Your Thoughts are the Bricks that Build the House You Live In

Your Thoughts are the Bricks that Build the House You Live In, but You Must Figure Out What Type of House You Don’t Want to Get the One You Want

Paula Swope

By now, I hope you participated in my first two exercises, because it is imperative to become aware of what type of thinker you are before you go too deep into your spiritual journey. In week two, we experimented with some “I AM” statements, and I hoped this served as a fun, light-hearted exercise that helped you get your feet wet with using positive affirmations. This week, you are going to participate in an exercise that will provoke you to think critically about your life. Facts are you cannot get the life you want until you figure out what you do not want.

Several years ago, I used this exercise to make a major change. I was working full-time at a nationally respected institution and although I respected the institution and enjoyed some of the work, I was not happy. My salary was way less than what I wanted it to be, and my time was controlled by my employer. Although I knew I wanted something different, I was not sure what it was I wanted. So, this is what I did.

I sat down and I took inventory of what I did not want in my life. This is what my list looked like:

I do not want to be micromanaged.

I do not want to be controlled.

I do not want to be underpaid.

I do not want to be under mandates to travel all the time.

I do not want to get up early.

I do not want to punch a timeclock.

I do not want to have a boss.

I do not want to manage people.

I do not want to be disrespected.

I do not want to be undervalued.

I do not want to be limited.

I do not want a desk job.

I do not want to be insulted.

I do not want to be in a position that limits my creative ability.

I do not want to have a job.

I do not want to be unhappy.

I do not want to be tired.

I do not want to be nervous.

I do not want to plan events.

I do not want to be an extrovert.

I do not want to work in a noisy environment.

While writing these “do not want” statements, I had an epiphany. I realized I was spending a vast majority of my time, day in and day out, doing things I did not want to do. When we do things we do not want to do, we are frustrated, and frustration is a negative thought and feeling. What do negative thoughts and feelings attract? More negativity.

After becoming aware of what my real problem was, I used the “don’t want” statements to create statements that reflected what I DID want. Here is the “I want” list I created years ago:

I want freedom.

I want to be in control of my time.

I want a six-figure per year salary.

I want to be in control of my time.

I want to sleep as late as I want.

I want to be in control of my time.

I want freedom.

I want to work with others to accomplish something great.

I want respect.

I want to be valued.

I want freedom.

I want to work from home.

I want respect.

I want to be creative.

I want a career.

I want happiness in my work.

I want to be rested.

I want peace.

I want to be a writer.

I want to make my own decisions.

I want silence.

Notice an overarching theme? Obviously, my main issue with my employer was control. Being controlled was killing me mentally and physically. I was overweight and tired.

I meditated on the career I wanted and envisioned working from home being a writer and earning a six-figure income. Despite the fact I was still working in this job I hated, my meditations, I AM statements, and visions already had me feeling what it was like to be in a joyful career. Being able to feel what that felt like is what gave me the gumption to resign from this energy-draining position to pursue the life I wrote for myself in those “I want” statements.

Each “I want” statement I wrote was a brick, and each one was used to build the house I lived in.

Within six months of making these lists, I had resigned from the position and was pursuing the career I dreamed of. I was able to manifest everything I wrote on the “I want” list. The result was a happier, peaceful, more beautiful home.

Writing “do not want” and “I want” statements is just another exercise to help you raise your awareness of what the quality of your life really is. If you are unhappy in any situation, try this exercise. It does not have to be about your work. You can use it for relationship issues, health issues, whatever your issue may be. These statements help you figure things out and find a path to improve your situation.

When you start thinking about what you want instead of focusing on what you do not want, the Universe comes in like a silent partner to help you.

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