by Amanda Monteiro, Collective Evolution
Reading a book recently, I came across the saying “the Devil is in the details” for the first time, and for some reason, I couldn’t wrap my head around what that actually meant. Instead of doing a quick Google search to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to let the thought go in hopes that the answer would come to me when the time was right.
I live in a rural area, surrounded by fields of wheat and corn, bush, and forest. I adore the scenery and often times when driving past, I’m reminded of being a little girl, when I wished I could run freely though a wheat field, without a care in the world — something I have yet to accomplish.
During one of my most recent nostalgic moments, I thought about how I really could run through that field if I chose (the joys of being an adult) but I would probably hate it because of the mud and the bugs and god knows what else that field contains.
And then it hit me! The Devil is in the details. I suddenly didn’t want to fulfill a childhood dream because of how I thought the experience would make me feel! My imagination can bring me to beautiful places but this time it brought me to recognize that my dream might not be what I imagined it to be.
And then I realized, I don’t just do this with a wheat field; I do this in every area of my life. Have you ever been so inspired by an idea that you sat down and envisioned what it would take to make it happen, only to realize how much work would be involved and then have it completely lose steam?
Or have you ever been so excited about something that you decided to share it with another person, only to be met with a reminder of all the work and all the little impediments standing in your way, causing you to decide it wasn’t worth it and move on?
The Devil in the details is an absolute Dream Killer and while it can help bring you back down from the clouds, sometimes it deters us completely.
Fortunately, there are ways around this.
Your Imagination Is A Great Thing
In her book Creative Visualization, Shakti Gawain states that we must foster “the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.” Some use this as a means of manifestation and there are many ways to visualize/manifest. After all, every action begins with a thought, so you may as well make your thoughts a beautiful dream.
The key is to remain relaxed, which is why Shakti suggests either an early meditation or an evening one, closer to bed time. Essentially, you sit, bring yourself into a meditative state, and visualize what it is you wish to happen or achieve, from beginning to end. Be sure to include every detail and every feeling along the way. You are directing a movie step by step for your dream job, dream house, dream relationship, and dream life. Take your time and be patient with this technique. Spending about 5 minutes each day is all you need!
Other times people create Vision Boards. If we look at these images enough, they can bore into our subconscious and continue to remind and inspire us of what it is we really want. It’s best to place your vision board directly across from your bed so it’s the first thing you see when you wake up or, better yet, in the bathroom on your mirror so while you’re brushing your teeth you can take in the images and visualize without even realizing it.
Another great technique made hugely popular by Louise Hay is to practice Affirmations. An affirmation is used to bring positive reinforcement into your conscious and subconscious mind. These sayings can help to motivate and inspire you because of their natural ability to help you visualize and believe the words that you are saying. One of my favourite and most powerful affirmations Louise has taught me is looking into the mirror, putting your hand to your throat, and while looking in your eyes, repeating, “I am willing to change.”
Other popular affirmations include:
I wake up each morning with intention and purpose.
Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.
My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.
Every day, I learn and continue to grow into the best version of myself.
I am at peace with all that has happened, is happening, and will happen.
After practicing these methods enough, you’ll start to notice amazing synchronicities, so be aware of what the universe is trying to tell you.
You Still Have To Work
These methods may seem like magical solutions to attaining your goals and dreams, but you still play a vital role in accomplishing all that you wish. The reality is, the Devil in the details will always be there but you just have to make sure that these are real problems and not ones you concocted in your mind. And it’s also important to note that even if they are real, you are more than capable of overcoming them.
Problems on the journey to accomplishing your dreams are only obstacles to make whatever it is you want that much better. These ‘problems and obstacles’ only exist to serve you, so don’t allow yourself to get too caught up in the little things. Remember the big picture. Remind yourself of that happy, beautiful image and that is what will push you to reach your goal.
