Letting go and letting "God" or Letting go and moving on!

I have been studying the Law of Attraction (LOA) for many years as those of you who have been reading my blog will already know.  I love studying this work.  I feel it resonates at a deep level with me.
The main premise behind LOA is that when you ask for something, clearly, with intention and focus your attention upon it; you then follow this with the faith and the belief that it will come to you; and then (with some time lapse) you receive it.  Ask.  Believe.  Receive.
In principle, this sounds great.  But in practice it can be very difficult.
Initially becoming clear about what you want to manifest/create in your life can be challenging enough.  We often don't even allow ourselves to think about what our big dreams might be because we are so conditioned to think that they are impossible or they only come about in particular ways - ie from hard work and earning enough money; or to those of us who are lucky enough to have wealthy family members etc
Then the belief can really trip us up.  Imagine that you put out to the universe that you wanted a new house, a really large house in a desirable area (and you couldn't possibly afford it currently).  Theoretically, according to the LOA you could have it.  However, our belief would probably be so challenged by this, that after we have put that thought out into the universe, we automatically follow this up with, but how could that possibly happen?  Its ridiculous, I'm deluded, I'm living in a dream world.  What would my friends say? etc
Two other sticking points are timing.  If we asked for something and before the end of the week was up, we had it, we would really start to believe LOA.  However, this frequently doesn't happen.  There is divine timing - ie the timing that is the most appropriate for us, even if we don't know it.  So this brings into question us keeping our faith for a longer time period.  The other big sticking point is the way in which things are delivered.  We have to trust that things can come to us from expected and unexpected ways.   We need to be open to all possibilities about how something may manifest in our lives.
From studying many different books; different authors and different historical figures' writing and speaking about the LOA, the repeated message is "Anything is possible -  You can have anything you can imagine and conceive, as long as you keep the faith."  Wow!  Fantastic!  I'll have some of that.....
The more spiritual books on the LOA that I have read have also emphasised the fact that once you get really clear about what you are asking for, you then "Let go and let God"  ie you hand the problem over to the universe, you don't keep trying to intellectually work out how to manifest this thing you want.  You trust and you believe and you keep trusting and believing.
There are also plenty of encouraging quotes flying around facebook saying "Don't give up on your dreams" and "When you are about to give up is when the miracle appears"

So here is my big question - if this is the case, what about when it doesn't happen?

For many years, I have been working as an acupuncturist specialising in treating couples with fertility issues.  And I have never been able to answer the question that comes up for me in regards to them.  What about when it doesn't happen?  It seems a perfectly reasonable thing to ask the universe for  - to be able to conceive your own biological baby, especially if you are a couple,  of a reasonably fertile age, of good health, having an active sex life - why are you not able to conceive?  How can that be fair?

So my question is - when do you "let go and let God" and when do you call it a day, and let go and move on with your life.  Because ultimately there comes a point, (accompanied by much grief probably) where you do have to let go and move on.  How?  When?

About 5 years ago, I got an overwhelming feeling that I wanted to move out of town and to the countryside.  On and off over the 5 years, we have looked at properties and explored different options, mainly because our finances haven't been such to support a move to a suitable property.  I have visualised, I have imagined, I have affirmed, I have asked and believed, I have "let go and let God".  However, I haven't moved.  Admittedly, this hasn't been consistent for 5 years at all.  But I always trusted that if this was meant to be, it would happen.  I gave myself until this May (for various reasons) and then told myself that I would then let go of this idea altogether and accept.  But this is proving difficult.

I would really welcome comments from others about how they have managed to move on from circumstances in their lives where things haven't gone to plan. 

Meanwhile, I have asked to the universe to show me the next step I need to take.................

Fear of ridicule/shame.

What is it that stops us from expressing ourselves fully?  From living in our full creative individual power?
I realise that for me I have a huge fear of ridicule.  What will people think of me if their opinions are different from mine?  
I'm not a very scientific person.  I'm not into arguing my way logically about feeling some of the things I feel.  Sometimes I feel that I just "know" something to be true to me but if a more "scientific-minded" person were to pick it apart, I wouldn't be able to back it up apart from declaring that it "feels" true/resonates with me.
Why am I so bothered about what others think about me and my thoughts and opinions, and the way I look/dress anyway?  I know I'm not alone in this.  There are a lot of people that I don't agree with things they do or say but I don't feel like I need to ridicule or ostracize them.  I might decide to not spend a lot of my personal time with them but I appreciate everyone has a right to their own opinion.
The people who's opinions that matter to me most, are very supportive and know enough of my viewpoints, to not have an issue with me and still choose to be my close friends.
I have also chosen to live in Brighton, in the South of England, which is a very "alternative" city and where a huge diversity of people live and certainly in the clothing front - anything goes!  I love that.  So why do I still have a fear about what others think?
I remember from a very young age, my fear of being told off was so great, that I pretty much never did anything to be scolded about.  And in my parent's defence, they were very reasonable with their boundaries in any case. 
This felt like a feeling I was born with.  
I have had recurring, very similar, nightmares for many years, and a couple of years ago, had a very insightful nightmare about me having been a witch in a previous life, and being tortured and burned at the stake.  Looking at wikipedia, it is estimated that the witch trials lasted for 3 centuries, and approximately up to 100,000 witches were killed (plus many more tortured).  Eckhart Tolle things it is in the millions! This would certainly instill a huge fear of being found out.  If this were your experience, I can imagine that you would go "underground" with your opinions/skills.  
As a female acupuncturist, and nutritionist who uses herbs, and homeopathy, and attends women in childbirth, I would have definitely been considered a "witch".
Why do we feel like we need to be the same?
You only have to look at the fashion industry to see that many people want to be told how to dress and to look the same as others.  Not to stick out.  Not to dress individually.  We seem to have a fear in people looking differently from us and holding different opinions.  This is possibly the stem cause of racism.
I personally feel that I don't want to "stick out".  I have strong "alternative" to mainstream beliefs. But I dress very safely, I don't look like the alternative-type that I am.
You only have to open one of the "Womens" magazines to see how women ridicule other women, for the way they look, being criticised for being overweight/wearing the wrong dress, looking differently.  This type of modern-day ostracising perpetuates our fear.
When we ask someone our opinion, they frequently try and convince us that their way/opinion is the right one and we should follow/do that.  When we don't, and instead, we choose to do/say something differently, it is challenging to others.  I notice this happening through every day life on a very frequent basis.  From simple to more intimate opinions/situations.
We have two very large (1800 pupils) secondary schools near us (age 11-16).  I am always amazed at how similar a huge amount of the kids look.  They girls wear their school skirts in the same way (pulled up as short as possible), their hair straightened or wavy (depending on the fashion)/blonde or dip-dyed(depending on the fashion)/put up in the same way.  The boys wear their trousers hanging down over their underwear, or their t-shirt sleeves folded over, or trouser legs rolled up once, and the Converse!  The need to conform seems to be at its peak as teenagers.  But at what age do we then claim back our individuality?  Our creativity?  Our individual power?  our compassion for others viewpoints?  Our compassion for our own viewpoints?  
I know so many amazing women that are hiding their talents/their creativity/their individual passions for fear - fear of conforming, fear of failure, fear of shame, fear of being wrong!!  I feel like I am being internally pushed to reclaim my power and doing this blog feels like it is part of this.  My inspiration often comes in the night, when its quiet or dark, or immediately after meditating.
#feelthefearanddoitanyway

Things happen for a reason?

Since as far back as I can remember (possibly 3o+ years), I have believed that everything happens for a reason.  There are no coincidences in the universe.  There are synchronicities, but not coincidences.  The ripple effect of everything that happens in your life is huge.  Whether you smile at the lady in the local shop, or you have a cross word with her, that can then affect the next person you meet, and the next person she meets; which can ultimately affect the day that you both have.

In my adult life of over 25 years, I have always had this belief and it has yet to be proved wrong to me.  Maybe I'm just lucky that I haven't had any really tragic circumstances to contend with that have really tested my faith in this belief.   I often reflect on the film "Sliding Doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow.  I try to make the ripple effect from myself on my friends/family/clients and work colleagues as loving and positive as possible.
Comments welcome  :)

It's all about divine timing!

I've been working with the law of attraction for many years and have been asking for something that is quite a long way financially from where I am now.  I have been studying many different authors and sources, which seem to concur, that if you ask clearly for what you want; you then believe that you can have it; you will then receive it.
It occurred to me again today, that I feel like I have a lot of faith, however, it is all in the timing! There is a divine timing to all things occurring.  If what we wish for and desire were manifest instantly in our lives, we would have no trouble with believing the law of attraction/creation. However, when things take longer than we want, we struggle with our faith.  We then start believing others (and our inner voice) when they tell us, it cant happen, why do we deserve that, its too expensive, etc
We then start affirming that it is impossible or too far fetched for this to enter our lives, this then starts negating all the work you have been doing in asking for it to come into your life.
Recently, something similar to what I have been asking for, came into my life, and I felt really disappointed that it wasn't near enough to what I had been asking for.  It was far from my dream scenario!  However, an inspiring friend in my life reminded me, that maybe it was just a step closer towards what I have been asking for, rather than the thing itself.   Alternatively, it could also be, that there was a letting go process or a reaffirming process that I needed to go through to get clearer about where I am prepared to compromise.  Watch this space!.....................

Helen Keller said "Be happy with what you have, while working for what you want"

We are so conditioned by our past experiences that it is can feel really difficult to change and appreciate that the power is in the present moment.

If you were guaranteed to succeed, what would you be doing?

Someone asked me recently, if you were guaranteed to succeed with anything you wanted to do, what would you be doing?
Well the answer to that only took me a few minutes to come up with, it was very close to the surface.  Is it what I'm now doing?  Not entirely.
Why aren't I doing it then, if its something I really would like to be doing?  Fear of failure?  Fear of ridicule?  Knowing that there's lots of other people around already doing it.  They'be been doing it for longer.  They're possibly more qualified, more experienced.  Why would people want to come to me?  I haven't even written a book yet!
I generally feel that I'm a fairly confident person in most areas of my life but I was surprised at my lack of confidence and vulnerability at the thought of putting myself out there in the public arena, offering new services to the public.  I've even read the book, "Feel the fear and do it anyway"
I'm sure that this is a very human condition, and that I'm not alone.  I think that fear of failure and ridicule is very commonplace.  I then remind myself that a lot of the well known inspirational people out there, 2 of whom immediately spring to mind - JKRowling and Henry Ford, (I dont know why I picked those 2!).  JK Rowling had numerous rejections before her book was published and Henry Ford had many setbacks - the rest is history as they say.
It feels easier to carry on doing what I'm currently doing (and that is fine as I do still really enjoy my work and plan to continue in any case).  But there is a passion inside me that wants to branch out.  So even though I feel vulnerable, I also feel like I have to follow that as I start feeling miserable every time I try to ignore this part of me.  It feels like this is part of my life purpose.  Maybe I just like challenging myself and don't just want an easy life!

Tips that have helped me create change

We create change by initially changing our thoughts.
The thoughts we are thinking regularly and with strong emotion become our reality, the stuff of our lives.
Observe your thoughts today.  What are you creating?
If you want to have change in your life, you need to start making some daily changes, however small.  "If you do what you have always done, you will get what you've always gotten" Anthony Robbins.
What changes could you make today?
Maybe you could sit in silence for 3 minutes, a couple of times today.  Or you could start writing down or visualising what changes you would like to see in your life.
Or you could choose an affirmation to work with.
Or you could decide to smile at everyone you meet today, or give them a complement.
Or you could say thank you the moment you open your eyes.  And thank you for your hot shower.  And thank you for your nourishing breakfast etc
Gratitude is a very powerful technique for creating change.
Start with something, and add to it each day.

How do we create change in our lives?

Change is all that is happening, every moment of every day.
I love this ancient chinese proverb "The only certain thing in life is change"
According to quantum physics, matter (human beings, computers, rocks, trees, water) is formed of atoms, which consists of subatomic particles constantly moving.  It has been recognised that we affect these particles with our attention and our intention.  We are surrounded by an energy field that responds to our thoughts/intention/attention/beliefs/  So we are literally creating our lives with our thoughts.  Atoms that are resonating at the same frequency attract each other.  Our thoughts have a magnetic field effect.
To start the process of creating change, you need to initially get really clear about what you want, where you want to be heading, what your vision is.  If you don't give the universal energy field a clear picture about what you wish to draw into your life, it will respond to your most dominant thoughts.
Thoughts are creative.  Every item or object was once just a thought or idea in someone's mind.
I personally have moments where I am completely going with the flow of what is happening in my life and other times where I have huge amounts of resistance and frustration.  
Then there is the issue with belief!  Surely I can't ask for something that seems so far from where I am right now?
When you are asking for something you want to create in your life, your negative beliefs about not receiving can be so strong )for whatever reason) that a huge amount of negativity can come up, which needs to be processed/released to effect change and movement in thoughts.
Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now) talks about how the ego doesn't want change and we create resistance.  He says, when faced with a situation you don't want, you either take steps to change it, or you accept it, everything else is futile, a waste of energy and taking away your power from the present moment; the power that comes with knowing that thoughts are creative.
Your thoughts of today are creating your tomorrows.