Overcoming Self-Sabotage to Achieve Your Goals
Is it clear that things are not going your way and that you’re not meeting your goals?
What if I told you that you're moving in too many directions?
Don't worry. I won't give you the "you're all over the place" insult that squares love to give creative people.
Instead, I'll show you how to see yourself as four energetic bodies and ensure they align to get you where you want to be.
It sounds vague, but you'll be shouting it from the rooftops when you understand.
Not too long ago, I was watching a tarot card video on YouTube (for entertainment purposes only, of course) when I heard the reader say something along the lines of, "make sure all the parts of yourself are moving in the same direction." She just left it there and didn't give any further context. The sentiment struck a chord with me, so I decided to do some research. As with many internet searches, so much came up, but at the same time, nothing came up.
When my internet search proved dry, I dug deep into my inner knowledge bank and found something! Something worth sharing!
Although I sometimes thought about the question sincerely, getting lost in a good story finally gave my mind space to receive the answer. I share this experience not to give you an excuse to sit around watching tv all day in the hopes that you will get the answers to your questions. It's simply a reminder that sometimes we have those "aha" moments when we let the issue go and get on with life.
I recently re-purchased The Language of Emotions by Karla McLaren. I'm not sure how I lost it along the way, but it is so illuminating that I needed to have it in my possession. It's what I learned in chapter 5, Reviving Your Essential Nature: Making Room for Your Central Self, that I used to give shape to this idea of making sure "all parts of yourself are moving in the same direction."
I turned it into a weekly planner because, at the time, I was obsessed with planning. And because weekly seems like the perfect interval for checking in with oneself about this.
Please check out The Language of Emotions as Karla goes in-depth into the subject. (Note: this is an affiliate link. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.) I'll keep it brief so that you don't overthink it and start putting it to work for you immediately.
Ok. Here goes!
Remember when I said you need to see yourself as having four energetic bodies? Those four bodies are physical, mental, spiritual, and expressive.
To further break it down:
Your physical body houses your actions.
Your mental body houses your thoughts.
Your spiritual body houses your visions.
Your expressive body houses your feelings.
Even further now:
Your physical body contains your actions which relate to the earth element.
Your mental body contains your thoughts which relate to the air element.
Your spiritual body contains your visions which relate to the fire element.
Your expressive body contains your feelings which relate to the water element.
So, what does this all mean?
It means that whatever you say you want, you need to move towards using all four parts of yourself.
If you want something but feel you don't deserve it, you're moving in two opposing directions. This contradictory energy doesn't mean you will never get the thing. It does, however, demonstrate a tug-of-war going on within you.
Or, what if you have a grand vision of something you'd like to create but take zero action to achieve it? Again, that doesn't mean you will never achieve it. It simply means that various parts of yourself need to move in unison. In this case, one of your "bodies" is standing still.
Is it starting to sink in?
Yeah, right?
You're starting to see how you're using only some parts of yourself to get what you want. And you can see how some parts of your being sabotage the ones working for you.
So, how do you get all the parts of yourself to work together to achieve your goals?
First, with an individual goal in mind, go through each of the elements listed. Ask yourself, "what direction are my actions taking me in?" Then "what direction are my thoughts taking me in?" Do this until you go through all four. Note any areas that need adjusting.
Keep in mind that some of these bodies hold more weight than others. It's a wild concept, but stick with me!
Here is the list of bodies and their corresponding elements in order of importance.
Emotions ☞ Water
Actions ☞ Earth
Air ☞ Thoughts
Vision ☞ Fire
Feelings/Emotions | Water
Think about it, you're 70-80% water, so the part of you associated with the water element, your emotions, holds the most importance. Imagine taking action toward something while the underlying feelings are that it's not worth it, it won't work, or you hate doing it. These feelings may be under the surface, but in the end, they override everything else. It's not WHAT you do; it's HOW you do it!
So, start with your emotions! FEEL that you deserve the things you want, FEEL that they are moving toward you just as much as you are moving toward them. If anyone tells you this won't work, you know what? It may not. This practice isn't a science. It's more metaphysics, which is hard to prove. But just as I know, this practice doesn't offer any guarantees; I know that operating from a space of disharmony will ruin your health and life. So, it's your choice!
Actions | Earth
Next, take inventory of your actions. Are these activities ones that will lead you toward the things you want? Think logically here. Yes, I have experienced magical moments, and I believe you can too. But if I want to get to Florida from Chicago, I'm not going to start driving North and pray for a miracle.
So set yourself up for success with your actions. Chances are you're already "faking it til you make it" with your emotional body; you can't also do that with your physical body.
Thoughts | Air
Next on the list, you have your thoughts. Your thoughts are light in weight because they're associated with the air element. But, they get their power in that you have tens of thousands of them throughout the day. This volume means you have tens of thousands of opportunities to work in your best interest or to sabotage all your hard work. The challenging part here is the number of thoughts you have. It can be exhausting to monitor each of them, so start with the ones working against you. Learn to reframe those negative thoughts into positive ones. Eventually, this will become second nature.
If you need help reframing negative thoughts, check out my coach, Aviva. She has blown my mind with the power of reframing.
Vision | Fire
Lastly, we have the fire element associated with our vision. I'm not talking about external sight but an inner image you create in your mind. This capacity is about your ability to see what you want in your mind's eye, even if it differs from your current reality.
I love fire, and I especially love visions! I could spend my life "envisioning," if you know what I mean. 😉 Still, I put it last on the list for two reasons:
You can’t see it clearly. It's hard to envision things you have not seen before. If you're waiting to take action, to think positively, or to feel you deserve something simply because you can't yet see it, you may be waiting a lifetime.
You can see it too clearly. Your inner vision represents your ideals. In your mind, you can envision perfection that you can't always recreate in reality. This makes it very easy to get stuck here.
Some ideas for addressing these two issues:
Surround yourself with images of what it is you want. If you want to be in a loving relationship, look up images, videos, stories, shows, and movies about loving relationships. Eventually, your mind can superimpose you into the images you see. You'll even begin mixing and matching various parts of what you see to better line up with your ideal experience.
Remain flexible and let go of the need for perfection.
This advice may seem like a lot to process, but it should feel energizing to know that you can start crystalizing your dreams into reality with a few minor tweaks.
And if you’re tired of feeling like your life is going in multiple directions check out the planner listed below. Order your Alignment Planner now and begin your journey towards living in perfect harmony.
Remember, success is not just about what you do; it's about how you do it. The Alignment Planner will empower you to embrace your true potential, align your energies, and manifest the life you've always dreamed of. Start your transformation today!