Appreciation is a super emotion for attracting and manifesting what you want. But have you thought about appreciation as it relates to your past and to your future? In other words:
- Are you appreciating your past?
- Are you appreciating your future?
For many of us, the answer is no. Instead, we regret our past and we worry about our future. Which means appreciation doesn’t figure into the mix.
Can you go from regretting your past to appreciating your past?
That initially sounded like a tall order for one of my clients. However, she got motivated to do just that when she realized she was activating the vibration of regret in her present for things that happened years ago.
Of course, that vibration of regret—even though it was about things that happened a long time ago—was what was attracting in her here and now.
My client went from I regret getting involved in that relationship and distancing myself from my family to I appreciate what I learned about the kinds of relationships I want to have—romantic and otherwise.
Now that might sound like no big deal, but think about the difference in frequency. My client went from regret to appreciation, and that is a significant move up the emotional scale.
- Will you appreciate your past?
- Will you reclaim and integrate even the parts and pieces you wish had been different?
- Will you appreciate that all the lessons learned, experiences, and ups and downs have lead you here?
- Will you appreciate the contrast you’ve experienced and how it has clarified what you want?
You might find it useful to simply ask yourself this question: What would my past look like through the lens of appreciation? In fact, that’s a great question to use as a journaling prompt.
Of course, you’re not changing what actually happened or didn’t happen. But you are putting on a pair of glasses, the glasses of appreciation, and that changes what you see—which can then change how you feel.
Looking at your past through the lens of appreciation offers you grace.
It can help you soften the story you tell about what’s over and done with and stop the woulda coulda shoulda.
Once my client made this shift from regret to appreciation, she started seeing amazing manifestations show up for her.
- She reconnected with old friends with whom she’d lost touch.
- She felt healed about a romantic partnership that had ended badly.
- She deepened her relationship with several family members in a meaningful way.
“My future isn’t about my past. Nothing that has ever happened has anything to do with now unless, in my now, I continue to think and speak about it. Fresh new thoughts today will always give me a fresh new experience.” —Abraham
Having appreciation for your past can absolutely change your present and your future. Isn’t that cool? It’s amazing that while you can’t change the “facts” of your past, by appreciating your past and where you’ve been, you change your present and your future.
That’s because appreciation is a super emotion when it comes to attracting circumstances, people, events, situations, and things of a similar frequency, of that same high vibration.
If regret is the emotion many of us keep activating about the past, then worry is the emotion we keep activating about the future.
Does that sound familiar? Think about the last couple days. Have you been in a state of worry about something in your future? Perhaps you’ve been worrying about money or that situation at work or about someone’s health.
Too many of us are living in a future of worst-case scenarios. We’re anticipating this going wrong and that not working out. We’re expecting bad news and problems.
Worry is the opposite of appreciation. Really let that sink in. You can’t be in a state of worry and appreciation at the same time, can you?
“Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want.” —Abraham
I know that’s not what you think you’re doing when you worry. You think you’re somehow protecting yourself or preparing yourself in case the thing you’re worried about happens.
But worry doesn’t protect you from what you’re worried about.
Quite the contrary, when you activate the vibration of worry, which is low on the emotional scale, you attract more into your life to be worried about.
“Your future is going to be like how you feel today.” —Abraham.
Doesn’t that make you want to appreciate the heck out of today so you create a really amazing future—and, of course, so you feel good right now?!
- Will you appreciate your future?
- Will you view the future through the lens of positive expectation?
- Will you anticipate all that’s coming and feel positive emotion?
- Will you practice appreciation in advance for the things you want to manifest?
One of the very best things you can do for your future is to stay out of worry. It serves no purpose.
“Whatever you’re thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you’re worrying, you are planning. When you’re appreciating you are planning…. What are you planning?” —Abraham
One of my clients had a breakthrough related to appreciation about things in her future.
Here’s the shift that took place.
My client’s approach to the future had always been wishing and hoping for X,Y, or Z, but at the same time steeling herself that what she wanted wouldn’t happen. She was continually dancing back and forth between activating wanted and unwanted.
My client said she didn’t really allow herself to feel the joy of anticipation for what she wanted. She didn’t often experience positive expectation because there was always too much doubt and focus on Well, what if it doesn’t happen?
Are you ever like that? For instance, in the back of your mind, do you think: If I don’t anticipate too much or look too forward to something, then I won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t materialize.
That’s how my client had been living.
It was learning about pre-paving that created a shift for her.
Abraham says: “You are actually pre-paving your future experiences constantly…. You are continually projecting your expectations into your future experiences.”
That was a lightbulb moment. My client realized she was projecting her expectations into her future experience, but not in a positive way! Instead, she was projecting doubt and uncertainty. She was projecting disappointment in advance.
My client started paying attention to pre-paving future experiences she actually wants. She found tapping into appreciation in advance is the easiest way to do just that.
My client went from downplaying how much she wanted something and steeling herself for disappointment at not getting what she wanted to fully anticipating what she wants and enjoying the feeling of positive expectation.
Again, a very big shift in vibration from the frequency of disappointment and doubt to appreciation and positive expectation.
We’ve talked about appreciating the past and the future. Let’s touch on the present.
Because so many of us look only at what-is. If what-is is not what we want, then we are reluctant to tap into appreciation.
Either because we mistakenly believe there is nothing to appreciate or we think if we appreciate anything about the present moment then things won’t change, and we won’t receive the manifestations we want.
Nothing could be further from the truth. No matter what is going on in your life right now, tapping into the vibration of appreciation is one of the surest ways to get energy moving and start attracting what you want.
So how can you appreciate the present more?
Especially when what-is is not exactly what you want.
It all comes down to focus. You may want a different answer, a fancier answer. But appreciation really does come down to focus.
- Will you focus on what you like?
- Will you focus on what’s working, what’s right, what’s thriving?
- Will you focus on the excitement of what you want that you know is coming?
Because to focus on all that’s wrong and all you don’t like and all you wish were different cuts you off from appreciation. Period.
You cannot feel appreciation focused on the half empty glass.
If you want to appreciate your present—regardless what your current reality includes and doesn’t, then focus is your very best friend.
And here’s all you need to know: Focus on what feels good.
And do I need to even say it? Take your focus off what doesn’t feel good!
- The cluttered closet.
- Your back pain.
- The kids bickering.
- The late notice.
- The extra ten pounds.
Whatever doesn’t feel good to think about, take your focus from it. Then turn in the direction of one thing you can appreciate. Start with just one thing.
It could be clean drinking water or a call from an old friend. It could be the beautiful flowers you see on your commute or your local barista greeted you by name when you stopped in for your morning coffee.
That one thing you appreciate becomes two and then three. Because appreciation grows. Appreciation has momentum. Appreciation attracts. And all because of what you choose to focus your precious and powerful attention on.
- Can you appreciate the positive aspects even if you wish some things in your life were different?
- Can you look for what you want to see?
- Can you appreciate the contrast of life for the clarity it offers?
- Can you practice staying focused on what is wanted rather than what is unwanted?
What would your past look like through the lens of appreciation?
Tell the story. And stay off any parts you truly can’t look at through the lens of appreciation. Tell a new story about your past, and shift from regret to appreciation.
What does your present look like through the lens of appreciation?
Tell the story. Focus on positive aspects and look for what you want to see. Use your power to focus for your benefit.
“If all you did was look for things to appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life.” —Abraham
What would your future look like through the lens of appreciation?
Tell the story. Edit out of your story any and all worry. Instead, include lots of appreciation in advance for all you want to manifest. As Abraham says: “Appreciation in advance brings everything you want to you.”
