I wish I could lose 20 pounds. I would love to snap my finger and have those pounds vanish instantly. But I know that in the physical world that kind of thing doesn’t happen. I am programmed to think of losing weight as hard work, deprivation and (probably) failure (I’ll just gain it back even if I do manage to lose it). 
But I also know that when working within the energy realm, transformation can be much easier than change in the physical world because energy is constantly in motion. I do not have to move something from a position of rest. I just need to tap into the flow of what I want to transform. (See Change vs Transformation.)
So I begin with an intention, which is different from wishful thinking because I actually “intend” to make this happen and commit myself to doing what needs to be done to make it happen. Setting an intention is a way of using consciousness to change the probabilities needed to make the change possible. Commitment is what needs to be done to bring the energy of change down to the concrete and actually change physical reality.
But there is a huge difference between creating with matter and creating with energy.
In the physical world I can set my intention to change the physical mass of my body and that will help me get started. But then I know I have to commit myself to calorie reduction, tasteless food, and lots of exercise that I don’t like and don’t have time for. I motivate myself by looking in the mirror and not liking what I see, hoping this will make my commitment greater so that I can continue depriving myself of food and plugging away at a boring exercise routine.
And guess what? It doesn’t work. It just takes too much time and effort, and is too depressing.
When I set up an antagonistic relationship with myself (not liking what I see in the mirror), and with the commitments that will have to be made (food deprivation and boring, time consuming exercise), I separate myself from the synergy needed to actualize my intention. An antagonistic attitude severs those flowing energetic connections and prevents me from tapping into them. I am therefore left with only physical paths to change, which require much more work and effort.
Creating with energy also involves using intention and commitment, but with an entirely different attitude.
I know that one of the most important rules of the energy realm is that similarities (rather than opposites) attract. Therefore, in order to attract the energies needed to slim my body, I need to think of my body as already slim and beautiful. So instead of disliking what I see in the mirror, I practice loving my body just as it is, and seeing everything about me as beautiful.
I love food and I love to eat. So I know that depriving myself is not only not going to work, but will also set up an antagonistic relationship between me and my intention. So instead of dreading the change in my diet that I know I must make, I choose to think of it as an exciting way to try out new foods and new combinations of tastes. Instead of depriving myself of foods I love (butter and chocolate, for example), I simply cut down on them and use them judiciously. Butter drizzled over fresh asparagus is much tastier than butter slathered on a baked potato. I don’t miss the potato at all. I love chocolate and could not bear to let it go. But I’ve found that a small square savored completely satisfies my craving and I don’t really need more.
So part of my commitment is a choice not to eat anything I don’t really enjoy. Healthy food tastes great, (fast food, good riddance). And by chewing more slowly and savoring every single bite, I can cut down on my portions and not even notice it. Changing what and how much I eat has now become a way of life I truly enjoy and something I want to continue for the rest of my life. No diets for me ever again!
And then there is the exercise component. Again it is very easy to think negatively about exercise, so I know I have to come up with ways to exercise that I really enjoy. Part of learning to enjoy exercise is the enhanced mood and sense of physical well-being that I get once I’ve done it. I find it helpful to remember that feeling and tap into it even when I am relegated to an exercise machine.
But there are certainly easier, less time consuming and more enjoyable ways to exercise. Dancing, for example. Music I love with a good beat gets me moving with seemingly little effort and is a wonderful workout. I also find yoga enjoyable and stretching a good balance to more aerobic exercise. I love the meditative aspect of yoga and the energized feeling I get at the end. Everyday activities present more opportunities. I now climb stairs rather than take the elevator, and park far from the doors of the mall (and I never have trouble finding a parking place).
And the universe brought me a Border Collie (he appeared on our doorstep one day in a blizzard). Border Collies have incredible energy and have to be played with and walked (or rather run) two or three times a day for long periods. Not only am I getting exercise, I am outside in nature sharing my dog’s delight in the world.
The best thing about the results is that the loss of pounds is the least important part of those results. I purposely don’t have a scale, so I can’t tell you exactly what I’ve lost. But I wear a smaller size, feel really good in my clothes, have no health problems or aches and pains, and I love what I see in the mirror. Other people seem to notice as well and often remark on how good I look.
The other important result is that I no longer feel rushed or guilty about taking time for myself, whether it’s time preparing something delicious to eat, or time for dance, yoga, or a long walk.
These are now gifts I give myself, and as such, I enjoy them even more. Creating with energy sure beats the old way!
These same principles work with all manifestation. The energy dimension is non-dualistic, so when working with the energy of self-transformation, it is important to regard change as evolution from good to better or better to best, rather than from “bad” to “good”. We want to effect change because we want to experience all our best potentials in life rather than because we are somehow “bad” or inferior or unworthy in our present state. In this way we can enter the flow of the universe and let it easily carry us to our next highest good.
For more on energy and the energy realm, see my book, “It’s All About Energy: Adventures in Expanded Reality”, available on Amazon, in local bookstores and on my website, www.transformationalexpansion.com