What does it mean to be in a receptive mindset? It means that we are willing to put aside our ego-influenced thoughts in exchange for a softer, more allowing attitude. Willing to be open-minded and accepting of input from other sources. Willing to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers and we could benefit from additional information or insights. Willing to change our perceptions to see things differently than we have habitually been seeing them. Willing to allow others to assist or support us in meaningful ways.

Being open to receive, as a receptive mindset implies, does not mean that we give up our right to decide what is best for us. It does not mean that we have lost our freedom to think things through or to have the final say in how we move forward. It simply means that we are willing to be open to new possibilities.

It shifts us into allowing intuitive information to flow to us from a broader perspective… one that has a vision of our lives that is more expansive and engaging than we are currently experiencing. A vision that is in alignment with our inner wisdom and our purpose for being here. A vision that encourages us to be what we are inspired to be at our core.

Being open to receive is a place of power as it fills us with the knowledge that we are connected to an invisible support system that loves and nurtures us. As we let go of our need to control the events of our lives, we allow ourselves to receive guidance and assistance from physical and nonphysical beings alike. From there, we are able to make better choices in the moment and to experience the prosperous lives that are waiting for us.

In my experience, being open to receive is where the magic happens. When my attitude is expectant and receptive, my life opens up to amazing synchronicities… friends show up, beneficial opportunities appear, creative ideas flow, and unexpected resources surprise and delight me. I am able to easily connect with exactly what I am looking for – whether it is solutions to problems, insights for blogs or products, people to support me, or just fun places to visit. I have learned that I don’t need to know it all, I just need to connect with the stream of knowledge and well-being that does, and everything that I want shows up. Starting each day with the intention to be in a receptive mindset is my secret, and now it can be yours.

Mirrors don’t lie. They don’t judge. They don’t have opinions. They simply reflect the image that is in front of them. No right or wrong about that… just the way it is.

Life is like that, too. What we see in the world around us is a reflection of what we are thinking – our beliefs, perspectives, expectations. Nothing can show up that is not within our current understanding of the world. The “real” world is literally a figment of our mindset. Years ago, nobody believed that humans could run a 4-minute mile… until one athlete believed he could and he did. Now we all know it is possible and runners prove it at track meets around the world every year.

As individuals, we are influenced by our myriad of beliefs about people, places, and events in our lives. These beliefs create our unique viewpoints which in turn influence our experiences in life. The world that each of us sees is a mirror image of what we believe is possible and probable at our deepest level of understanding. That means that there is no objective reality. Not one real world that everyone sees and agrees on. No real material world that exists as the absolute truth. That’s why it gets so confusing at times. ” He said/ she said” can be true for both of them because each person is reporting from their own unique perspective.

This realization is mind-blowing and scary, because it shakes the foundation of what we have previously been taught by those who came before us. Our predecessors presented the story of life as they understood it, but now quantum physicists have expanded our perspective with a new vision. People once believed the world was flat until they learned differently. We are on the cusp of a new understanding about the world. With the knowledge that we create our own reality, we have the power to change our lives. The possibilities for health, wealth, satisfying work, and meaningful relationships are endless. The only limitation is our imaginations. We are leading-edge pioneers and our minds are the new frontier.

The importance of “air time” goes way back to the advent of radios. The amount of time a person spent “on air” determined that person’s popularity, notoriety, or impact. The greater the amount of time that commercial advertisers got to promote their products across the air waves, the more likely those products developed into household names. And as listeners tuned in to their favorite radio personalities, the more popular those celebrities became.

The same concept applies today to TV and the internet, i.e. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and other social media sites. The goal of those who want to make a name for themselves or to sell their products, is to get us to focus on them and what they are selling. Celebrities and advertisers know that air time leads to fame and fortune, or notoriety and misfortune, whatever the case may be.

So how does this relate to us? In the attraction-based reality that we all live in, the Universe listens to our every thought and its corresponding vibration (mood), and responds by giving more of the same back to us. If we spend lots of time appreciating and dreaming about things that we love, we dramatically increase the probability of what we love showing up in our lives, i.e. happiness expands. On the other hand, if we go about our day focused on people and events that irritate us and then talk about them with friends and associates, we will likely stay stuck in that unpleasant mood or situation. The Universe does not judge right or wrong, good or bad, desired or undesired, it simply assumes that we know what we want (by our attention to it) and gives us more of the same whether we like it or not. The currency of creation is our focused attention. The Universe tunes into how our thoughts effect our vibration and sends us people and experiences that have a similar vibration.

So what thoughts are we giving the most air time to today? Do they feel good? Are they the ones that we want to experience more often? Our thoughts and the way they make us feel are the most important keys to manifesting all that we desire. When we choose to give air time to the thoughts that feel good, we will be on our way to living the life of our dreams.

The director shouts “Action!” and cameras roll. Scene after scene becomes a digital reality soon to be viewed by thousands on their TV screens or in their local movie theaters.  But the actual origin of the movie begins in the nonphysical realm as a thought within the writer’s mind. Much of the work of developing a creative project is internal. In fact, the seed idea is the most important part because without it, there would be no movie, painting, song, or invention.

We seem to understand the importance of nurturing an inspiration when it relates to artistic or scientific pursuits; however, we are much less likely to honor the internal workings associated with creating other more mundane aspects of our lives. But the process is the same and just as essential. The concept of “action” often is limited to physical movement. As an extroverted society, we focus on concrete results with little awareness of their mental precursors. Some coaches prod their clients to take physical actions before they are ready. That strategy assumes that the problem lies in the clients’ unwillingness to move forward toward their goals. But many people are unaware of the inner processing steps that facilitate outer action steps. Taking physical action first is the hard way to get to where you want to go.

In my experience, when I have energetically lined up with an idea and allowed it to evolve without resistance in my mind, the unfolding of that desire has been exciting and fun. The effort involved often is not perceived as work. The real “work” is shifting my beliefs to allow what I want into my life and mentally focusing on an image of me experiencing the desired outcome. It is more than positive thinking. I feel my way to what I want and tune into my inner guidance. Insights guide me to the people and events that support my goal. My mental focus creates an environment that encourages inspired physical action. And from that place of inspired action, I am guided to the quickest route for the fulfillment of my dream.

For example, this info on Inner Action Steps began as an idea that I played with in my mind until I was inspired to take action and write this insight. Fun. Easy. Successful!

If you want to know more, get a copy of my free guide
7 Easy Steps to Connect with Your Wise Inner Self at
www.michellebrennan.com

What is it about traditional New Year’s resolutions that make me cringe? I’ve always had a resistance to creating resolutions, i.e. setting goals, committing to new routines, forcing change. The first thought that comes to mind is that I’m lazy. Or that I have no will power. Another thought is that I hate to be confined by rules – mine or anyone else’s.  But maybe it’s something else. Maybe, when I think about traditional resolutions, it feels bad because the underlying message is that something is wrong with me. I have missed the mark or I am intrinsically flawed. Only with a strict regime of some kind can I hope to be fixed. It’s a sort of “beating myself up” that is culturally accepted…even encouraged. If I don’t commit to some socially imperative goal, then I’m not in the game and life will pass me by.

But if I look at it another way, I discover something new. I know from experience that my emotions are the way my inner being (spirit) communicates with me. My spirit adores every ounce of who I am and would never see me lacking in any way. When I feel negative emotion, I am thinking a thought about myself that my spirit does not agree with. So it makes sense that when I consider New Year’s resolutions that hint at self disapproval, my emotions flare letting me know that I am off center. That twisted feeling in my stomach is telling me that my current self-incriminating perspective is not the truth. My only hope of returning to a lighter, more peaceful state is to change my mind about who I think I am. I can’t continue to focus on my perceived limitations and expect to find inner peace. My spirit knows I am a brilliant creative being on a journey of self-discovery and there are no wrong roads. Every thought and action serves to move me forward on this evolutionary path. The journey is about love –  and loving myself is where the journey begins.

So how do I start the New Year on a positive note? This year I’m going to be gentler with myself. I am going to focus on a way of being that cooperates with my spirit’s intentions – that allows life to surprise and delight me.

This year I resolve to live my passion. I don’t know what that means – what challenges or opportunities will show up for me.  But I am open to explore a more vibrant and heart-centered daily experience. I want to feel the energy of Source pulsing through me. I want to see the world through my spirit’s eyes. And I want to offer to the world what is mine to give. This moment is filled with infinite possibilities for me. I feel it calling. I’m excited about what’s ahead. This is a great time to be here. Game on!