Today’s Mandala Message: A Path of Opportunities Unfolds Once You Begin
This week I’m working through Principle #63: Start Now!…Just Do it! of Jack Canfield’s book “The Success Principles”. I set my intention today ponder the idea of the “side effects” of starting something. Canfield states: “As long as you are actively in motion in the pursuit of your goals, you will create precessional effects* that will turn out to be far more important than you initially were capable of understanding or intending. You just begin, and the path of opportunities just keeps unfolding in front of and to the side of you.”
*precessional effect: the side effects of an intentional action are often the main event.
In 1998 I experienced my first facial. The practitioner let me know that she also does Reiki—which I had never heard of before. Intrigued, I made an appointment. At the end of the session and before she let me get off the table she emphatically told me to “go to a book store, buy a coloring book and some crayons—you’re not using your creative side.” Up until then I had been a software engineer—very left brain. I did what she said.
At the time there were only kids coloring books, so I picked an Animaniacs one. I quickly became bored with crayons and moved up to color pencils. Still bored, I went to a friends metaphysical store and discovered mandalas for the first time—in coloring book form. I bought all three books. But then I became bored with them too. It was then that I started hearing new-to-me voices in my head. They said “well then create your own”. A few months later we were on a 10-day trip in Egypt—that’s when the “light switch” was turned on and I began my mandala art journey.
25 years later I’ve created over 1,000 mandala paintings and over 500 mandala designs. At one point I self-published 20 different mandala coloring books. And 13 years ago my mandala practice included doing readings for people that help them move forward on their journey.
Because I said “yes” and took action from the very beginning with that Reiki session, one step led to another step, which led to another opportunity and another—which all brought me to where I am now. I’m aware of more steps coming up, some of which I feel hesitant to do however with writing this post today, I’m realizing it’s all part of the journey and it all has a way of working out…so fear not! Start now!
A good mindfulness practice would be to look back on how past successes all started with taking action followed by opportunities appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
So how about you? Have you noticed how when you start on a project, synchronicities appear that support you in some way towards making the project a reality?
“Be a magnet
— Shawn L. Anderson
that draws opportunity.
Paint brilliant thoughts and actions.
Mirror success.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 