‘If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster”   ~ Stephen R. Covey, Author

Have you ever worked really hard for something, and then once you got to the goal, you realized it isn’t what you really wanted anyway?

When we are clear about who we are, why we are here, and what we want in life, miracles begin to happen because we can tap into the power of the Universe.  The Universe needs very clear directions. If we aren’t clear about what we want or what we are trying to do, we send out muddled messages.  Mike Dooley, Founder of Notes from the Universe says, “Thoughts Become Things – So Choose the Good Ones!”  That’s a pretty powerful statement about just how important clarity is.

I have a simple five-step exercise that I have used for years to help my clients achieve clarity in their lives, their finances, and their careers.  The template I’m using here is available in the Smart Women’s Academy, Unlock Your Financial Power course, but you can do the five steps in this exercise around any goal.

We all have dreams, but too often, we get so bogged down with life that we actually forget them.  You want your dreams to be very clear, filled with emotion, and tied to your values (ie, what is most important to you).  It also helps to be able to see your dreams and to focus on them daily by having them written down where you can see them.

Step 1:  Visualize

Please take a minute to close your eyes and imagine that you are looking in a mirror, and it’s three years from now. As you look in the mirror, imagine that you are smiling and you cannot get the smile off your face.  You are in a state of total joy.  Everything is going fantastic for you.  You are at a whole new level of vitality. You are about to start your day.  When you turn around to begin your day, continue to use your imagination to answer these questions:

  • Where are you going today?
  • What does your house look like?
  • What car are you driving?
  • What are you doing for a living?
  • Who are going to meet right now?
  • Who are you in a relationship with?
  • How much are you earning?
  • What do you look like?
  • What are you going to wear today?

Think about these answers and jot them down quickly.  Your goal is to be in the moment and to write about how it feels to be so happy and why you are so happy.

Step 2: Affirm (written exercise)

Normally, the next step would typically be to write down your goals and then to figure out what you need to do to get from here to there. You will want to do this at one point, but for now, we are going to try something new. You don’t need to know how to do these things, just write down what life would be like in your perfect world using the template I’ve provided for you.  Write your statements in present tense and under the three categories below.  You can write as many as you wish under each category.

Here are some examples:

Personally

  • My life is joyful, abundant, and effortless
  • I go to yoga three times a week, and love riding my bike through the nature trails each morning
  • I enjoy traveling, speaking, and writing

Relationships

  • My daughters are thriving and creating their own joyful lives now
  • I love going to weekly concerts with my husband.  We are closer than ever!
  • I make time to enjoy deep relationships with close friends by planning in advance.

Money and Work

  • My business is running without me. My virtual team takes care of all the details!
  • I am focused on doing what I love 80% of the time, and it’s paying off because my business is thriving.
  • We are on track with our financial goals and update our financial plan quarterly.

Step 3:  Activate the Law of Intention:

Now print out your affirmations and put them where you can read them daily so you can stay focused on your dreams. You can scan the list and keep it with you and refer to it regularly.  When you read your affirmations with intention, you are sending that order out to the Universe, and you will find that opportunities will begin to show up.  You may call these coincidences, but don’t brush them off.

In his book, The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, Deepak Chopra says this about coincidences, “When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities. This is when the magic begins. This is a state I call synchrodestiny, in which it becomes possible to achieve the spontaneous fulfillment of our every desire. Synchrodestiny requires gaining access to a place deep within yourself, while at the same time, awakening to the intricate dance of coincidences out in the physical world.”

Step 4:  Dancing with the Universe

Don’t try to force things.  Simply state your dream, desire or goal and send it out to the Universe.  Some may call this creating an intention or praying.  You never know what the Universe actually has in store for you, so leave it open.  Just be sure to ask for what you want “or something even better”.  An example is: “I am earning $100,000 or more annually.”

So many times we think way too small.  One reason could be that our Ego (subconscious mind) is trying to protect us from getting hurt or disappointed.  This can show up as negative self-talk, or as a little voice in our head.  Go for it by asking for what you really want.

Step 5:  Believe, trust and watch for magic to begin

The secret is to get really, really clear about what you want and why you want it, focus on it daily, turn it over, and trust what you desire. Once you do, the magic will begin, and you will literally be able to manifest effortlessly. Right now is the perfect time to go out and buy that Miracle Journal. You want to track your ‘coincidences’ and miracles over the next year as your Dreams begin to Manifest!

Disclaimer!

Now I want to point out one thing here.  You cannot do these five steps and then just sit back and wait for things to magically happen. You do need to take an active role in this process. You will need to take action.

If your goal is to go yoga three times a week, you would need to sign up and then show up for the yoga classes.  Yes, you will want to take action by setting your goals and taking action.  They difference is that you will be watching for those coincidences and then taking advantage of them.  So when those opportunities show up, and they will, you will want to say yes.

I remember saying I wanted to be a speaker. I followed all the steps, and then rather quickly I was invited to speak.  Guess what I did?  I freaked out.  My inner voice was screaming that I wasn’t ready! This could happen to you. So be prepared. Have someone who believes in you, someone who has your back, who is there to help you move through your fear. When you do, you will be stepping into your power, and then all of this can happen so easily.  It’s so important to trust the process.

The purpose of this exercise is to help you know what it is you are working towards with absolute clarity and to remind you every day exactly what it is that you are working towards.

If you are feeling inspired, please do one of two things:

  • Sign up for my free course in Unlock Your Financial Power because it’s the closest thing to working with me personally. The exercise above comes from the course, and this is the work I use with my private clients.
  • Book a private 30-minute session with me if you want to know what it would be like to work one-on-one with me. We could do just one session, or maybe more. It’s amazing what we can do in 90 minutes together!  Or it could be that we end up working together for the next 90 days.  To go to my calendar visit Talk with Katana or my coaching page.

 

Katana Abbott, CFP®, is a Retirement Coach, founder of the Smart Women Companies, and the host Smart Women Talk Radio with over a million subscribers.  For over 30 years, Katana has shown women how to take charge of their life and finances and believes it’s never too early to plan for expected and unexpected events like retirement, encore careers, moving abroad, or preparing for long-term care.  She has written several books, created a financial literacy course, and is a popular speaker. Katana has been honored by NAWBO as one of Detroit’s Top 10 Business Women, receiving the Breakthrough Award. To download her new ebook, The Five Biggest Money Mistakes Women Make and How to Fix Them, visit www.katanaabbott.com