Have you ever gotten lost in wishful thinking, in the fog of a fantasy future where images tantalize you but refuse to hold still and manifest into reality?
People can talk themselves into feeling fear, anger and sadness when they think something awful will happen to them. To avoid these feelings they try to convince themselves that the future only holds good news for them—and that anything challenging they come across they’ll be able to handle because they’ve got it all figured out. When you buy into the illusion that you can control your future, you end up in a Ghostland.
In a previous blog, “2 Ways Out of the Ghostlands of the Past and Future” I discussed how we can often find ourselves wandering the Ghostlands of the Future where there is no learning or action taking place. Now I’d like to share an exercise that will help you get clarity on how to leave the Ghostland of wishful thinking and make your time-traveling to the future more effective.
As you immerse yourself in envisioning your future, let go of the fantasy you’ve created for yourself for now. Take out your journal and ask yourself these questions to find out where you are in relation to where you want to be. This is a fact-finding exercise, not one that should be approached in a judgmental way. Always approach self-discovery with compassion.
- What does my heart tell me is my purpose? Do I know, or am I still discovering the answer? What have I come to know about this so far?
- Does it feel as if Spirit has plans for me that I’m turning a blind eye to? How can I describe this feeling? How do I know?
- Am I able to bring a fulfilling vision of the future into the now by beginning down the path toward it? Do I resist this journey because it feels more comfortable to remain in wishful thinking?
- Am I afraid of achieving this goal and living this life I envision? Is fear holding me back in any way? If so, what is my fear?
- Should I make peace with this fear so that it subsides or should I explore it further? What feels right?
- Do I need to research what this experience would be like rather than guessing at it? How might I begin researching it?
- Am I fixated on the future and squinting to see the details rather than starting the wheels in motion today? What could I do today to begin bringing this vision into reality?
- Am I feeling unsure of what to do? Do I need to meditate, surrender to Spirit, and let the next step on the path reveal itself?
Did these questions spur a new way of looking at your future? Did your answers provide you with a new approach and path? I am very interested in what was revealed to you, so please use the Comments section below to share your experiences.
In service and love,
Colette Baron-Reid
(The preceding is an excerpt from The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life, Hay House, 2011)
Thanks for this post! A while ago I finally discovered my life purpose and today your question about fears helped me to see how unfounded mine are. I released my fears to my angels and now there is nothing to hold me back. I am allowing my power to express itself more and more all the time and I thank you for being a woman who expresses her confidence and shares her gifts with the world. Because of wonderful examples like you, I know that I can do it as well. Thanks!
§ What does my heart tell me is my purpose? Do I know, or am I still discovering the answer? What have I come to know about this so far?
To be with my husband and my boys here in USA. I know the answer. That we as a family can overcome anything with God as our light and salvation before anything.
§ Does it feel as if Spirit has plans for me that I’m turning a blind eye to? How can I describe this feeling? How do I know?
Feels like God is going to liberate Ernesto from immigration. I just know but it’s my intuition and not the facts.
§ Am I able to bring a fulfilling vision of the future into the now by beginning down the path toward it? Do I resist this journey because it feels more comfortable to remain in wishful thinking?
I see my life with my husband here with us. I don’t resist……I am just fearful because I don’t see it. I feel it.
§ Am I afraid of achieving this goal and living this life I envision? Is fear holding me back in any way? If so, what is my fear?
I am afraid of being happy because I have had such a bad life think that isn’t possible. Fear is holding me back. My fear is to wish being happy and auto sabotage myself.
§ Should I make peace with this fear so that it subsides or should I explore it further? What feels right?
I need to make peace with this fear because I trust in God.
§ Do I need to research what this experience would be like rather than guessing at it? How might I begin researching it?
Yes, I need to research how my intuition is so at peace and my mind is everywhere.
§ Am I fixated on the future and squinting to see the details rather than starting the wheels in motion today? What could I do today to begin bringing this vision into reality?
I am squinting to see the details—–stop trying to control every aspect of life.
§ Am I feeling unsure of what to do? Do I need to meditate, surrender to Spirit, and let the next step on the path reveal itself?
Did these questions spur a new way of looking at your future? Did your answers provide you with a new approach and path? I am very interested in what was revealed to you, so please use the Comments section below to share your experiences.
I know that all I can do is wait. I need to surrender to Spirit; to let the next path reveal itself. Yes. Mediate is the new approach.
Surrender is always the answer, once you have done all you can do the next right action is always to surrender to the will of the Divine yet with owning the feelings of ” rightness” for the highest good regardless of temporary outer conditions.
love to you
Colette
Hi Colette! I have been paying attention to and trying to learn from my triggers what it is that spirit has been letting me experience, to awaken my understanding. Just yesterday I received an instant knowledge and since then all my thoughts and feelings are from a different perspective and knowing. My experience of my world has changed. It all seems so simple and connected yet was so hard to grasp when in the midst of old thought patterns and beliefs. It is difficult to describe how this knowing came to be, yet, while acknowledging and paying attention to when and what made my heart sing and following those clues, I came to a place of remembering my true self , where my happiness was boundless ,where it all made sense. My next step along the route of my purpose became clear and effortless and fearless. The path was always there yet I couldn’t see it through the haze of fear. Our fears show us the way, the route to uncover our self inflicted limitations. Your questions help to connect to our individual and unique selves that have been lost in the blankets of expectations and learned beliefs about ourselves, that being in this world promotes. That connection brings clarity.
Thank you for all your insights and love, From an old school buddy,
JoJo
JoJO that is exactly true – fear is the unwitting Merlin that shows us where the magic lies! If we can learn to step out of it , recognize our automatic reactions to outer conditions that bring us into that zone, we can observe and restore our capacity to co-create, make new choices, and experience life from a totally different perspective. Perception is everything. When I wrote the Map and developed the IN-Vizion(r) Process I was searching for a creative way to connect to the inner Witness to be able to somehow circumvent the traps of fear. The Goblin that represents the wounded self essentially needs our compassion and love to disempower its mischief, then fear no longer rules us, and we can see the world through a new pair of eyes. It takes practice and commitment to be willing to do this. In a way it’s like visiting the Wizard of Oz who terrifies us with his roar and then looking behind the curtain and finding the little man who has no true power, only the power he wields through fear and a false impression. Which is real?
many blessings
Colette