Photo source: Affirm Your Life
There have been a lot of changes going on in the world of Bee. Some are great, others leave much to be desired. Such is the nature of life - the ups and downs, peaks and valleys, the hard times that make you value the good times, and the good times that remind you that you can and will get through the rough patches.
One of my favourite quotes is from the author Zora Neale Hurston. I read it some time ago, but it always pops up when I review the past or think about the future:
There are years that ask questions and years that answer.
I had no clue what 2012 was going to turn out to be, and my assumption during the early part of the year was that it would be a year to answer. Looking back at that post, I saw the optimism and go-getterness (yeah, I made that word up) I held for the year. To be honest, I chuckled at what now seems like naivete.
One major lesson I can reflect upon over the year has been about just how strong the Law of Attraction is. Too many instances have shown me that whatever I focus my thoughts and energies on is what will undoubtedly manifest in my life. I can remember numerous conversations with girlfriends going through relationship issues - "Girl, you need to be the best YOU you can be - what you put out is what you'll attract." It seemed like such a common-sense application when thinking about relationships, but it took me a long time to realize that the concept can have incredible effects on other areas of your life.
Constantly talking about how broke you are doesn't do anything to lead you to prosperity. Sullenly stating that you'll never find a romantic partner isn't really the move to make if you want someone in your life. Speaking for me, myself, and I, I've found that negative thoughts manifest negative things - it could be something as serious as a health concern or as small as fretting about hoping that the emergency phone I carry for work doesn't ring and interrupt my weekend. I've had both the health issues arise, as well as the emergency phone screaming in my ear, and it's only after the thing has happened do I realize that I likely brought it upon myself with all the worry and negative talk.
On the other hand, I love when positive things happen to reinforce the right way to exercise the Law of Attraction. Income, opportunities, connections with great new people - all of these things came when I opened my mind to the possibility of them and believed that I deserved them. One of the greatest quotes from one of my favourite books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, reads:
And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
I've learned this through the many positive things that I've opened my mind to, that I've claimed in advance, and that I've believed with my entire essence were meant for me. The positive manifestations usually present themselves in one of two ways. Either I have a specific, concrete goal in mind, and through hard work, remaining optimistic, and believing that it's already been achieved, I usually get that very thing. Sometimes I don't have a specific goal. I might be faced with an unexpected expense, for example - instead of stressing about where I'll get the money, I'll choose to believe that I will have the money. What happens 9.5 times out of 10? I get a delayed monetary gift, a friend pays me back the cash I lent them, or I otherwise find a way to cover the costs.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LboN2j5MLKM&feature=colike[/youtube]
Check this video of Oprah talking about how the Law of Attraction (and the book The Secret) has worked in her life
Changing the way you think about things, and being mindful of the energy you give to things can be hard work - but it pays off. Try it for yourself, and take inventory of whether your negative thoughts beget more negativity, and if your positive thoughts beget more positivity. Going back to the Zora Neale Hurston quote, as we head into the last days of 2012, I can confirm that this was a year of answers. Some were pleasant, some didn't make sense, and some were painfully difficult. Regardless, I'm going to take the lessons I've learned this year and move forward, making sure that I keep the Law of Attraction on my side.
Do you recognize and believe in the Law of Attraction? How has it manifested itself in your life? As we come to the end of the year, was 2012 one of questions or answers for you?