Small victories teach us how to do big victories.
Way too often, people hear about the Law of Attraction and they get all wild-eyed and fanatic thinking about the million dollars they get to have by next week. Though I absolutely believe that you can get a million dollars by next week, I don’t believe that most of us have that level of faith or power yet. We probably don’t have the right mindset, or else we’d probably already have the million dollars.
So, in the beginning, when you’re first working with the idea of your thoughts, and shifting your beliefs and patterns, it’s great to start small so that your whole being can really get what it means. It’s not just your mind and your thoughts. It’s all of you. It’s becoming the mold of that thing you desire.
And starting small is good because it’s harder to get all wonky and bent out of shape when this giant thing isn’t manifesting. Really, this stuff is supposed to be sort of fun. If you’re clenching your fists and holding your breath and saying, “Damn! I must manifest this thing so I can finally prove that I can”¦” then most likely you’re off course. Let go. Start small.
Manifesting Peace and Parking
I had the wildest experience with this during the holidays. I was on my way downtown to meet a friend for lunch. It was cold. It was pouring rain. I live in a tourist town, so the Christmas crowds can be brutal. As I was driving towards the exit, I noticed I was feeling cranky and tense and nervous about going into downtown and dealing with all the people and the rain. At that moment, I remembered Esther Hicks’s [1]
words about how important it is to feel good, to let go, and to have fun. And I just decided to relax and be in the moment and have fun with my friend and love my town. (I can get really grouchy about tourists and how crowded it’s gotten here.) I just held in my heart the feeling of gratitude for how much this place has taught me. And I let go of worrying about the crowds and the rain and whatever . I remembered how much I’ve loved living here.
I pulled into a parking garage directly across from the restaurant. As I pulled in, a car pulled right out of its space in front of me. I parked in the space, walked across the street and got a seat at the restaurant. I sat there and thought, “Wow. The tourists must have all stayed away because of the cold and rain. I hope the business owners aren’t too upset.”
Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen. Then twenty. Finally, my cell phone rang. It was my friend shouting, “This town is crazy! I can’t find parking!” I asked her if she tried the garage, and she said, “I drove through it twice! It’s totally full!” She finally showed up ten minutes later. She was soaking wet and angry and ranting about the tourists and how awful downtown has become.
I couldn’t believe it. Our experiences were so remarkably different. I’m not judging her experience at all. Of course, I’ve been in that exact place too! What struck me was that I had thought the town was deserted. I had experienced complete ease and peace. These two realities co-existed. Thoughts really do create reality! Zoinks!
And I didn’t clutch the wheel trying to manifest a parking space, trying to make myself believe that I could get whatever I thought about. I think it’s because I let go and remembered how to love the present moment and intend peace and happiness. The learning I got from that one situation still stays with me. Having fun, feeling good, enjoying the moment can allow your whole body and spirit to open up and manifest what you need or intend in each moment. It might seem stupid and shallow, but you can learn how to do it through small triumphs.
My experience that day was a teenie tiny victory. But through that one tiny thing, I got a huge lesson about mindset and gratitude and love.
What small things in your day can teach you about the bigger things you’re aiming for?
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