Are You Praying for What You Really Want?

So often we visualize something and immediately become afraid or reject the idea that has come to us. So, you may ask yourself, am I praying from my heart for what I really want or am I praying from my fear? Often we will dismiss a new idea or option because we start with thinking about what could go wrong or how we might end up regretting it. We do not often allow our hearts to determine what we will do. That could be said of working at a relationship, or deciding a career direction, or planning for the next stage of your life, or many other situations.

People have used excuses like, "Wouldn't I look foolish doing that?" or "What would people think if I said _____?" or "How could I explain that I chose _____?" When they should be saying "How would I feel if I followed my heart and did _______?" The debate between the heart and the head should not be a battle. Good decisions do require input from both, but in so many cases, the head starts thinking and the heart does to speak up or interrupt the thought process.

If this has happened to you time and time again, I suggest you let your heart speak first - what is it that your heart is telling you to do? That may require some quiet time alone to recognize the heart's desire, so allow for that. Allow yourself to daydream, to imagine, what it would feel like to follow your heart. Sit quietly and listen for signs or images of what you would do if you did as your heart desires. As that picture becomes clearer, write things down so you can begin to develop some plans.

It is at that point you can begin to let your brain start to figure out how to create those dreams in reality - to figure out what you would need to do to realize those dreams. Again, allow yourself to be creative. It may help to start with really way out ways to create what you want, then you can begin to whittle away until you shape something that is a workable plan.

Pray for wisdom to recognize your dreams. Pray for guidance and clarity to help you see your hopes and aspirations. Pray for direction in developing plans to bring your dreams to life. In those ways, you will not be praying from your fears, but from your hopes and dreams.


Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including a career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, coping with an empty nest, and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor (MCC) by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor (L/WC) by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). Please visit her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com for more information.

To contact Mary Ann, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 and leave a personal and confidential message to send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.