So far, this assignment is easy. No journaling required. I feel like I’ve been mapping out my next twelve months for weeks.
“When you feel really connected to what you’ve written for all four categories, then you’ll be ready to come back and start searching for images that correlate with each of the pillars.”
I try imagining what sort of image I can find within the pages of the magazines that would represent my career, but Lanie cuts off that thought, adding more.
“Find images that speak to that feeling that you’ve associated with every one of the pillars. When you find it, cut it out, and tack it to your board.”
“I thought you brought glue guns,” I say.
Lanie’s eyes cross. “I did, and you will eventually glue them all on. This is the process. You’re creating your board and ensuring you have it set up in the way that makes you most happy.” She stares at me. “Beforeyou make it permanent.”
Not too long ago, Lanie’s condescending attitude would’ve thrown me. These days, I find it funny. It’s just who she is. Dramatic and over the top. She doesn’t mean anything by it. She’s sarcastic and dry, the complete opposite of me, and it brings a flair to our friendship.
“If there’s a word in the magazine that fits your themes, cut that out too, and tack it on the board.”
“Can you give us an example?” Nina asks, grinning over at me.
Lanie is so into playing teacher that she doesn’t realize Nina is only messing with her. She dives right in with examples.
“One of the things that I find to be very important with all manifestation is gratefulness. Make sure that you either write or place the wordsthank youorgratitudeor whatever word or phrase represents your gratefulness to the universe. It will make a huge difference for your manifestation.”
“Why?” I ask not to be combative, but because I’m truly curious as to Lanie’s practice. She’s shown in a matter of an hour that this is serious for her.
“I think it’s important for the universe to know that you’re already grateful for these things, even though they haven’t occurred yet. For your manifestation to work, you have to have an abundant mindset. Don’t go into this board thinking,Oh, how great would my life be if I had these; go into it saying,My life is amazing because I have these things.”
“But I don’t have these things.” The words fly out, and I can’t take them back, which is a shame because it’s clear within a fraction of a second that Lanie is about to throttle me.
Lanie sucks on her teeth, glaring straight at me. “What’s the deal, Ally? Are you trying to ruin your manifestation before you’ve even begun?”
I splutter. “I don’t have a deal. I’m just truly trying to understand. I want to do this right.”
She sighs. “It’s just my practice. I find that when you’re grateful, and when you live your life like those things are already yours, the universe provides.”
“No matter what, you have to believe you deserve them,” Corinne jumps in. “Believe, and they will be yours.”
Lanie bobs her head. “The universe feeds on positivity. When you go into things with a lack mentality, they feed off that too. Believe it, receive it. Doubt it…” She scrunches her nose. “I can’t come up with anything that rhymes with doubt, but you hear what I’m saying. It will not be yours if you doubt.”
I nod my head, following her. “Got it. Believe and achieve. Doubt and drought.”
“Yes,” Lanie praises, clapping. “That’s the spirit.”
“Take as much time as you guys need with this. It’s the most important step,” Lanie sings.
I turn to Nina. “Go ahead and take my office. I’m gonna head upstairs and do this in my room.”
She tilts her head. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m more comfortable there, and it sounds like that’ll be important for journaling.” I smirk, and she smiles, shaking her head.
“Good luck,” she says, making her way to my office.
I head up to my bedroom, taking a seat on my new chaise longue chair I have positioned by the window. I open the journal, writing my first pillar at the top.
Career.
I take a deep breath and begin journaling whatever comes to me as I consider what I want out of my career. Then I concentrate on how that would make me feel. I continue with each pillar: self-care,love, and ending with prosperity. By the time I’m finished, I feel lighter. Motivated.
Glancing at the clock, I see that over an hour and a half has gone by. I flip through the pages of my journal and my breath hitches. I swipe through page after page to find paragraphs that have one phrase repeated.
