Several years ago, I heard about the power of manifestation…

At the time I’d set up a pretty full-on gym in the garage. I’m an ex-fitness fanatic and was working hard to recover after illness. I’d hop on the treadmill and as I was walking, I’d think about the things that could make my life perfect.
I never did fall for the bunkum of manifesting a new car, money in the bank, an over-seas holiday etc. – there are so many things wrong with that train of thought – but it did get me thinking about how I would like my life to look in the future. I knew, even in those early days of my spiritual journey, that you can wish and pray and talk all you want, but if you are not prepared to put in the hard-yakka, nothing is going to materialise out of thin air. I knew that if I wanted these things in my life, I had to do my fair share of the manifesting. Source, God, Spirit (whatever name you prefer) was not going to just drop stuff into my lap because I really, really, really want it!
I ended up with a fairly short list, and I walked for hours on that treadmill as I spoke that list out loud. It was like chanting. The words timed to the rhythm of the steps I took. I had to walk miles each session because I also felt the need to explain exactly why each point was important; how I, specifically, wanted each thing to look; why I didn’t want too much of each good thing – da da da….
Moving forward….
About a month or so ago, I realised that something was really weird. I was in a very strange state of mind and it took me a while to work it out. I am happy.
I can honestly say that I can count on one hand the times I have felt this happy. The birth of my daughter over 40 years ago. The birth of my eldest grandchild 18 years ago. Very, very few other times. It took me a while to work out why, but almost all of those things I wanted in my life as I walked on that treadmill, are here. The reality isn’t how I envisaged things to turn out, but they are the reality I now live in. And it is good.

A good example: At the time, many people told me that if I was going to ask for money in my manifestation hopes, ask for a lot. Don’t be stingy. Go for the Big Bucks! Me? That didn’t sit comfortably. I just wanted enough so that I could pay my bills and have a little left over so I could save up for small luxuries. What came about is that I am now an Aged Pensioner. I have a regular income of about half of the breadline wage and which has very little room for fluff – but, my bills are paid, I share a wonderful house on the water (another of my desires) at (almost unbelievable in today’s world) a rent I can afford.
I sought good health, as I walked that treadmill. Good health is a very relative thing. If I look at my point of view from 25 years ago when I was at the top of my game, I’m a wreak! If I look at my health from the point of view of my doctor telling my that the periods of paralysis are going to get worse and I won’t ever be pain free so I should start to use a wheelchair, my current health is fantastic! It’s just a matter of how you look at things in your life.
These things that have brought about a fulfillment in my life, and this strange and wonderful feeling of contentment and happiness, didn’t come about because of the chanting as I walked that treadmill, they came about because I put in the hard work. They came about because I did my damn best to look for the bling in every dark corner – and I have been well-challenged in that arena – and not allowed myself to wallow (at least not for long) in despair.
One of the things I asked for was time to look after me, to do the things I want to do and not be at everyone’s beck and call. I’m one of those people who has a very strong need to help others – and it’s caused me no end of problems because it’s often been at the expense of having time to look after me. The isolation periods of the last couple of years has been a blessing in disguise for me as it highlighted a need to withdraw from the addiction of social media, to pull back from trying to set up classes and workshops aimed at helping others deal with their anxiety, fear etc. It was time to STOP. So I did. And there it was – time to do the work on ME.
On this Spiritual path I have done the hard work that has brought me to this point in my growth. I am currently in the midst of a shift where I can choose to step up and take that work further. Where I can study, dig even deeper into the Energies of this beautiful world we call home. Or I can sit back and feel good about where I have arrived. A place of reasonable comfort with enough funds to pay my bills – and that feeling of happiness!
I understand the value of pushing things a bit further. Dramas that many of us face can definitely push you out of your comfort zone during the early stages of this life-journey, and maybe, as I travel further, my comfort zone will be rocked a few more times. Somehow, I don’t believe that the drama of my life up to now will continue at that intensity. I am aware that as drama appears, I have a choice. It is my reaction that causes the problems. Hopefully I’ve learned enough that I can make the wise choices.
Do I believe in the power of manifestation? You betcha I do. But not at the level of ask / pray / focus hard enough and it will materialise like magic. No. You have to do the hard work. The work on Self – physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and the practical work of having a goal to aim for – and going after it. You have to decide what is realistic and what isn’t. It’s the adult version of the mother telling the child that ‘Just because you want it, it doesn’t mean you can have it!”