe; providing you with flashes of insight, revelation of new discovery and surprising solutions for your problems.

Self doubt will unfortunately negate the process. The rule is this: Energy goes where focused attention flows. Hence, for manifestation to happen, you will need to believe that a what-if possibility can become real. If you are focusing on doubt, energy goes in the direction of doubt. If you are focusing on possibility, then energy goes in the direction of your strong desire. A creative visualization exercise is no longer simply a one-time activity, with the strength of your intent. It becomes an active visioning process.

It is possible that you will be thrown into doubt when you first start doing visualization exercises. Doubt is experienced when you sense a contrast between what is real in your current situation and a desired scenario. You doubt that the desired scenario can ever come true. In fact the more you focus on your lack or “not being there yet”, the more negative you feel. As I have mentioned before, energy then goes in the direction of the doubt.

A what-if question helps to bridge your doubt into belief. It is imperative that you tell yourself that there is no cost to dreaming. (In fact, not dreaming at all can cost you more in terms of never ever living up to your fullest potential!!) When you pose a what-if question for the purposes of visualization, you are simply having some focused exercises on fun! You direct the power of your mind consciously and deliberately rather than never using it to your best advantage.

What-if automatically expands you into joy. It is fun to imagine what abundance you can possibly experience. As you focus on feeling good, your vibrations magnetize the vibrations of your desires. You find yourself encountering new opportunities, events or people who can help you turn your dreams into reality.

7 What-If Ideas For Creative Visioning

To engage your subconscious mind for creative visioning, you need to go deeper into relaxation. The more calm and relaxed you are, the greater your ability to access your subconscious mind. Call up your mental screen while you are in a peaceful space. Decide on what you would like in the dream of your future self. Here are 7 What-If ideas that you can ask yourself:

Idea 1: Romance What-If
What if you can see yourself engaged in a stimulating conversation and walking hand in hand with someone you love against the backdrop of a beautiful park?

Idea 2: Health What-If
What if you can see yourself in the midst of a thrilling adventure eg. Mountain climbing, diving, flying a plane etc.? (Choose an activity that obviously requires you to be in good health to be engaged in it.)

Idea 3: Wealth What-If
What if you can see yourself writing a huge check for donation to a philanthropic organization that you have helped built?

Idea 4: Dream House What-If
What if you are living in an eco-friendly house that has unblocked views of the ocean front, glass-tiled flooring that allows you to see the marine life beneath and your own private boat moored in the front deck?

Idea 5: Travel What-If
What if you can see yourself having a delicious chef’s special (whatever that is) lunch in an exotic paradise? This idea gets my vote as a hot favorite! Picture Santorini, an island in Greece, with its white sculptured villages nestled atop steep volcanic cliffs that fall sharply to the deep blue Aegean Sea.

Idea 6: Dream Job What-If
What if you can see yourself in your ideal place of work, having fun and earning enough money at the same time? What would your dream job look like?

Idea 7: Success What-If
What if you have just been invited by Oprah to be interviewed about the book that you have just written? Or what if you have touched the lives of thousands through the words you have shared on your blog?

Next Steps

1. While the rule of anything goes applies to having fun in your creative visioning, what you imagine must be authentic to your desires. You need to focus on what you desire from your heart. Additionally, a desire that can also help service humanity tends to receive extra points from your spiritual team. Get their support to manifest your what-if scenario with ease.

2. After asking yourself what if, visualize yourself stepping into the mental screen. In Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) terms, we call this action as getting “associated”. You wear the shoes of the future self in your imagined scenario rather than view the entire picture from a distance. You engage in at least 68 seconds of holding the intention of your imagined scenario.

3. Create a vision board to work powerfully on your what-if intent.

Share Your Thoughts

Like the idea of what-if? What are your what-if scenarios?

Abundance Always,

P.S. If you are keen to learn how to leverage on the power of your subconscious, look no further than Silva Life System. The amazing outcome of using this program is that you can also increase your intuitive (or so-called “psychic”) ability. Jack Canfeld also gave the thumbs up to the Silva Life System. And he is not the only one to endorse it!! Thousands and thousands have too!!

Related Articles to Read:

1) Pink Bubble Technique for Creative Visualization
2) 10 Sure-Fire Tips to Making Creative Visualization Fun

The Spiritual Warrior hesitated. Even though she was standing still, her mind was racing a thousand miles. “Should she proceed or abandon the hunt?” She wondered. Beads of perspiration gathered on the side of her forehead. The Warrior started to reflected on her journey so far.

Since entering the labyrinth, the Warrior had found herself chasing a strange looking beast. The Warrior felt somewhat disappointed by the memory of the chase. She was dismayed that she had not been successful with a quick conquest.

Coming into the labyrinth was no accident. It had in fact instantly appeared when she unwittingly invoked an order to the Universe. In a moment of thoughtlessness, she had asked for deeper revelations from her psyche. Yet, at the entrance of the labyrinth, she had shuddered at the thought that there might be no turning back. The Warrior had read about labyrinths previously. Legends, spiritual text and myths of the past had often piqued her curiosity. According to one fascinating story, only a few were able to emerge from the labyrinth alive. It was a mysterious force that drew her into the labyrinth eventually, even whilst she was not absolutely sure that she was ready for it.

The Ultimate Treasure: Truth of Light

For a long time, the Warrior had an insatiable need to discover, or rather rediscover, the Secrets to Life. Knowing the Secrets to Life would grant her more power than anyone else in the world. The Secrets were, after all, answers to the entire cosmos. It was not so much the power that she was hoping to find. Her first intent was to find herself. For a start, the warrior knew that having the Secrets would allow her to find out more about the meaning of her own existence.

Within the heart of the Secrets to Life was the ultimate treasure as well – the Truth of Light. More than anything else, the Warrior knew that possession of the Truth of Light would grant her immunity from darkness. The world had been shrouded in darkness, ever since she was born. It had a dreary effect on her mood. She wanted to feel the warmth of light, something she knew existed in the few masters who have uncovered it.

The Warrior was driven to go on a journey for the Secrets to Life because of her nightly dreams.She would wake up to haunting images of places where she has never been, people she has never met, and mostly, of herself in various odd-looking costumes. More recently, she was even tuning into alien-like pictures that looked as if they came out from some science fiction magazine. The Warrior had instinctively known that the images were not to be dismissed as figments of her imagination but of long-forgotten realities, answers to which lie somewhere deep within her psyche. They bothered her, obviously. She knew that they were clues to her origination. From a different galaxy, dimension or realm, she thought.

The Warrior had self doubt issues. In a way, she already knew that she was more than just her physical body. Yet, she found herself needing to validate over and over again her intuitive flashes or to decode the messages contained within her dreams. She did not trust herself enough to interpret every single one of them. Resignedly, the Warrior also knew that there were few with whom she can share her nightly encounters with. She feared ridicule. Few would fully comprehend how tormented she felt by her need for answers. She felt like a misfit in social outings. So she had largely searched for the Secrets to Life alone.

Inside the Labyrinth

Upon entering the labyrinth, a chain of events started to take place. The chain of events catalyzed in a beast that kept luring the Warrior deeper and deeper in. The Warrior had to go through many adventures, while searching for the beast. She walked down endless corridors, looked into dark corners and got lost several times on the crooked lanes of the labyrinth. She had already sensed that slaying the beast would bring her one step closer to the Truth of Light although she had no idea how a conquest could specifically help her with it. The Warrior had to abandon sleep and rest in order to move fast. She understood that any delay or distraction could potentially set her back in her journey.

Her adventures in the labyrinth led her through a whirlpool of emotions; including anxiety, desperation, rejection, abandonment, worry, fear and betrayal. At every turn, she had caught a glimpse of the beast. It had morphed into close to one hundred different faces, at last count. Each was uglier, larger and more vicious than the last. Each required her to encounter herself in her worst nightmares. Again and again, the beast would appear briefly before disappearing upon being spotted. The Warrior felt weary. It had been going on for weeks.

Finally, it appeared that the chase was coming to an end. For there in front of her was the beast with its back turned towards her. The Warrior could feel her own fear, as she crept behind the beast’s back. She caught a whiff of the surrounding air. It was bitter, metallic and salty.

The Warrior drew her sword steadily. Its sharp tip glimmered in the streaming light.

But No!!

Just at the crucial moment, the beast turned to face her.

It let out a snarl that frightened the Warrior so much that she dropped her sword.

Cornered, there was nowhere that she could run.

The Warrior had to use whatever skills she knew to save herself.

Like the above story?

I wrote it as a metaphor to describe my personal experiences in a slew of events over the recent weeks. Yes, I am back from the labyrinth. I not only survived but had a major breakthrough. The Truth of Light represented illumination for an answer that I was searching for.

It feels great to be back; better and lighter than before

Lastly, for those who are on the spiritual path, here is something that I would like to share…

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”
~ Paul Coelho in “The Alchemist”

Abundance always,

I had a dream in the wee hours of Sunday morning. When I woke up from the dream, I decided that I needed to watch the move “Inception” as soon as possible. My dream had felt real. It was intriguing that I was able to understand its message for me while I was in the dream state. I wanted to find out if “Inception” had more to teach me about dreams.

“Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.” — Inception

So after an early evening dinner, I went to watch “Inception” yesterday. I was glad I did.

Inception Movie Review

I won’t be able to go into a lengthy discussion of this movie. Not because I don’t want to but simply because I can’t. The truth is that one viewing is not enough to fully understand the terminology, rules, and exceptions of the intricate plot; one which is set in the world of subconscious.

Christopher Nolan has crafted a multi-layered story – a dream within a dream within a dream and so on. A word of caution: if you do not pay careful attention during the movie, it is possible that you may get lost yourself at any point as to which of the character’s dream you are in. I wouldn’t also want to spoil it by going into details especially if you have not watched the movie yet

Here is a brief summary, however. Dom Cobb (acted by Leonardo DiCaprio) has the rare skill of stealing valuable secrets from the depths of his subject’s subconscious. His ability made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage. At the same time, it has also made him a fugitive from his own country. He was offered a last chance to return home. The job required him to accomplish the impossible – Inception. Dom Cobb and his team had to do it differently this time, though. Instead of stealing an idea, he was to plant one. Although the team tried to put in careful planning, they were not fully prepared for everything that turned up.

There were lots of scenes that I liked from the movie. I enjoyed how the architectural marvels sprang to life, the collapsing of dreams, the linking of one room to another, that fears could multiply like mental viruses and how unlocking the darkest secret was like accessing a hidden vault. Clearly, the movie bears the creative stroke of genius. One of the best movie lines has it that…

“If we are gonna perform Inception then we need imagination.”

Even from one viewing, the movie resonates deeply. It offers a lot of what I often share on this blog: the power of the subconscious mind (please subscribe to receive my emails if you have not), dreams and alternate realities , addressing fears, imagination, confessing secrets and so on.

“I know how to find secrets from your mind, I know all the tricks!” ~ Inception

My Mind Was the Scene of My Crime

If you are interested to know what my dream on Sunday morning is about, read on. My dream was constructed from the setting of a past memory but explored the possibility of a future day. I could see myself clearly wearing a corporate suit. It was my first day back at work in a 9 to 5 job in the bank. I was assigned to the customer service section. While I was welcomed back with open arms of my colleagues, I had to face the wrath of a demanding female boss. All the characters were none of the people I knew in real life. My dream was being populated with people of my imagination.

In the dream, I tried to steady myself in the effort of not going into a panic. I was getting anxious. I was being asked to handle a simple funds transfer for a wealthy Nigerian customer by my boss. Pride prevented me from being truthful. I was reluctant to tell her that I have forgotten how to fill up the bank transfer form.

In my dream, I went into inner talk. I told myself that it was not that I did not have the knowledge. It was because I had forgotten how-to, after being away from the banking field for so long. I reasoned that if I managed to keep calm, I would be able to retrieve the archives of my banking knowledge which is stored in the deep recesses of my mind.

That was when an inner message surfaced: Fears are more imaginary than real. The lesson was not to blow my fears out of proportion.

While you may dismiss this so-called “message” as nothing profound, allow me to put forth the suggestion that learning on a subconscious level cuts much deeper. It is not the same from knowing things at a conscious level. An idea in your subconscious can rewrite all your rules of living. As Cobb in Inception puts it,

“What’s the most resilient parasite? An idea. A single idea from the human mind can build cities. An idea can transform the world and rewrite all the rules. Which is why I have to steal it.”

Cobb knew that when dreams are built on the past, they would be about confronting fears. He was afraid and so he cautioned…

“Never recreate from your memory. Always imagine new places.”

Eventually he found that as much as he tried not to recreate from memory, it was an impossible task at the deepest layers of the subconscious.

My personal experience. I have been both fascinated and tortured by some of my dreams for a long time. There was a period in time when I suffered badly from insomnia and the inability to fall back to sleep easily after waking up in the middle of the night. My fears were accumulating sky-high at the subconscious level. With no outlet for release, they were bursting at the seams. Eventually, they were appearing in several bad dreams for me. I would wake up with a sense of dread. Luckily, with repeated inner work, my anxiety has subsided substantially. I have been sleeping more fitfully in recent years.

Conclusion

1. Inception is a movie about exploring your subconscious. It is about confronting your worst enemy – fear which is a construct of your imaginary mind. At the same time, it is about venturing into possibilities. There is no denying that much power rests with your ability to manage your subconscious well.

2. Do not be scared off by reports of the movie’s complicated story. You should not miss it.

“I’m asking you to take a leap of faith.” – Inception

If you are a personal development student learning about the powers of the subconscious, then this movie is a must-watch. Inception is one of the best movies I have seen, since Matrix. I intend to watch it again.

Here’s the trailer….

3. To learn the art of remembering dreams and to plant ideas in your subconscious all within the same program, look no further than The Silva Life System. José Silva (August 11, 1914 – February 7, 1999) was a parapsychologist who helped people increase their IQ, develop psychic skills, and the ability to heal both themselves and others remotely through the subconscious.This was the program that was instrumental in assisting Jack Canfield, Shakti Gawain and Wayne Dyer in their early days of personal development. In fact, all of them – including several other famous personal development experts – attested to having used the Silva program for years. Silva’s program has certainly helped in my journey as well and I continue to use it!!

Share Your Thoughts

Do share your thoughts about Inception or your dreams, if any.

Abundance Always,