“What do you want for your birthday? What do you want to be when you grow up? What is your greatest wish?”
When an adult asks these questions to a child, it stimulates their imagination and feelings of excited anticipation may arise, especially if there is encouragement and follow-through surrounding their answers.
On the other hand, if there is ridicule, reprimand, and the child is made to feel guilty for their answers, then the process of asking and receiving is stifled or damaged.
Asking and receiving involves imagination and acting upon imagination with our thoughts, our actions, and, most importantly, our feelings. If this is compromised, then there needs to be a way to unravel layers of suppression, limitation, and frustration.
Just like a caterpillar that never emerges from its cocoon, our emotions and desires can remain suffocated in negativity if not acknowledged or expressed.
Mindfulness (nonjudgmental awareness) can be a useful tool for recognizing limiting thoughts and actions that culminate in mental tension and suffocate heartfelt desire. Once discovered and then released, desire has the ability to expand belief and transform into an eagerly wished-for manifestation.
If you are feeling more frustrated than elevated when it comes to receiving and manifesting, consider first the emotions that arise, and if possible, your thoughts. With the following mindfulness exercise, you may discover how tension in your body and mind can be an unwelcome consequence to this dilemma.
To decrease the heaviness of your mood and internal tension, begin by exhaling out of the mouth slowly, as if you were letting out a long sigh. Do this several times as you close your eyes. With each long sigh, imagine more of the emotion pouring out.
Place your hands over your heart center for a few moments. Imagine a dark substance that represents your distress release out of you. Continue breathing slowly, letting out the discomfort as you settle more into the chair.
If you still find yourself distracted, angry, or hurt, imagine a substance like fire emanating outwards. Move your hands to either side of your head covering your temples. Continue breathing out slowly as you imagine the emotions pouring forth beneath your hands.
Exhaling out of the mouth assists in calming the nervous system and slowing the mind. The action of placing the hands at the heart center or on the temples soothes and supports as well.
Continue the breathing exercise and notice what image has faded or if it brings up a specific event that is responsible for your disposition. If your emotional level starts to lessen, then imagine redoing the event with your actions in a more satisfying manner.
For example, you may create an imaginary scenario whereby someone finally stands up for you, you get a chance to safely express yourself, or the other person admits to their mistake.
Even though your reality may be contrary to this, keep exhaling and modifying your scenario towards satisfaction and relief (decreasing limitation and frustration) as your feelings transform into the freedom to believe and receive.
