By Margaret Johnson
I really don’t like roller coasters.
When I was little, I tried to like them, first pressured by family and then when I was older, pressured by peers. However, roller coasters truly don’t work for me. I am talking eyes closed, hands gripped, total terror. No smiles, no “that was great, let’s do it again” at the end of the ride for me.
We have all been on quite a ride as of late thanks to the coronavirus. This roller coaster has certainly made me feel out of control; perhaps it has for you too.
The past few months have reminded all of us that even though it may seem at times like we have control over our outer world, we actually do not!
How often do we try to control or change what other people do, feel, or think? We say to ourselves “if only…” or “it would be better if…” How often do we try to control or change situations that are unfolding in our world, like viruses?
As much as we may try to influence people and experiences outside of ourselves, we can’t change what doesn’t belong to us. However, we can manage and direct what is happening on the inside, the inner landscape. At first, this might not seem like a lot, especially in the face of the roller coater that is currently unfolding; however, it holds incredible power and opportunity.
When we stop trying to control what is happening on the outside, we can focus within and activate our ability to create.
A few weeks into this coronavirus adventure, I realized I had completely stopped setting my intentions for how I wanted to experience my day and for what I wanted to create. I had given my focus and power away to the events that were unfolding outside of myself.
What a relief it was to remember I could turn inward and set intentions. I could plant some seeds! If you are interested in reconnecting with your power to set intention and create, here are four steps to follow:
Step One: Which Seed?
The first step is to realize what you want.
Before the virus, most of us were too busy dealing with life and all of its responsibilities to spend time thinking about what we actually wanted. Now, there is less rushing around and more opportunity to consider what seeds we want to plant.
With all the recent changes in our outer world, perhaps our list of seeds has shifted. Perhaps our priorities of what we want to create are different today than they were at the beginning of the year.
What do you want to create? What seeds do you want to plant? More joy? More balance? More ease? It could be enlightening to get quiet, center, and create a list of what you want more of in your life.
Step Two: Plant The Seed
The most effective method of planting a seed is to imagine the full-grown plant. In other words, see yourself already having the thing or experience you want. See yourself in a healthy relationship, see yourself in joy, see yourself in balance, etc.
Visualizing oneself receiving what we want is a powerful step that eliminates the uncertainty of hope. Visualizing evokes certainty and conviction. It ignites the life force within us that knows how to create.
Step Three: Weeding
Weeding is an important part of allowing a plant to have space to grow and thrive. When we plant a seed of something we want to create, we ignite a process that brings up conflicting beliefs we might be holding that would crowd out whatever it is we are looking to bring into our life.
Those “Yes, but’s…”
For example, if I plant a seed to create more balance in my life, resistance could arise in the form of “but, I have too much to do,” “but I have so many responsibilities,” “but work comes first.”
Weeds can bind, restrict and interfere with a plant’s growth. It’s the same with resistance. It can restrict our intentions from manifesting. The good news is that we can weed out our resistance. We can release it! We can ground out those interfering thoughts and beliefs to allow our seeds to grow.
Step Four: Notice the Blooms
Stop and smell the flowers! It may seem like an obvious step to notice when a seed grows into a plant and blooms. However, sometimes we get so mesmerized by what is lacking in our lives and/or the weeds in our garden, that we don’t fully appreciate and see the blooming plants.
Having a log or journal of intentions that we have planted is often helpful in recognizing that indeed the seeds have manifested. By identifying and celebrating the realization of our intentions, we fortify our own understanding that we do indeed create our own reality from the inside out.
Summary
It might seem with all of the changes in our outer world that we are powerless to create in the present environment. I invite you to turn away from wanting to control people and experiences that are unfolding outside of you. Instead, turn inward and connect with the power that you have to create.
To learn powerful meditation techniques that support the practice of setting intention, check out our free Meditation For Living program.
