As I sat sipping my morning tea under a tree in the back yard, I looked around and noticed all of the progress we have made since we moved in. What once was a dirt plot had a lovely house, deck, paved driveway, pool with a deck and cabana, fire pit, trees, landscaping, a shop that is bigger than our home, a yard with grass, flowers, rock garden, hammock, a few sheds, outdoor furniture, grill and more. I drank in the view and thought “Wow. This is a result of ideas manifested.”
What was once just a thought, first developed into a vision, then became a discussion where creativity combined with conscious thought resulted in action. In turn, action manifested into a beautiful, visual, practical, usable space that has been enjoyed by family, friends, neighbors and little four-legged animals.
This, of course, became a metaphor. We all, so often, have ideas that we are anxious to put into action. We get excited about making a change or making life better somehow. We are disappointed if it doesn’t happen fast enough, or if it doesn’t seem to happen at all. The great thing about ideas is they are infinite. Endless. Never-ending. Always changing. Evolving as our experience grows.
“Progress is born of experience.” — Mary Baker Eddy
One thing that has been constant throughout time is change. Growth, development and change never stops. Many times, in the moment, we think we are limited; limited on time, resources, money and energy. This thinking can cause us irritation, worry, fear, trepidation, even inaction. We think that life will never change and we are stuck in monotony. This, of course, is only a thought. A weak one at that. Without even realizing it we move forward, doing the things that have to be done just to exist. Then we add a little sprinkle to our vision, then another. As time passes, you see your vision developing and growing into something tangible. More ideas come along, making the original thought even better, more refined. Then one day you sit in the environment where creation occurred and you think “Wow! Look at this. It is so beautiful. I am so fortunate to enjoy such surroundings.”
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” — George Bernard Shaw
All of a sudden time stands still, or so it seems. There is no wanting, wishing, worry. There is only what exists, fully formed, in front of you. Appreciation of the original vision is met with gratitude for the work that went into creating, building and completing an idea. Then, of course, since ideas are infinite, more of them show up. You probably shelve way more of them than you can take action on. The point is, to see how time has no relevance when we can see our thoughts manifested. So when you find yourself doubting that anything will ever change, just look around you and you will see the possibilities. Notice things. See the buildings, neighborhoods, decorations, relationships, conversations, body transformations, births, celebrations and so on. They were all, at one time, only ideas.
“Patience and persistence are the providers of progress.” — Tim Fargo
When we entertain a false sense of life—limited, lacking, deprived, motionless, depressive—we hide or cover up the divine or infinite possibilities available to us. It’s like living in the dark, unable to see things clearly, or even at all.
What happens to the darkness when the light is turned on? The darkness disappears. There is only light, and it opens our eyes to creativity, opportunity and infinite possibilities.
