I want vs. I am

I have a simple challenge for you. Well, maybe it’s not easy, but simple in the literal sense.

Like almost everything I post, I do not claim this as an original idea, but this has been resonating strongly with me lately. This is a combination of what I’ve read, experienced, and believe. I’ve done a fair amount of meditating on and reading about manifestation. You’ll find different perspectives and methods, and it usually contains elements of 1. Get clear on your vision, 2. Put it into the universe (vision board, journal, verbalize, visualize) 3. Don’t be attached to how it happens. Just trust that it will happen 4. Express gratitude (even if it hasn’t actually happened) 5. Act as if it has already happened. I believe strongly that #5 is the key. I’ll elaborate…

If you’re already acting “as if” something were true, your vision is already fully formed, and #1 and #2 are taken care of. If you already have something in your life, you’re less likely to care how you got there, and you’ll ideally be grateful that you’re there. #3 and #4 are taken care of. Rather than wrapping ourselves up in a check-list or step-by-step process (don’t get me wrong, I LOVE me a checklist!) I suggest we try something simpler.

Here’s my challenge:

Any time you find yourself thinking or saying “I want”, replace it “I am” or “I have”.

Really envision yourself this way, as if it is occurring now, not sometime in the future. The magic in this technique is that you’ll start behaving in a way that leads you to where you want to be.

Here are a few examples:

I want to be at X weight vs. I am at X weight. Close your eyes and really see it. If you are the person that stays at your goal weight, my guess is you’re reaching for healthy foods, eating in moderation, saying yes to exercise, and generally staying on track. Envision being that person, not wanting to be that person. If you’re not there and you want/crave/hope, you might say.. oh screw it, or I can’t, or I’ll work on it tomorrow, or I’ll fail. If you are there, you’ll act like that healthy person every day, or at least, most of the time. Am I right? Sit with that for a bit.

I want X job, vs. I have X job. Close your eyes and really see it. If you want/crave/hope for the job or business opportunity, how does that feel? Probably scary, intimidating, uncertain, or not possible. It might be exciting but a little grey. Feel like taking action? Maybe. May not. If you already have the job or opportunity, you have confidence, take action, and feel like you belong in that space. You know you can do it because you already are! Yes?

I want X amount of money, vs. I have X amount of money. Close your eyes and really see it. Perhaps this one is a little tricky. Perhaps you’re thinking, well, yeah, if I had that kind of money, I’d spend it. But that’s a bad idea, I’m not doing that. I don’t want to go bankrupt trying. But I’ll ask you to dig a little deeper. People who have money didn’t get there only by spending a lot. They have money because they manage what they do have appropriately, reducing debt, working, saving, etc. They act, they don’t wish. Now try again. Close your eyes and see it. I bet you have that job, paid off your debt, saved, and then spent. Or maybe you won the lottery. Good on you. But the question is: did you play the lottery, vs. wishing you won the lottery? You get the idea.

Lastly, as I’ve alluded to, wanting, craving, and hoping are ineffectual. Change comes from the doing. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in having hope, especially in tough times. But this meaning of the word hope is a little different. I’m guessing you’ve heard the phrase “what we resist persists”? That applies here. If we want, we are in a scarcity mindset rather than an abundance mindset. We focus on what we don’t have or what’s wrong, not what we can do or what’s possible. Then guess what: More of what we’re focusing on appears in our life. Try shifting to “I am” and “I have” for a day or two, and let me know what shifts happen for you, big or small. I can’t wait to hear about it! I am on this journey with you.

References: The Wisdom of Yoga, Stephen Cope

ps. Part of the inspiration for this posting was an exercise I tried. I am a huge fan of blogs, podcasts, exercises, etc. This person inspires me. I engaged in an exercise that, in part, was to write down what I want every day for X number of days. I got excited! I was going to get clear on my goals and achieve them! I added my own additional twist on how I was going to complete the goals. I diligently completed the exercise for 24 days, which was short of the goal. I stopped on purpose. I realized 1. There are just a couple things I REALLY want (the exercise was helpful in that way). 2. I’m not doing shit about it, at least not in an effective manner. I haven’t improved anything in 24 days, not really. So now, I am going to focus on being, not wanting. Like I said, I’m on the journey with you.