HOW TO STOP NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

The Mind Loops Blog – September 2023

You read a book on manifesting. Or took a course. You did everything it said to do.

And still… It’s not working. It’s been months, and you still don’t have what you were trying to manifest.

Mega frustration! I know. I’ve been there.

What am I doing wrong?! you scream, pulling your hair out.

I have had tremendous results with conscious-creating (also known as manifesting). I have also had times when a Big Fat Zero was the result. I’m a curious being, so I didn’t leave it at that. I pondered why it worked so well in one situation, and not at all in another. I came up with some profound answers on this subject.*
*(Occasionally I will host a live online series where I discuss the top blocks to manifesting; if you’d like to sign up for the next time I offer it, you can do so here).

In this article, we’ll discuss one of the BIG blocks, from a few different angles. My hope is that one of these angles will be the key that opens an “Ah-ha!” moment for you that will suddenly unleash your manifesting and let it finally flow.

Here is the Big Block in one word:

Resistance.

I can hear you now:

Resistance? To… what? I WANT this thing! I’m not resisting it!

Yeah, yeah, I know. That’s what we all say.

The problem is, that protective, constrictive part is hurting you deeply. Not simply by blocking this desire you want so dearly. No. It’s hurting you far more than that, as you shall see.

Resistance As Survival Mechanism

One way to view Resistance is seeing it as part of your ancient brain (the “reptilian” brain) that is involved with survival. That amygdala part says: “If I fail, I’m out of the tribe.” You definitely don’t want to be out of the tribe, because that will sound the death knell for you; any chance of security or pro-creation goes out the window. Too risky.

In this modern age however, you know you can fail and still be okay, even if you’ll lick some wounds. But that ancient brain still insists it’s right – and will force you to resist this new risky path, by causing you to engage in behaviors like:

Not following up on opportunities, emails, invitations, appointments related to your desire;
Perfectionism – “My music still isn’t quite done (years later) so I can’t put it up on bandcamp yet”; “My painting isn’t good enough so I can’t show it yet”; “I’ve got to lose this belly fat before I put say yes to that date”;
Procrastination – “Got to grocery shop first before I paint!” “I’m suddenly so hungry – I’ll eat first then go to the gym.” “Ooh, that cupboard sure needs cleaning, I’ll do that first…”
(and many more).

Resistance As the Scared Child

Resistance As a Malignant Force

Beyond the idea of a survival mechanism or a child part of you, there is another description of Resistance that I like very much. It is the version that Steven Pressfield, author The War of Art uses:

Resistance (“with a capitol R”) is a malignant force – every bit as real as gravity.

There certainly is value (for me anyway) in seeing it this way. It’s something out there that you can work with.

The Deeper Harm Of Resistance

When we attempt to move out of our comfort zone, try something new, open our heart, dare to dream – anything we are trying to manifest… We advance. We develop and mature.

We are moving to a new level of consciousness.

And that is how Resistance is really hurting you:

Blocking the desire you’re working to manifest also often equates to blocking your expansion into a higher level of YOU.

And it is very sneaky how it does this. Resistance uses your internal thoughts to get to you. (Which is why my work is about interrupting negative Mind Loops.)

Think of the desire you want to manifest.
Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?

I’m not a good enough writer / composer / runner / businessperson / partner to have my desire.
It’s been done before.
It’s too hard.
They’ll reject me if I ask for that.
Nothing every good happens to me, so why should this?
I’ll be laughed at.
I’ll fail.
I’ll succeed.
I’m not good / attractive / talented / fill-in-the-blank enough.
I’m hungry. (ps you’re not).
I need to go buy that thing right now! (no you don’t).
I need to check my email right now! (no, later).

My guess is you have heard these thoughts. Resistance knows exactly the chink in your ego armor it can seep into. And because you think the thoughts in your head are true, you allow them to stop you from taking the necessary steps for your desire to become manifest.

But your thoughts are not true. They are just thoughts.

How To Work With Resistance

Whenever you “reach for the stars”, such as:

…finally begin to write your novel, open your heart for a relationship, decide it’s time to lose weight and get back into shape, commit to hiking the Grand Canyon, sign up for a workshop, join an improv group, make a new friend, buy a house, leave a bad relationship, move, have a baby, start a business, change jobs, ask for a raise, schedule that “hard conversation”, release your music…

...whenever you attempt to manifest anything, it’s likely you will encounter Resistance.

Because you will be moving out of your normal life, into Something New & Unknown & Greater-Than-Before.

You will be expanding.

So expect Resistance. Greet it, understand that it will come. Recognize it.

Xo Barbara

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Barbara Ireland
Author of the #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller, How To Stop Negative Thoughts
Contributing author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller, The Transformative Power of Near-Death Experiences

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