The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. -Eleanor Roosevelt

Life gives you what you think about.

Take a look at the following statements. Do you ever think these?

Life is not easy.
Making money comes with struggle.
I will not live a long life.
No one really understands me.
Finding the love of my life is a matter of luck.
My efforts to make anything happen are useless.
People cannot be trusted.

Which one of the above statements have you made in your life? In essence these statements are thought patterns.

 

You may have thought these based on a single experience you had. Then when another situation came about where this statement could become real, you thought this statement again. Or you may have subliminally picked these thought patterns from people around you and adopted them to become part of your belief system. Your belief system is composed of all the thought patterns you have adopted, created and assimilated as you experienced life. Subsequently, life offered you more and more evidence of what yo were thinking. For example, if you thought people cannot be trusted, you started distrusting people. You were then placed in situations were you encountered people who acted in a way that your statement was confirmed.

Because life offers to you what you think about and what you focus on, it is so vital that we focus on things we really want. So, let us say that you do want to trust people, but in your life your wallet was stolen. Now, instead of focusing on this one event as evidence of distrustful people, shift your focus on all the people you know who are full of integrity. Think of the millions of occasions when your wallet was safe and sound. As you do that, you are placed more and more in situations where you experience the trustworthiness of people. You are more and more able to trust people and experience the beauty of human integrity.

Create Affirming Statements To Create Your Beliefs

Now see if you would rather choose these statements as part of your belief system:

Life is easy and fun.
Making money comes easily to me.
I live a long and healthy life.
I am loved and understood.
I find the love of my life in divine timing.
All my efforts to make things happen are blessedly fruitful.
People have a good heart and are full of integrity and I trust them.

Wow, what a fantastic change in energy that is! Just writing these statements fills me up with a lovely feeling.

So when you come up with a dream that you want to manifest, look at your belief system. Do you have belief statements that are not conducive to manifesting your dreams? Then, without judging yourself, work on releasing these beliefs. Write down these statements and do what I love to do: burn them! Then, begin creating a new belief system by thinking repeatedly new set of affirming thoughts.

Below you can see what these beliefs may look like and how you can replace them with new thoughts. These reflect the experience of

-someone who want to change jobs, or go for a new career.

-An entrepreneur who has taken the first few steps to following their dream but is faced with doubts and uncertainty.

-Someone who is yearning to create balance in her life while working and having a family.

-Or someone who is desiring to build greater financial abundance in their life.

For example:

My dream of a successful (insert your dream here) career in the arts seems so far away.
I can have a successful career in the arts starting right now.

It is hard to have (insert your dream here) a sold our rock concert/sold out products/job I like/love of my life/financial freedom/have peace on earth.
It is extremely easy to  sell-out my rock concert/make profit from my products/find the love of my life/ live in financial freedom/have peace on earth. 

My business (insert your dream here) does offer something valuable but people don't seem to need it.
My business makes a valuable contribution to the community and people are hungry to contribute financially for my products/services/projects/events.

I don't know enough about marketing (insert something you need to know for your dream to manifest).
All that I need to know comes to me easily and at the right time. 

Making my business (insert dream here) successful takes up a lot of time in the week, leaving none for my family, friends and other interests.
Making my business (insert dream here) successful helps me free up time for all the things I love to do and have complete balance in all aspects of my life. 

I wonder if I will enjoy this (your dream) in 10 years. 
Following my dream now will make it easy for me to always do what I enjoy.  

I know how it feels at times when you are just not sure about your life and are hit by waves of doubt and uncertainty. In such a situation, keeping a positive outlook seems next to impossible. Yet, that is exactly when we need to hold on even stronger to our beliefs that help us grow and make our dreams come true. This is the time when we need to keep moving towards our goals even when we do not know what path to take. We need to grab firmly to the strings of complete and unwavering faith in the universe and its benevolence and in our own infinite potential that lies within us. When your dream is to make a positive contribution to the people in your life and beyond, all of the universe comes to your aid. 

Here is an analogy of the kind of faith I am talking about.

How a Road Trip in Fog Taught me About Belief

I just made a 2 hours and 15 min road trip from Charlotte to Asheville yesterday. When I left Charlotte, I had my goal clear: Asheville. From previous knowledge, I knew that the city of Asheville exists and also knew that the US government had build fantastic network of roads to get there. So I headed onto Interstate 85 (South) towards Asheville then took the exit to 74 W. On 74 W, I was driving through lot of fog. I needed to reduce my speed and be extra alert as the visibility was low, only a few feet ahead of me. Also, it was pitch black with hardly any other cars for reference points along the road. What I did have helping me were the fog lights on my car and reflecting lane markers on the road. Along this road, I could not see my path all the way to Asheville. Certainly, did not see the entire road when I began back in Charlotte. I needed to begin taking steps based on my complete faith that I will arrive in Asheville on this path. Especially now when I had encountered some fog, I needed to keep moving. I could only move as far as I could see, a few feet at a time. And that is all I needed to make progress on my journey. It did not matter that I could not see the entire path. I just needed to watch out for the relevant signs, slow down when I needed to slow down, speed up when the sight was slightly clearer and constantly make progress. What would have happened if I parked on the side of the road and waited for the fog to disappear. I may not have gotten to Asheville at all that night. What would have happened if I just gave up and went back to Charlotte? Well, I would have to start all over again anyways, if going to Asheville was really important to me. 

When I was on the road yesterday, I realized this is what complete faith looks like. When you set out on a journey to achieve a goal, first we need to know clearly where we want to arrive, or what we want to create or achieve. With this clarity, we begin. We get into our car and start moving in the direction of our goal. So our body is our car and we begin to move it by taking an action towards our dream. Then we make progress, bit by bit. When an obstacle comes our way, such as fog that makes things uncertain or unclear for us, we keep moving in whatever pace feels right, but we keep moving. We rely on the help we have, the strengths of our body and mind, the faith of our spirit and we ask for road reflectors for guidance. The road reflectors are people who can guide us, point us our way. Road reflectors are also our intuition and our inner voice that tells us what the next step is. We work with all that and keep on moving. We may not know how our journey looks like. We may not know which exit to take. But we keep moving forward with all that we do know. We hold the belief in our dream, in our target strong and firm. Just like we trusted that the road exists all the way to Asheville, we trust that the road to our dream manifested exists all the way. All we need to do is keep moving and keep believing.

So, are you willing to believe? Then, let us do it. Let us believe as Eleanor Roosevelt inspires us in the beauty of our dreams. And let us keep moving. 

Intention for Today: Dream

Today's intention is to Dream.

Dream your best year so far. Allow yourself to get into that space from where all dreams are possible. Revisit the place of childhood within you who dreamt big and fully confident that it can become physical reality. Dream your best year so far. Dream your ideal life. What does peace manifest in your life? How does abundance look and feel like? Imagine. Dream. Dream away.

Thank you Dream for showing us the vastness of possibilities.

Intention for Today: Gratitude

Today, my intention is Gratitude.

Let us be grateful for each moment. Let gratitude fill our hearts as we walk through our paths. Remember that the Universe is a friendly and all that happens is happening for your growth and evolution even if it may not be obvious at the moment. Thank the Universe. Be grateful for your blessings.

Thank you Gratitude for showing us how to fill our hearts with joy.

Intention for Today: Breathe

Today's intention is to Breathe.

Breathe through each moment. Take your time with every single act. Make yourself present. Enjoy the timelessness of breathing. Feel the breath happen to you. With each exhale release the tension and allow for ease and lightness to fill your being.

Thank you Breath for your life force.

Intention for Today: Connection

Today Connection is the intention.

Connect with people today. Say a kind word. Give a smile. Know that bonding and connecting comes naturally to us humans. It is our strength and our life support. A community of connected people is a blessing. So create, join, participate in yours!

Thank you Connection for the strength of your bonds.

Intention for Today: Inauguration

Inauguration is the intention for today.

Today let us renew and refresh and recommit to our lives. Add greater vigor, vibrancy and color to all that we do. Bring stillness, reflection and contemplation in our being. May the spirit be our guide.

Thank you Inauguration for starting anew.

Intention for Today: Sun

Today the intention is to recognize the Sun.

Let the strength of the Sun seep into you. May you be filled with love and radiance of the Sun. Light, Love, Brilliance and Magic to you.

Thank you Sun for your light.

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. -Mahatma Gandhi

An indomitable will can drive an athlete to break world records. It can make a leader unite nations. It can inspire a mother to travel as long as it takes to find safety for her children. It motivates a nation to land on the moon. Surely an indomitable will can do wonders. 

Mahatma Gandhi is called the Great Soul. His indomitable will inspired justice and self-rule to return to a British Colony. But, what else besides the indomitable will did Gandhi have? What about his faith in the supreme being, God, the Universe, the Creative Energy, whatever name you want to give it? Gandhi led and inspired an entire people with his profound belief of what is right and just. Without trust in the goodness of people how could he have fasted for days to stop the violence that was happening across the Indian subcontinent? Without faith in himself and in the higher power, how could a man reach beyond himself to influence and inspire so many with beauty and grace?

During this festive time of the year, I send you my warmest wishes. May you feel the God, Universe, the Creative Energy present within you always. May the indomitable will of yours be supplemented by the unfathomable divinity that carries you each moment.

-Sophia Ojha

Intention for Today: Play

Today's intention is to call Play into our life.

Let's play! Yesterday, I asked a beautiful 4 year old being, what she loves about being 4. She answered, "I like to play with my toys". I loved that answer. Inspired by her words, I take on the attitude of play in our daily lives. How wonderful to look at our day, the things we do, the time we spend with people and think of it as play. In a game, there is fun, excitement, a clear goal and tons of learning moments. There is great bonding with people we are playing the game with; there is much laughter and creativity flowing among the participants; time seems to fly or stand still; and at the end of the game there is sense of joy and a new breath of dynamism in all people playing and shall I add, observing the game.

So let us play in our own way, inviting others to join in and spreading good energy in the process.

Thank you Play for showing us what it means to be alive.

Intention for Today: Calm

Today's intention is to keep calm.

Let us stay calm no matter what. Let the storm roll around us keeping us untouched at the core. Let the waves past over us. May we be filled with a calm coolness that may seem alluding at times. Let the vision of strength and stability carry us through.

Thank you Calmness for your gifts of tranquility.

Intention for Today: Enjoy The Day

Today Enjoy the Day with intention.

Today enjoying the day is what we will do. Let us take in each moment with gratitude. Let us enjoy being alive. Being able to spend time with family and friends. Let us be one with ourselves. May we completely immerse ourselves in every moment, being our true selves and loving it.

Thank you for enjoying the day today.

Intention for Today: Just be

Today the intention is to Just be.

Today let us just be the way we are. Let us not look at what we do in order to love ourselves. Let us love ourselves for who we are. Allow our inner most self to just be, to just enjoy being alive.

Thank you for just being.

Intention for Today: Light

Today the intention we call for is Light.

Let our day and night be filled with the light of joy and wisdom. Let us lighten up. May we access that place where we are fully immersed in the divine light, the light that dissolves all fear. Let the light shine our way, helping us become lighthouses for those who need it. Let the brilliance of life and love radiate around us.

Thank you Light for your glorious presence.

Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hi Everyone. This is Sophia. And this week's video Reflection is about a quote from Emerson, which says: Once you make a decision, the Universe conspires to make it happen.

When I read this quote, I feel so free. The worries and anxieties about results, about things manifesting, becoming real, they just disappear. Because I realize that as soon as I think about an idea, I conceptualize, make a plan, plan a trip...whatever new idea that I may have, as soon as I think about it, it is already real either on paper or in my thoughts. If I share it with somebody, it is now witnessed and listened to by another and it is real.

This span of time, before it becomes manifested physically is just that: a span of time. And patience and trust and faith is what we need until our dreams become a reality. So let this quote be an awesome reminder that whatever we desire and dream is going happen. It is going to become real, tangible. And with this faith, let us dream away, make plans, take action. Let nothing stop us from taking that next step.

Believe in yourself, and make it happen.

Bye. White Mountain Love! 

Intention for Today: Uplifting Thoughts

Today, the intention is to welcome Uplifting Thoughts.

Whenever there is a thought that is unpleasant, stop and reach for an uplifting thought. When you feel the emotions of irritation, annoyance, upset and anger, notice it. Gently shift your focus on any one thing that you can appreciate and admire. If nothing comes to you, just appreciate that you have air to breath and a body to be alive in.

Thank you Uplifting Thoughts for bringing us to a higher vibration.

Intention for Today: Meditation

Meditation is the intention for today.

Meditate today for 5 minutes. Let your mind calm down. Let your focus become acute. Escape into the vastness of your subconscious. Dissolve all. Become one. Be.

Thank you Meditation for becoming a bridge to cosmic unity.

Intention for Today: Realization

Today Realization is the intention for the day.

Realise what you need to change. Understand that the old habits and the past are of now use if they do not bring you to realise your dreams. If you are trapped in the cycle of habit that keeps you down, let go of it. Set the intention to let go of it. Release that which you no longer need.

Thank you Realization for bringing to our awarness what we need to release.

Intention for Today: Embrace

Embrace is the Intention for Today.

Today let us embrace our gifts. Let us share them passionately. Today, let no doubt or fear come in your way. Embrace the moment. Embrace the possibilities. Embrace love and embrace life. Embrace yourself as you realise that all is well. You are following your path.

Thank you Embrace for embracing us with open arms.

Intention for Today: Ask and it is Given

Today's intention is to remember that when We Ask, It Is Given.

Let us ask the universe what we need to know. And let us remember that it is a given already. We just need to allow and let it happen. So let us release all doubts. Let us let go of that which is not serving us, making room for what helps us live in alignment with our highest self.

Thank you for this reminder that when We Ask, It Is given.

The Universe is made up of stories, not atoms.-Muriel Rukseyer

Here is a heart-warming story for you.

Last week, there were two days of rain and snow. The neighborhood cat we were feeding was totally drenched. Door to our home opened for him. He could now dry off and warm up. Though he knew us, he had not spent time inside our home yet. Cautious and curious, this cat made himself at home for the night.

This cat, we had learnt from the neighbors, is called Orlando, after the city in Florida. He is beautiful and all black. When the afternoon light shines on him, one can see a glistening silvery fur lacing the outline of his body. He is graceful and reverential. He carries himself with dignity that extends far beyond his being feline. His eyes are lime green, and when he looks at you, you know he is looking at your spirit. That's his glance to me.

For the next few days, Orlando spent more and more time with us. Gradually, he started expressing his gratitude in his adorable ways. He started sleeping in the same room as us. Then, he moved closer and closer to us in the room. At first, we could caress his head for a couple of minutes. Now, he wanted extended love. We often work sitting on the floor with laptops on our laps and Orlando would come lay near our legs. He would nudge his little head softly against our head when we leaned close to him. On two occasions, he even came and sat on my lap for a few minutes. He melted our already melted hearts.

Orlando was clearly in the process of adopting us. He seems to have liked being around us. And in my heart there was room for a four-legged cutie! It was not long before Orlando made his way into my and might I add, Cristof's heart. On Sunday, after four days of Orlando coming "home" to us, we decided to "officially" give Orlando our heart and our home. Just some hours ago, we completed an informal ritual of handing the baton from Orlando's previous human friend to us as the next stewards of this magnificent Feline, a moving event for all involved.

So, we are now the happy and delighted friends of a marvellous, black cat, following on the footsteps of what the ancient Egyptians have done thousands of years ago. Revering the presence of this being and indulging in its beauty and grace.

May this story bring even more warmth to you in these winter days. 

Greetings and Love

Sophia

PS: This photo was taken in spring of this year on the Island of Sardinia, home of cats galore! It is divine synchronicity that this postcard was scheduled for this month! (I designed it back in November and now a cat has been manifested into my life in December!)