What to do when you attract the stuff you don’t want

Every one of us has the creativity and ability necessary to rise above our own limitations. But sometimes the limitations feel comfortable and the idea of achieving our dreams frightens us.

by Dr. John F. Demartini — 

Many people have a long list of reasons explaining why they’re not doing what they love, but few of them objectively examine their reasons or explore their underlying fears. The reality is that there is a hidden fear behind every imagined limitation, including sickness. As much as we may be tempted to blame other people or outside circumstances for our current condition in life, sooner or later we realize that we attract and create our own limitations. And while that may be a humbling reality, it’s also an inspiring one.

Since we attract or create our own limitations, we can also break through them. Not by repressing, ignoring or denying them, but by learning to love them. Yes, love them! Because anything we do not love runs us and inhibits our inspired actions with fear. Our limitations represent all the aspects of ourselves and others that we have not learned to love and appreciate yet. So each time we take an honest look at a limit or a block, we give ourselves an opportunity to love and to reach a higher level of awareness.

Every one of us has the creativity and ability necessary to rise above our own limitations. But sometimes the limitations feel comfortable and the idea of achieving our dreams frightens us. That is when we are most tempted to sabotage our own efforts.

This is the frame of mind in which I found a young man named Jeremy, when we met on an airplane. I was working on my laptop computer when Jeremy sat down beside me and introduced himself. When he asked what I was working on, I told him I was writing a book about the mind, body, heart and soul connection, and the healing properties of inspiration and unconditional love.

He nodded his head, but his eyes glazed over, and for the next half hour he was silent. It was not until the flight attendant brought our meals that he said, “You know, I cannot believe I am sitting here next to someone who is writing a book. Do you know how long I have been wanting to write a book? How can I get from wanting to write a book and talking about writing a book, to actually writing one?” he asked.

I explained to Jeremy that the only difference between wanting to write a book and actually writing one was taking action steps. “When I begin a book,” I said, “I know that it is a process, and that the book will change as the process continues.”

Jeremy’s eyes widened. “So you just do it. You just write one page at a time and you like some stuff and you don’t like other stuff and you change things, but you just keep writing until you have the book you want!”

“Yes,” I said, “that about sums it up.”

Jeremy shook his head, smiling. “You have no idea how much what you just said means to me. For years I have been afraid to type a single word on my computer, as if it is somehow getting chipped into stone or something. Writing a book is like doing anything else — it does not have to be perfect from the start, nothing is. Everything I do is a process. Wow.”

I have not run into Jeremy again since that conversation, but I am sure that he is much closer to writing his book than he was before he realized that he was creating his own limitations.

Whatever you feel uncomfortable about — and do not love — is stopping you.

Dr. John F. Demartini is a chiropractic physician, philosopher, author of nearly 40 books, inspirational speaker, founder of the Concourse of Wisdom School of Self-Mastery and Leadership, and the creator of “The Breakthrough Experience.” 888-DEMARTINI or www.drdemartini.com.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 1, February/March 2007.