You Can't Always Get What You Want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need
As I was doubled over with period pain this weekend I couldn’t help but wonder, do the manifestation gurus and self-help guides actually believe they can “will away” their own suffering? Like, are they actually drinking the juice?? Tylenol works just as well, in my opinion. Oftentimes when I am faced with new age spirituality, it comes across as a thinly-veiled OCD ritual that is sold as “reprogramming the brain.” I’ve written about this very idea in a past newsletter – I do believe our brains are similar to computers, and our eyes are the projectors. What we program ourselves to think and believe will ultimately show itself in our day to day reality. But can I actually manifest my period pain away? I had to find out.
I want to share a few videos that I have been obsessing over lately. One is a manifestation explanation video, which I believe touches on almost every aspect you need to know to fully understand how this whole thing works. The other is a morning affirmation video that I have been enjoying listening to in the car before I head into work each morning. It sets me up for the day in a good mood and with a positive mindset. I’m sharing these in case they may help you, whether you believe in manifestation or not.
As annoying as those self-help gurus can be, they may be on to something. Getting adequate sleep every night, eating healthy foods, exercising and engaging in physical activity routinely, and practicing a healthy social life DO improve your life and your mood. Ugh. I hate when they’re right. I try to get as much sleep as I can. I love to eat healthy but lately I’ve been slacking on my lunches. And with my broken finger I haven’t been able to rock climb for a little over a month. Needless to say, I’m in a foul mood most days and I hate it. Writing and recording music has been a great solace to all this. I know not every day can be a good one, but I’m ready for the upward spiral that comes with warmer weather and brighter days.
I know I may come off as a hippie to some of you, but I’m not totally lost in the sauce when it comes to new age spirituality! Yes, I love to meditate, journal, practice affirmations, visualize, and manifest. But I don’t subscribe to the idea that if you affirm affirm affirm, something will magically pop up right before your eyes! I don’t believe you can manifest your way out of sickness, sorry. I do believe in modern medicine – sorry essential oil MLM girlies! While I trust that if I visualize, practice affirmations, and meditate on my intentions and goals that they will inevitably come true, I don’t beat myself up if it doesn’t happen instantaneously when I want it to. At that point, you’re just torturing yourself with an OCD ritual. “Oh my gosh I didn’t run over the scenario in my head enough times, that’s why it didn’t work out!” No way, don’t put that pressure on yourself. You are the co-creator of your life, not the sole creator. You can put in the work, trust the process, and enjoy the ride, but you also have to release your grip and control of the end scenario. Life finds a way. Sometimes it’s better than you even imagined in your head. Don’t box yourself in, be open to life getting better for you!
Here’s The Secret
Sometimes the most annoying part of waiting for my manifestations to come in is the submission to it being out of my control. As someone who loves to set a goal, work at it, achieve it, and cross it off my list, there are many things that don’t come right when I want them to. That doesn’t mean they aren’t on the way. That just means they might not be what I actually NEED at this very moment. Think hard about WHY you want the things you want. Is it because you want that thing, or the feeling it will bring you? Can you feel that feeling in this present moment? Severing the tie of desire and need is crucial to freeing yourself from the tormenting ritual of suffering we put ourselves through in life. Yes I want to be a successful famous rockstar. Do I need to be a successful famous rockstar to be happy right now? No. Most days I am happy and content as is.
Take your goal off the pedestal. It seems like this out of reach thing because you’ve hyped it up to be. In actuality, you may already be experiencing the emotions you would if you had that thing in your everyday life without it. When you realize you don’t need the thing to be happy or satisfied, then really you are not without it at all. You are already living in alignment with your goal. Now is the part where you put in the daily work to get there. It will meet you halfway at that point.
Once upon a time there was this pretty big rockstar, you might’ve heard of him. He sang “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you might find you get what you need.” I’ll have whatever he’s smoking! I’m kidding, but The Rolling Stones were on to something in 1969.
Be true to yourself but remember, everything you’ll ever need is already within you! You just have to find it. Okay, thanks for stopping by – TTYL! :)
Saf - Love this post - very profound!
Loved this. ❤️