Just Keep At It
There is a lot of pressure to belief, particularly when affirmations and manifestation are involved. We can get hung up on how we want things right now, and walk around in the perilous position of lying to ourselves or invalidating ourselves or being in straight up denial. Our affirmations can start sounding like “I own a unicorn” if we don’t actually believe them to be true, believe them to be possible, believe them at all, or most confusing, don’t want them while thinking that we do.
Doubt, disbelief, and a lack of faith can do a lot of damage and be very confusing, but even more harmful is not knowing ourselves very well at all. We can be living according to the virtuous or questionable values bestowed upon us by our parentage. We can be exhaust ourselves trying to jump through hoops set up by a well intentioned relative. We can stifle our own growth trying to avoid the harms of an eighth grade bully, no matter how old we are (I’m guilty of that, for sure). We can be living out the fears and traumas of a previous generation, unclear why we’re afraid of everything but convinced we should be, because one of our parents is (also guilty).
So, how do we get to know our real selves? You guessed it - by starting to practice faith, of course, which is the annoying answer to every question on this blog. And also through meditation.
Meditation is that important wellness practice everyone knows is useful but very few of us take the time to allow into our lives. It may be the most important, honestly, because the more I learn about feeling good, the more it seems like slowing down and actively choosing our responses is ninety percent of the solution. Mindfulness and meditation enhances self-control, which is incredibly important for responding, rather than reacting. It’s also a primary factor in self-awareness.
This is a long, circuitous route to saying it’s important to take some time to get to know ourselves while building our belief in Good (or God). There are some answers to important questions we haven’t answered about ourselves, because we have been answering them on behalf of someone else. As we get to know ourselves, we get to know what we really want and need, and also how we might be able to get there. Then, our affirmations and prayers start to sound more like realistic dreams and goals, and less like pure poppycock.
No one likes a liar, and contrary to popular, cynical belief, faith really isn’t about lying to ourselves. It’s about slowing down, getting to know our true selves, making choices that support our faith, paying attention to whether or not prayers get answered, and making meaning out of each and every day on the path to reaching goals and dreams that are about what we truly want and need.
Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy, right? It’s actually easier than you might think. Just start to pray and meditate, wherever you might be. Two minutes of meditation in your car before you start your work day. A prayer in a stressful moment. Deep breaths during an argument. Listening to a short meditation on an app. A short walk while paying attention. Prayers instead of fears when you can’t sleep.
It all counts. It all adds up. Just keep at it.