The Unbearable Magic of Loving What You Don’t Yet Have
Remember when you were a kid waiting for Christmas? It was unbearable! And delicious! You (probably) didn't know what gifts you would get but you knew it would be amazing. Your body tingled with excitement.
There was a magic in the waiting and the days leading up to the big event were often as much fun as Christmas Day itself. You could not wait, and you loved every minute of it. Yes - you loved the unbearable deliciousness of having to wait!
The juiciness of the before
Unfortunately, as we age most of us forget the joy of anticipation. The ‘Before’ becomes a time to dread, a time to rush through in order to get to the ‘Next Thing’.
When we rush through the ‘Before’, what we’re really chasing is the joy we hope the ‘Next Thing’ will bring. But the ‘Before’ is where the magic lives. As explained in this article in Psychology Today, we can make experiences even better by allowing anticipation to build. In fact, studies even suggest that people feel more joy looking forward to something than they do remembering the same event.[1]
By concentrating so intently on getting to the new feeling, we overlook the juiciness of the ‘Before’. But this is where the magic lies! The ‘Before’ gives us time to fine-tune our manifestations. It’s the place where creation occurs, where everything is still possible. Where we set the stage for what’s to come.
Life is right now
Too often we miss out on the ‘Before’ because we overlook it in our rush to get the final payoff.
Life is right now. It's not when the lover, the new house, or the better job get here. The future doesn’t exist. The only thing that is real is this moment. The only time that is real is now. Every other moment either no longer exists or is part of the unknowable future.
You might as well start enjoying now because right now is all you have. And if you don’t appreciate now, you live life in a constant state of want.
When you appreciate what you already have, you get more.
If you're hoping for your next relationship, enjoy your solo time now. Sleep in the middle of the bed. Eat your favorite foods. Watch the movies you want to see. Enjoy where you are right now. Appreciate the benefits of being single.
If you’re shopping for a new house, enjoy the time in your old house now. Remember the good times that house has given you, the milestones you’ve reached there. The lessons and challenges you went through. Fill it with positive vibes to attract a buyer worthy of its history.
If you’re looking for a better job, appreciate the one you have now. Thank it for providing for your family. For putting a roof over your head. Work a little harder to earn the salary you want to earn at your new job.
Appreciate the life you now live in order to attain the life of your dreams.
How to Manifest Your Future
Living in the now does not mean giving up on your dreams. You can live in and appreciate the present and still choose to manifest an even better future.
Manifesting typically includes three stages:
1. Identify what you want.
2. Visualize what you want.
3. Take Action to get what you want.
But if you want to supercharge manifesting, you need to add one more stage:
4. Appreciate what you want before you get it.
How do you appreciate something you don’t yet have? Imagine how you will feel when you get what you want. Appreciate how your life will be different when you get it. Visualization doesn’t mean only seeing a picture of the desired result. It means feeling the emotions that come with getting it.
Let’s imagine again that you're waiting for a new relationship. Right now, appreciate that you'll have someone to share your life with. Feel the joy of coming home to a loving embrace. Dream about eating brunch, hiking along wooded paths hand-in-hand, and sleeping in on Sundays. When you smell your morning coffee, think about how it will taste when you’re sitting next to someone that shares your hopes and dreams.
In the now, love what already exists in your life. Love the excited anticipation of knowing that you will have the thing you desire. And love the way getting it makes you feel.
Before, during, and after - it’s all right now
Life is right now. And by living your life appreciating all it has to offer, you experience contentment and manifest abundance.
Remember the joy you felt waiting for Christmas, and recapture the delightful anticipation in your everyday life. This time - the ‘Before’ - holds the magic of possibility. Appreciating what you have now, including reveling in anticipation, helps you to attain your dreams.
You only have right now. Live joyfully to replace want with abundance. When you appreciate what you already have, you get more. Supercharge your manifestations by appreciating right now what you want - before you get it.
Want the thing to get here quicker? Be happy now. You don't get happier without recognizing and appreciating how happy you are now.
What can you find to appreciate right now? What goal are you manifesting by appreciating it before you get it? Leave a comment below - I’d love to hear from you!
Renee Spears is a Law of Attraction Coach & Mentor, Spiritual Advisor, and Host of The Abundology Podcast. Learn more here.
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[1] Martha Roberts summarizes the findings here.