Two Steps to Get What You Want & Stay Present

The universe wants us to be happy. Yay!

Everyone seems to be talking lately about staying present.  We are in our heads, either worrying about the past or fretting over the future.  We are being told that we need to “stay present” in order to enjoy our lives and the only moment we have is NOW.  But now that we are aware that we are NOT living fully in the present we can add worrying that we aren’t to our already long list of things we’re not doing right. 

Sometimes the more I learn to enlighten myself just feels like a gigantic burden on how far I have to go.  But don’t fret, wanting to be more present is a worthy endeavor and by simply wanting to do it, we are already on the way to getting there.  Whew!

ASK

The first step is to get into the habit of asking for what we want.  This also is one of the best ways to get into the habit of praying.  If you are like me and didn’t grow up with prayer, then it may seem like a foreign concept.  I wasn’t taught how to pray and I certainly didn’t know who or what I was praying to or what to ask for or if I even had a right to ask for anything.  I felt like a fraud.

 

When I began the practice of asking, I didn’t even realize it was a form of prayer, but it is.  Whenever we stop in the moment and ask for anything and everything, we begin tapping into the power of the universe and listening to who we are and what we need and want. 

This practice for me began innocently enough.  Years ago I was at my neighbor Jeanne’s house.  Jeanne is one of those fantastic people who has wit, wisdom, sass and charm; she also had an unwavering faith and a close relationship with Jesus.  I always admired her faith, but my spirituality was not Christian specific.  It turns out, it just doesn’t matter what your particular “bent” is; the universe gives to all.  Anyway, on this day, Jeanne had lost something and was beginning to get frustrated.  Finally, she said aloud, “Jesus Christ, friend of mine, there is something I must find…it’s my___________” .   I laughed but was intrigued that you could ask Jesus for something so trivial.  She told me that He would help her and within a few minutes, she found what she was looking for. 

Jeanne’s simple prayer inspired me to begin asking.  I would invoke Jeanne’s phrase whenever I lost something, and I can tell you it works like a charm.  This began to inspire me to ask/pray for different things in my life.  I thought, if the universe will respond to something as simple as a lost item, maybe there is some force at work that responds to what I put out. 

One day I was talking with my sister Sherri and she told me about something she lost.  I told her to ask Jesus and she replied that she didn’t want to bother him, it was too trivial.  It made me wonder, “What’s too trivial”?   Is anything too trivial to ask Jesus or God or the Universe or yourself, and I realized that nothing is too trivial. 

And so I began to ask for anything and everything I was lacking in the moment or what I wanted to cultivate.  If I didn’t like something about myself or wanted to change, I would ask for the opposite.  For example, if I was feeling petty, I would ask to be more gracious.  If I was nervous, I would ask for patience or faith or trust or grace.  If I was feeling jealous, I would ask to be more generous.  If I was scared, I would ask for courage.  I began to ask and ask and ask.  If I needed to talk to someone but didn’t know what to say, I would ask for the words to come at the right time.  Asking was my form of prayer, because by asking, I would automatically feel better, like the help was already on its way. 

We have all heard the bible verse, “Ask and ye shall receive”.  It’s true.  Give it a try.  Every time you stop and ask for what you want, you are actually setting your intention and seeking a positive outcome.  The Universe wants to help you and give you what you seek, but you must identify it and ask.  It can be as simple as saying to yourself or out loud, “Help me to be….more patient, honest, kind, generous, courageous…etc.”  Or you can ask for something specific, “Help me to find the perfect dress for the reception.”  Whatever you seek…ask.  The very act of asking, helps you to focus on where you are, what you want, and where you want to go.  This keeps you grounded in the present, not to mention getting you what you want.

GIVE THANKS

The second step is to give thanks.  Another bible verse is, “In everything, give thanks”.  I once read that if the only prayer you practiced was “thank you”, that that would be enough.  Getting in the habit of giving thanks in all things is one of the best ways to ground yourself in the present by looking around and appreciating all the goodness that surrounds you.  If you look for the good, you will find it.  If you look for the bad, you will find that too.  Similarly, what we focus on expands; therefore if you concentrate on the positive, more good things will flow into your life.  This is the law of attraction. 

It is good practice to ask for what you want and to immediately give thanks as if it is already given.  Giving thanks, not only helps you stay present but it cultivates and strengthens faith.  It’s as if you’re thanking the Universe simply for listening and being there, even if you don’t get what you asked for.  Giving thanks helps you get into the appreciation habit, which helps you be more grateful for all you have, rather than what you don’t. 

The simplest way that works for me is to give thanks for what you want.  This combines both practices in one easy package.  In other words, think of what you want…courage, grace, peace, joy, or maybe it’s something more tangible like find a great partner, new job, or more money; whatever it is, give thanks as if it’s already been given.  For example, if you want a new job you might say, “Thank you for leading me to a wonderful new job with ease and grace.”  Or, how about, “Thank you for the confidence to face my fears every day.”  “I know I will be supported with courage when I need it”.  “Thank you helping me to have an open heart and mind.”  “With your help and guidance, I will me more gracious and understanding in every moment”. 

Are you starting to get the gist?  The best part is that any negative or fearful thought can be a reminder to ask and give thanks.  So instead of getting stuck in a negative swirl or beating yourself up for not being happy or feeling afraid, try to become conscience of that thought or feeling and immediately give thanks for the opposite.  Therefore, there are no “bad” thought or feelings, just reminders of where you are and where you want to go.  You can even go one step further and give thanks for those negative thoughts or feelings, because they are perfect reminders to become conscience and get clear on what you really want. 

The most important thing to remember is to be gentle and kind with yourself.  As with anything, this takes a great deal of patience and practice.  Most of us have an enormous amount of practice beating ourselves up, so it stands to reason that creating new rituals and habits might take an equal amount of time. 

The key is to pay attention to your thoughts and emotions.  Anything can prompt you to become aware and ask and give thanks.  They will both help to ground you, get you what you want, and help you to stay present.  So go ahead and practice, practice, practice – this is the essence of the Joy-ney!