Breaking Outside "The Box"

As I have moved into a new home, I have come to realize it is easier to give up the past clutter that I thought I could not give up. Not only the clutter but also the decorations I thought I liked. The house I have now has a different layout, more space than my previous place, and some disadvantages such as less shelves but I can easily fix the shelf issue. I find myself realizing that not only am I in a new house but also a new frame of mind. This house is a simple representation for me of allowing myself to become something greater.

I have always been a big dreamer knowing that I can have and be and do anything I want, as long as I put my mind and my actions toward it. However, even the best visionaries sometimes get in a rut, or find that they have put themself in a box. I was at that point a few months ago.

A few months ago I could not envision fully (and I mean KNOWING that it would happen and FEELING it deep in my soul) living in a nice house. We were living in an okay apartment that was comfortable and served it's purpose, but was nowhere close to what we envisioned for ourselves. We were coming to the end of our lease and we needed more room. With a family of 5 children, 2 adults, a new puppy, a frog, 4 finches, and a goldfish our apartment was getting a little cramped to say the least. We wanted a house but I really could not see it in my mind. I really wasn't sure that we could make it happen and even if we did I wasn't sure what kind of house we could get or in what area with our budget.

Now, I have to say, my thinking was negative. I was hesitant, based on fear of the unknown and lacking in self confidence because of challenges that most everyone faces at some point in time while living on this earth: struggles. However, I was aware enough to change my position of thinking and create something different. Once I recognized the negativity of my thinking I began to change my thoughts. One of the ways in which I began this process was by choosing to act. My first forward moving action was beginning to look for houses.

We began looking for houses and then I had an expansion of perspective. As we had been looking for houses in the areas that I thought we could afford, none of them matched what I had envisioned. I felt pitifull inside until I asked myself; why can't I live where I want to live. I did a search in the area of where I really wanted to live and envisoned what I wanted. My search came up with one house in that entire area that fit my requirements. I immediately knew that was my house and moved forward with actions to prove it. I called my realtor to set up a time to see it as soon as I could. We saw it in person and my hunch of "knowing" was confirmed. I immediately filled out the application and drove it over to the broker's office with our security deposit. In the meantime of waiting about a week to find out if we had gotten the house I began to pack our house in faith. Don't ask me what I would have done if we didn't get it because I am not sure (kept packing the boxes and known that God would have had a better house waiting I suppose). Anyway, we found out about a week later that we did get the house and moved into it a couple of weeks later.

What I had forgotten was how simple envisioning can be and how effective and efficient it makes life. Envisioning is not some mystical experience. It is real. As real as an NBA basketball player who envisions making the basket before they actually shoot the basket. It is actually pretty simple but it seems harder on a consistent basis because life is busy and majority of people have not made it a habit. I know my envisioning is not yet a habit but I am working towards making it a habit. It is like riding a bike. The first time I rode a bike I fell off and I kept trying. Infact I had to have training wheels on in the beginning and after that I still had to have a little guidance from my parents because they could help me. After that I could easily do it on my own. This is no different.

I have had many experiences that I could relay of envisioning things in my life and they easily came to pass. As humans we are evolving more and understanding the capacity and ability of our brains more. For so long many of us have put in negative thoughts and words and the outcome has been negative. Imagine that; what goes in must come out. Again, nothing mystical about that. Now it is time to change our input. Keep inputting more positive thoughts and words and the outcome will begin to create more positive actions. Envisioning good things starts with what you put in your mind, your brain, your thoughts. These things will come out of your mouth as words which will become your actions. If you are unsure of how to change your thoughts, ask yourself how you feel. Do you feel good or bad? If you feel bad inside that is an easy indicator that your "input" needs to be different (more positive). When I cannot think of something good to say I easily resort back to Tom Hopkins motivational words of, "I'm Alive! I'm Awake! And I feel great!" Cheering this with a big smile on your face will usuaully change the way you feel immediately as it makes you smile and laugh creating new "happy" chemicals in your body to help you start to feel good. This is an example of how we can change the way we feel in a matter of seconds. By changing the way we feel, we can change the way we think. When we feel good it is easier to think good thoughts. When we think good thoughts it is easier to envision with confidence the dreams God has given us to be able to pursue our purpose.