Faith = manifestation

When I was little, I loved staring at the Christmas lights and watching the Christmas movies. I loved the positive messages. In Rudolph’s story, the “abominable snowman” eventually found purpose and made friends. Rudolph found acceptance for his differences. The little drummer boy’s gift was revered by kings, and the twinkling lights sparked vague memories of the light of heaven. The carols were hopeful and happy. Things felt right with the world, no matter the stresses around us, the rest of the year.

We were allowed to ask Santa for exactly three presents—one big one and two smaller ones. We spent hours pouring over the “Toy’s R Us” and “Sears” catalogs, carefully making our selections.  Narrowing down our choices wasn’t such a bad thing. We had to get in touch with our hearts and go for what we wanted most. By the time we sat on Santa’s knee at the local mall or wrote him our letters, we knew exactly what we wanted, and we were pretty sure of receiving it. We were told that kids who asked for fewer things had a better chance of getting them. It was genius on my parent’s part, and even though we occasionally whined about the “toy limit,” we usually had a lot of fun anticipating our treasures. Only once did Santa miss putting the gifts out. Happily, my parents figured out that he mistakenly left the presents in the trunk of one of their cars! Imagine our relief!

Life isn’t much different now, except there are no longer limits on what we can ask for. I sit with my heart, pray for what I desire, and expect it to show up in good timing.  I am no longer in need of stuff as often, so I’ve moved to manifesting a more grace-filled flow through life.

Earlier in the week, I woke up to the fact that I had less than two weeks before Christmas. I honestly don’t know where the time went. It seems like it was just Thanksgiving.  I had a huge stack of cards to write, presents to buy, make, and send, and a strong desire to plan activities with friends. I had a moment, where it seemed that it would be impossible to enjoy the season at the rate time was flying. I’m working full time, still building out my Etsy shops, and haven’t even watched one Christmas special. I stopped and caught my thoughts midstream before spiraling into an old pattern of bemoaning the “fact” that I never have enough time to do what I want. The truth is I don’t because I keep dreaming up more and more fun things to do! If I had 72 hrs a day, I’d fill it. I had to give up that song and dance!

Instead, I started to tell myself a new story. “It’s full on Christmas for the next two weeks!” Lights on, carols on, and hot cocoa, here we come!” My humor kicked in… “Move over, Santa; Anta’s coming to town!”  I started to dance to “Run Run Rudolph” by the Beach Boys and anticipated a wonderful time relaxing, visiting with friends, and sharing love in my gifts and cards.

The positive thoughts inspired me.  I emailed several friends, heard back in record time, and iless than three minutes before my first client, managed to coordinate an outing that would be a present of presence to each other.  I wrote to my family, learned what my nieces wanted, and had the first round of presents that tickled my own inner child in the mail by lunchtime. I started receiving ideas for other gifts I could make or share. By the time you read this, I’ll be having a cocoa, cookie, and Hallmark weekend in fuzzy warm socks while writing my cards. A few moments of faith are paying off.

There are much more serious things going on for so many. Thousands of families in the Carolinas are suffering after the devastating floods. People are running from wildfires in California, even as I write. Wars and disasters are occuring.  The holidays can be a tough time for many, especially if you’ve lost a dear one or had something tragic occur around this time of year.

Nonetheless, the Presence of love remains beneath it all, waiting for us to seek it, see it, and be one with it. We’ve got to believe in it first. We’ve got to have faith, which by its very definition is not believing in something because we have seen it but rather believing in what we have not seen.  And by the very nature of believing in what we have not seen, we begin to create it.

Abraham Hicks talks about how it takes about 17 seconds of thinking about something you desire, and more so feeling it, to get the momentum going to create it. My angels explained that those 17 seconds of faith begin to rewire your brain and create new neural nets that represent belief in new possibilities. If you don’t get in the way of further “stinking thinking,” that new wiring will start to emanate new vibrations into the universe that will create new results. Our “faith,” or willingness to imagine and believe in what we cannot see, actually begins to rewire our brain, which does not distinguish between real and imagined. Faith is actually the first step in creation.

And so, in this season where we are urged to “believe” in the magic of the season, it is a perfect time to believe in the magic power of the love that lives within. It is not believing only in what you see now and have seen in the past. It is believing in the power of light admist darkness, hope amidst pain, and the goodness in human heartss, even when some haven’t treated you so well.

Have faith, not because you want to give your power to something on the outside but rather because you want to trust in the love that lives within you. 

Here are a few pointers to help you cultivate faith over the holidays by honoring the spirit of light within…

1.  Trust your own feelings

It does not matter what anyone else thinks or does; this is your life to do with as you choose, and this season is yours to do with as you please. So, while I may be crazy about Christmas, you may want a quiet time without all the commotion. While I’m initially a Catholic with Jewish friends who love latkes, chants Hindu mantras, and believes in Buddha’s compassion for all beings, you may enjoy different traditions or none at all.

This is your life, your season, your day, and your moment. There are no shoulds. It is your choice to enjoy it however you see fit.  Choose what comforts you or gives you joy, and do that. It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing.  As you do so, you’ll start to see the rightness of your choices.

Your “faith” in your own inner compass will reward you with life experiences that show you that you are aligned with your own spirit.

2. Ignore External Pressures

The holidays are ripe with expectations.  Yet, not everyone enjoys social gatherings. Not everyone wants to sit quietly. You know how you like to celebrate or not.  If you’re alone and want companionship, go to holiday events and be around people. If you’re inundated with social pressures and crave alone time, steal away for silence when you can.

Have faith that what you feel is good for you in the moment.  As you start to grant yourself approval for what is honestly within you, the universe will continue to yield even better ways to care for your own beautiful heart.

Have faith that what you feel is good for you in the moment.  As you start to grant yourself approval for what is honestly within you, the universe will continue to yield even better ways to care for your own beautiful heart.

3. Share a little love 

As you align with the love that lives within you, you will have more faith in the fact that you are loved. As you feel your own loving soul, you’ll know its Presence within and its power to help you in your life. As you become a blessing to others, you’ll trust that others can be a blessing to you.

True giving doesn’t require much. It is a desire to share what is good inside you. Maybe it is a prayer for the world, a kind word to someone, a note of encouragement or appreciation, a home-cooked meal, or a playlist you put together on YouTube for a friend.

Giving need not take much time or effort. My mom recently showed me a little ornament I made for her over three decades ago. It took me five minutes, and to this day, it is one of her favorites. We can give a jar filled with slips of paper describing what we love about people so they can pick one a day. We can get a few photos and write our happy memories on the back.

The best gifts of all come from the heart, and in our giving, we begin to feel the evidence of the love that connects us all in our lives, our hearts, and our world.

Faith is believing in things unseen. I believe in the spirit of Christmas because I believe in the love that lives within. I believe it came into the world in the form of a baby and the form of a lamp. I believe it exists today in the forms of you, me, and all around us. I believe it exists in nature, in the animals, and in all the forms we see around us.

Some souls know this and act accordingly. Some souls do not. But if you have faith in that love, and if you can muster up a belief in something you’ve not yet seen then more and more evidence of that love will find its way into your life.

And that is my kind of present!