Tag Archives: spirituality

Law of attraction, or are some things just meant to be? – 3 things you must do to become a master of your destiny

No, this isn’t a ramble on a higher power.

This is a post emphasising that the power is within you.

Let me explain.

Lately I’ve been concious to some interesting things happening around me.

Actually, it’s hard not to be. I am finally undergoing big life changes, working towards a more positive direction.

  • I got a second job at a cafe, a dream of mine for many years now, and have met some really cool people (high 5 Emily 🙂 )
  • A relationship with a loved one ended (her choice), opening my eyes to the truth of the situation
  • I sold my apartment in Townsville
  • I resigned from my full-time job in engineering.

Why did these events happen for me? Did they manifest naturally, or did I have part in their creation?

Were they meant to be, or has my attitude, actions and mindset attracted the results?

Actually, I think that there is nothing that is ‘meant to be’.

Put another way, I’m sure that nothing is a coincidence.

It’s an interesting, curious question. and one I’d like to explore further with you in this post. I’ll take a look at my perspective more, and share with you my three ‘must do’ habits that you can use to start attracting positivity to your life.


1. Manifest the future through positive beliefs

This is a new concept for me to acknowledge, although I admit I have been curious for a long time.

Manifestation (creation through positive beliefs) is a concept that is being chorused frequently as the globe trends toward a greater awareness of alternative concepts.

Put simply:

Manifestation is creating an outcome based on the visualisation of it happening.

To believe, or not to believe?

There is no right or wrong answer. In fact, there is no answer, as it’s a rhetorical question!

My thoughts are that, no matter what, you are in control of your surroundings.

You have complete control over your destiny, and you are able to attract (and deter) people, objects, and experiences to your life.

For example, consider the following positive beliefs of mine:

  • Ask and you shall receive – There is no harm in asking. In fact, you can only gain from the exercise. You either gain what you were asking for (be it an object, knowledge etc.), or you gain an answer to provide closure to your curiosity. Try it for yourself. It will open a new world of possibility.
  • You already know the answer – Yep, you are smart, smarter than you realise. It can be uncanny how often you undertake a task, relationship, or other, and after the ‘honeymoon period’ has ended, you feel your initial judgement, before it was hidden by the euphoria of the ‘good feelings’, becomes present once again.

Use these as simple cues to shift your mindset to a more positive, driven one, and watch the changes flow.


2. Remind yourself of your potential

In amongst all the negativity that the majority of us are surrounded by (take the news for example – how many people died in the world today?!), it is easy to become overpowered, overwhelmed, overcome.

The world can make you feel powerless.

Don’t worry. I get it. I have been victim of the influence of social pressure too (and still do – I’m human after all).

The good news is I now recognise how easily I am influenced by my surroundings.

This can work for me and against me.

To make a positive start to each day, I am actively nurturing the idea that I have potential, I have power, and I can do what I want to do.

Practice positive reinforcement.

This can be done in many ways.

I choose to spend the first 15min of my day going over a number of vision boards, mantras, and performing meditation. As part of my exploration into this morning ritual, I created a poem to myself – a younger me – to provide words of wisdom.

I’m pretty proud of it, and I’d like to share it with you.

Poem to my Younger Self

by Jason Townsend

Life is a struggle, of ups and downs,
always new challenges, testing and trying.
The path most travelled, bears mediocre returns,
The path less travelled, is one travelled by few.
Don’t be disheartened. Although there is less traffic on these streets,
Your actions will inspire, creating many followers you will meet.
 
Your heart is a beacon, a map, a sign,
Let your heart be your guide, and in a positive direction you will wind.
You are perfect as you are, comparison do not dare,
For in self and inner beauty, comes a strength you can’t compare.
Don’t become stagnant, don’t wait idol wishing for a guide,
Be the source to inspire them, a source of admiration and pride.
For when you act as those whom you want to find,
The law of attraction will present itself, and you’ll create a following in time.
 
I give you these, my humble words,
As I float here, high with the birds.
You can do great, you can achieve,
Your only limit, is to what you believe.
So go out there and make your mark,
Use these learnings, and don’t forget.
There’s little to be made from burning regret,
Go forth, be known, don’t waste your time,
Do what matters, what makes you shine.

 3. Practice mindfulness and let positive energy flow

Mindfulness is moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, characterized mainly by “acceptance” – attention to thoughts and feelings without judging whether they are right or wrong.

– Wikipedia, 2014

You really, really want something to happen?

Stop thinking about it so much!

It’s great to visualise your goals, desires and objectives, but it is unproductive to obsess over them.

In my experience, it’s easy to get caught up in anticipation and expectation – looking to the future and neglecting the present.

Future worries = anxiety = negative energy.

Stop negativity in it’s tracks by practicing some mindfulness. For some, this comes through meditation (traditional relaxation, exercise, repetitive tasks, music, yoga) or it can be practiced actively.

How do I practice active mindfulness?

If I find myself in a negative spin, or focusing too much on that out of my control (i.e the future), I acknowledge this feeling for what it is and take a better look…….

I become curious and inquisitive of my thoughts.

Question why you feel as you do, especially if it is negative. You have control. Take it before negativity manifests into something worse.

Always ask yourself this valuable question if you find yourself dwelling over something:

What else could this mean?

Taking the time to stop, take a breath, and ask this valuable question is the beginning of your mindfulness journey, and a sure way to tackle negative energy.


Are things meant to be? I don’t think so.

Everything is in your control. After all, your mind interprets all of your senses.

The world that you live in is an interpretation provided by your mind.

Therefore, you can master your surroundings, your emotions, your destiny, by transforming the way you think!

Lucky for you, I’ve covered 3 things at a minimum that you could implement today to begin your journey to attract positivity to your life.

  1. Manifestation through positive beliefs
  2. Remind yourself of your potential
  3. Practice mindfulness

These are easy habits to implement into your routine. You may need to get up 30 minutes earlier in the morning, but it’s worth it.

Start your day on a high. Implement these three positive steps and begin attracting positivity, and take charge of your destiny.


If you’d like guidance with any of the topics I’ve discussed, feel free to get in touch. I am always happy to learn through the experience of others and assist where I can.

Once again, I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason

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Have faith, believe in yourself, and follow your heart – 3 ways to deal with change

You’ve got an idea.

A dream, a passion, a goal; a desire to be something else.

Progress is being made, but there are some days where you find yourself chasing other, juicier carrots.

It’s you, the donkey, that must decide whether the carrot in your face or the carrot awaiting you during the course of your journey, is worthy of the crunch. Despite your hunger, you already know the answer……..

Is this you?

Are you getting distracted by the abundance of opportunity?

I am.

Or should I say, I was.

I’d like to share a musing today on change – the ups, the downs, the internal struggles, and the gratification once your mind becomes comfortable with the concept.

It can be difficult. You can ask anyone out there and you’ll no doubt get the same response.

Change is hard.

Those who come out on top will also tell you that change can be one of the most difficult obstacles that you face in life. That’s not all though.

Change is hard, and the rewards make it all worthwhile.

This post will introduce you to the concept of change. How it manifests, how you could (and could not) react, and how the simple act of faith and self belief can give energy to push forward against it’s seeming adversity. You can use the three simple coping methods to work towards your exciting changes knowing that if you feel disheartened, lost or misguided, you aren’t alone.

Have faith, believe in yourself, and follow your heart.


The process of change

Recognise – What’s that in the wind?

Change, that’s what.

Change is inevitable.

Change is always coming.

Whether you look forward to a change or dread it, change triggers powerful effects in your body and your emotions. For most people (myself included), we get comfortable in how things are and the ways we do things. Routine is predictable, reliable comfortable. Change goes against this.

Quite often, change = stress.

Fortunately, with the right thinking, you can increase your sense of control and steer your life into positive territory when you know how to deal with change.

Knee-jerk reaction – Undesirable ways you could combat change 

Change is on it’s way, and you know it.

Time to freak out!

Why is it happening? What can you do to stop it? What does it all mean? How are you going to work this into your life? What will so-and-so think?

The self talk can be overwhelming.

What’s the first thing to do once you realise change is coming?

Take action.

How?

  • The coping method – The act of simply giving in to change, letting it control you, and living as best you can, albeit powerless. As long as you are coping, just getting by, your have limited choices. Change is at the wheel. You are not in control. As such you could feel trapped, cocooned and isolated, and you could miss out on other opportunities as you spend energy just keeping up with the change.
  • Fight the change – Armed with ample amounts of anger and frustration, you could face change front-on in a full counter-attack! If you’ve ever tried this ‘path of maximum resistance’ you’ll know that this tactic can easily sap your strength. Since the fight is normally undertaken alone, you can also find yourself battling feelings of loneliness alongside the daunting pressure of the fight. Not nice.

Hold on, is this really the best thing to do?

I have learnt through experience that the answer is clearly no.

Fighting against change only creates further stress in life. After all, adding fuel to the fire never put it out, so it’s best not to spend excess energy on something that may be largely out of your control.

When it comes to considering acting against change, I find it’s best to do a self assessment of the situation and ask:Is the effort worth the reward?

Your answer will give guidance as to the path worth taking.

Diminishing hope – The ferocity of self doubt

Sometimes the true and desirable path doesn’t become known quickly.

It’s one thing to cope, and another to fight, but what about when you are struck with ‘paralysis through analysis’?

The longer you dwell on change, the more you doubt your ability to deal with it.

Your resistance to negativity falls, your courage takes a beating, and your hope faith falters.

Self doubt sets in.

This, in my experience, is most damaging to your progress. It is very easy to convince yourself that you are simply not good enough, not strong enough, not capable, to make change work for you.

And self doubt get’s worse over time.

To stop your self doubt manifesting itself into a force to be reckoned with, consider the following:

  • Treat change as a process – Dealing with change is not like an electric switch that is either on or off. There are many steps and components involved. It will take time.
  • Reframe the way you think about change – Choose to give positive meaning to change. Even if you’ve never tried it, you CAN thrive on change.
Breathe – Take time. Create space. Recharge your mental capacity and give yourself a break. Prepare to move with the changes, because they are going to happen. Don’t deny yourself the liberation that awaits.


3 ways I deal with change, and how you can too

Change needn’t be daunting. It needn’t be scary, and it doesn’t have to be hard.

When dealt with positively, change is what leads you onwards on your journey.

Change + positivity = opportunity.

Now that I’ve set you up with a relaxed, positive mindset, how can you now go about dealing with change?

1. Set smart goals

Goals are so important in determining a direction for your change. Don’t get caught up in the ‘big question’ goals though (like “what do I want to do with my life”), as these are poorly defined and are not useful in your quest.

Set smart goals.

Use incremental steps so you can consciously and effortlessly guide the change. Use the concept of ‘chunking’ – break things into manageable steps. If your goal is to run 10km, start by completing smaller 3km efforts. Do 3 of these, and you have suddenly reached the 10km goal!

Write out your goals and your plans to meet them. Remember, these are ideas that are totally changeable. Goals are as fluid as you are, so don’t stress about commitment if it bothers you.

Just start, and let momentum build.

2. Adopt and attitude of positivity, anticipation, and gratitude

Welcome change as an opportunity, not something to fuel negativity.

Negative thoughts block your creativity and problem-solving abilities. Positive thoughts build bridges to possibilities and opportunities.

Find the benefit in the change.

There is always a benefit and opportunity to be found, if you look in the right places.

Practice mindfulness, adopt awareness, be grateful.

These are useful tools that will help you develop a deeper understanding of what you really want to achieve

3. Communicate with supportive people

Talking with people helps, a lot.

Sometimes it’s simply too much to do alone. Finding a support network to assist you with your task can help you deal with the stress of change.

Be selective with your audience. 

In your time of transition and hardship, It’s easy to be persuaded by anothers’ point of view. Make sure that the company you turn to has your interests at heart, and who understands the true meaning of the change you face.

Having someone give false support based on a lacking knowledge of your situation will only add confusion.

You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with.

Choose your company wisely.

Make sure they’re the type that encourage positive growth for you.


Change. It’s a sometimes difficult necessity to personal growth.

The good news is, change is only as difficult as you make it.

I hope my three ways to deal with change, smart goals, attitude, and support, provide you with some useful guidance to combat any current and future change in your life.

As I go through my upcoming changes, I will certainly reflect on this post. I hope you do too. Good luck with your endeavours, I know you will do well.

Remember, nothing is as bad, hard, painful, scary as it seems.

Have faith, believe in yourself, and follow your heart.


I appreciate you taking time to read my work. If you like it, please share it with your friends on social media using the buttons below.

The more people I can help, the happier I’ll be.

Yours in inspiration,

Jason


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10 things I learnt from regret, and why it’s no disappointment to let it go

Regrets. I have them, and I’m sure you do too.

The feeling of regret is such a strong driver in my life, and in many ways it continues to be destructive.

Why?

Amongst many other things, It’s an incubator of negativity.

I’d like to use this blog post to raise awareness of regret – what it is, how it has impacted my life, and what it has taught me. No matter what walk of life you originate from, I hope you’ll be able to take my experience and try the practice of ‘letting go’ of any regret for yourself.

The freedom is liberating.

What is regret?

I am sure that what regret means to me may be different to you.

My experience leads me to recognise regret as a product of a number of things, which mainly include:

  • the act of being hung up on something
  • to dwell or focus on the past
  • being stuck in a negative thought pattern about a past event
  • unable to let go of a time gone by.

A more official definition of regret is:

“a negative conscious and emotional reaction to personal past acts and behaviors, often expressed by the term “sorry.” Regret is often a feeling of sadness,shameembarrassmentdepressionannoyance, or guilt, after one acts in a manner and later wishes not to have done so.”

Curtesey of Wikipedia

As I was writing this, I noticed a recurring theme. Did you?

Regret is all about the past.

In many ways, regret is an act of focusing on the negative that has been, and not giving yourself the freedom of letting go.


 

How regret has affected me

As I continue to learn about myself and about the way I impact the world around me (I see it as an increase in self awareness), and visa versa, I now see the importance that regret has played in shaping who I am.

Regret has driven me to make impatient decisions, force relationships, feel helpless, feel lonely, fuel desperation, and take impromptu action that has not always worked in my favour.

Like flying a jumbo through a tropical thunderstorm, It’s created an extremely turbulent journey so far.

A real life example

What prompted me to write this post is my current struggle with a previous decision to invest in property.

Without going into details, I began my journey into the Australian property market at age 25, because I felt it was the logical next step in my life.

I had a good job, lived in a nice town, and after a period of spontaneous job changes and crazy adventures overseas, I wanted to prove I was responsible and making progress with my life.

At the time, it’s what I thought was the right thing for me. It’s exactly what I wanted for myself.

Fast forward 3 years, and hindsight is a wondrous (and occasionally annoying) thing.

I now find myself in a changed circumstance, and the decisions I made at that time don’t agree with the new direction I want for myself. A direction that aligns closer with my newly realised values.

I have learnt a lot in the past 3 years, the most important which relates to this example being that I value freedom, and the ability to be spontaneous and mobile.

With my circumstance, I feel I can’t have that.

In comes regret.

As my unsuccessful attempts to sell this property amount, and seemingly take from me the ability to follow this strong calling of freedom, I regularly struggle with emotions of helplessness, anger, frustration, and regret.

It seems that nothing can go my way. The world is against me.

I’m at the mercy of my past decisions, and the regret of making them.

However, what I failed to see for a long time, is where there’s a negative, there’s always a positive.

Indeed, regret has taught me lots.


10 things I have learnt from regret

When I think more about it, regret has taught me a lot about myself and the way I continue to make decisions.

Below are 10 experiences I have encountered on my journey so far.

Maybe you can relate?

  1. The past is just that, the past. What has happened does not mean the future is dependent on it. You can change anything if you want. It may just take time.
  2. Decisions and actions, no matter the outcome, make you stronger.
  3. For all the bad times, there has been many more good times. Celebrate these, and remember them when times get tough.
  4. Things change, and that’s OK. Embrace change and learn from the new challenges you face as a result.
  5. The only person you cheat is yourself. If you believe something needs to be changed, then see to making it happen. 
  6. There is nobody more important than you. If you don’t take care of your best interests, then you’re unable to assist others with theirs.
  7. It’s OK to be wrong. In fact, its perfectly normal (and expected).
  8. There’s no harm in asking. Chances are the hurdle you face has been jumped before. Seek assistance. It makes life easier. You’ll find people love being given the chance to assist you. 
  9. Change takes time. Remind yourself that change is happening during the long stretches. It’s easy to have your vision clouded by negativity.
  10. Nurture your sense of hope, and have faith in your decisions. During your time of change, it’s what will keep you going.

There you have it. One of my many experiences with regret and how it continues to shape me as a person.

I hope you get benefit from the words I have written, and the reflection of one of my current challenges in life.

A key note to take away is that you are in control. 

Physically, this is not always the case (try arguing your case to the bank manager!), and it doesn’t always need to be.

Emotionally, you are in full control.

You can choose how emotions of regret can lead you. I’ve realised that it is far better to choose a positive route over a negative.

How about you?

Yours in inspiration,

Jason


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