Writing Your Own Story: Taking Action

by Angela Atkinson

A certain spiritual leader (one I happen to respect very much) called me yesterday with some concerns over the first post in the Writing Your Own Story series. It seems that she felt it was important to note that one cannot make real life changes without taking action–and she’s right.

She was concerned that I was giving the wrong message–that one only needed to imagine that change was occurring and then it would magically happen.

I stand by my statement that change begins in your head–you must believe that it is possible (and that you can and will achieve your goals) in order to create the changes you desire in your life.

However, she is absolutely on target in that we need to recognize that the change in perspective which begins to move you toward your goals must be followed by inspired action.

For example, in the Creating Personal Change series, we discussed making positive changes in your environment. And, while the success of this endeavor certainly depends on your perception of your ability to complete this task–the fact is, one cannot effect environmental change without a little elbow grease (or, at the very least, the ability to call for help, and enough money to pay someone else to do it for you.)

Still, inspired action, while it may be hard work, shouldn’t make you feel bad. I addressed this issue in the post entitled What have you accomplished today? last year.

Dr. Joe Vitale, one of the experts who worked with Rhonda Byrne in writing The Secret, said it best when he addressed this very issue in his own blog. Following is an enlightening excerpt from Dr. Vitale’s post.

Many fans of the law of attraction think you don’t take any action. You simply sit like a good magnet and wait for your vibes to slide the thing you want over to your chair.

I believe that you usually if not always have to take action of some sort, but that your action isn’t effort if it comes from your heart.

That’s the key difference.

People run marathons, lift weights, climb mountains, write books, travel on horseback, jump out of planes, make hundreds of sales calls a day, and much more.

It’s all action.

But if they do it because they want to do it, because it bubbles out of their passion to do it, then it’s not effort.

Again, the law of attraction doesn’t mean you don’t do anything; it means what you do is effort-free.

For example, I write an astonishing amount of books, articles and blog posts. If you didn’t like writing, you’d think what I’m doing is gruelling. But I love what I do. So my action isn’t effort. It’s simply right action for me.

If you think running up a mountain is insane, you won’t take that action because if you did, it would require enormous effort.

When you practice what you learn from the movie The Secret, things do begin to come to you without much effort or action on your part. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have anything to do.

I was able to attract a new car — namely Francine — by knowing what I wanted and then taking action when prompted from the inside to drive over to San Antonio one day.

To me, the law of attraction works to make life easier, but not because you don’t take action, but because the action you take is natural for you.

My challenge to you today is to take one small step toward becoming the YOU of your dreams. Knit a scarf, write a poem, open a savings account–whatever you do, do it with your goal in mind.

Feel it, be it, do it, have it. Believe that your desires are yours, and then take inspired action toward attaining them.

Coming Soon: Part Three of this series, Writing Your Own Story: Filling Your Vessel