I spent last Saturday with a small group of wonderful people from all over the world who just completed my year long Miracles Coaching Certification Program.
The day was upbeat and buzzing with energy.
But at lunch one person asked me a question that may be on your mind, too.
“In the movie The Secret and in your book The Attractor Factor you said you believe in intentions, but in your book Zero Limits you say you no longer believe in them. What do you do now?”
I can see where that could confuse people.
In my new Nightingale-Conant audioprogram, The Missing Secret, I explain my approach to life in a way that clears the air. I’ll try to recap it here:
Today I realize that most intentions are limitations.
Intentions come from your ego and can actually limit what is possible for you to receive.
Intentions are wonderful when you are first awakening to your own power. It’s thrilling to set goals and achieve them. But there’s an easier, better, more magical and even miraculous way to go through life.
I explain this in Zero Limits, where I say there are three stages of awakening.
STAGE ONE:
In the first stage you are a victim. We’re all born into it and most of us stay there. With coaching or the right books or the right movies, you one day break free.
STAGE TWO:
In the next stage you realize you have more power than you ever thought before. In this stage intentions are fun and exciting and useful. You aim your life where you want it to go. It’s exhilarating to manifest things like new cars or a new house or anything else you can imagine.
But there’s a stage after that.
STAGE THREE:
In the third stage you realize you have choice but you don’t have control. You realize you don’t have all power. This is where you surrender. This is where you can receive inspiration from something greater than your ego awareness.
I was filmed for two more movies last week. One of them is all about letting go to inspiration.
For me, I want inspiration.
When it comes, that becomes my new intention.
But the intention comes from inspiration, not from limitation.
The intention comes from the Divine, not my pipsqueak ego.
In short, when I receive an inspiration to do something, it becomes my intention.
So I still believe in intentions, but not those of the ego, but those of the Divine.
Intentions are for wimps.
When I set an intention to do something like, say, write a book, I use my conscious will and my energy and get it done.
But when I allow an inspiration to become my new intention, and combine my energy with it, than I often create something astonishingly unexpected like, say, my own television show.
Inspiration might also direct me to write another book, of course, but the point is, inspiration will often surprise me with something bigger and bolder than I ever imagined before.
As P.T. Barnum said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”
When you follow inspiration, you get to say (like the Blues Brothers), “I’m on a mission from God.”
How do you know an intention from an inspiration?
Usually by how it feels.
When I was on Donny Deutsch’s CNBC television show The Big Idea last November*, I told him and his audience that the directive to do anything needs to come from your heart, or your gut, not your mind.
When you follow that, you follow your divine path.
It’s different for each person, of course. You may be inspired to enroll in Miracles Coaching or Executive Mentoring to better understand my marketing and metaphysical methods; somebody else may not.
I still use coaches today, and think everyone needs to. We all have beliefs and limitations to release.
For example, inspiration nudged me into creating my own TV show, called Expect Miracles.
But my ego was resisting it.
It was stretching my self-image limits.
For that reason, I needed Miracles Coaching to help me get and stay clear. As long as I stay clear, miracles happen.
I’m now clear and ready for this TV show to be a mega-success.
And now the investors, actors, directors, editors and writers are coming to me.
Why? How?
Because I cleared the blocks within me, with the help of my coaches, to allow it all to happen.
Another thing I’ve learned and have said repeatedly is that “The Universe likes speed.”
When you are inspired, act and act fast.
If you are inspired and don’t act, it’s a sign you have some clearing to do.
What do you feel inspired to do?
Do it.
NOW.
Ao Akua,
Joe
www.mrfire.com
* You can see my fiery five-minute appearance on Donny Deutsch’s TV show at http://one.revver.com/watch/491047 or www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTYWyVm6NiI
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Hi Joe,
Thanks for clarifying your evolution for us here. I especially like the part about how intentions set by our ‘pipsqueak egos’ feel so different from those arising through Divine Inspiration.
Most of my life I’ve given myself ‘marching orders’, and my poor little child self hasn’t liked it one bit. I thought I had to work really hard at being ‘good’ at something, and showing I was ’smart’. Such intentions have always felt onerous, burdensome, dull, and often impossible to complete. I have often feared failure . . . possibly because my heart was not committed to these mentally-derived intentions, and also perhaps because my heart knew Divinity was not consciously consulted in creating them! This is a prime set-up for inner rebellion, don’t you think?
However, when I write or create something through my heart (which feels directly connected with Divinity), it feels full, gentle, peaceful, and fun . . . even though it may still be a whale of a lot of work. Life is also much easier when I let Divinity be in charge, even though sometimes I still forget.
Learning continues, thankfully.
Take good care, Joe — I’m grateful for your sharing.
Just one pipqueak to another,
Pam Pappas
Today I was thinking right along these lines. And as I turned on my computer, here was this e-mail from you. I was reflecting on the Secret – “no blackboard in the sky for what we are suppose to do” and pondering that as I have often felt the inspiration to do things is divine. Perhaps not pre-ordained, or my only purpose, but it does seem to feel like I have been chosen to do things in a way. So grappling with how it all might fit together. Thank you and Blessings.
VERY COOL!!!
The energy is flowing in you and through you and what I love is that you are down to earth you tell it like it is You are willing to share your story and move on to the next miracle
I enrolled in your Miracles Coaching Program in December it is and has been fantastic and no matter where we are in journey of life I agree we all need a miracles coach
Thanks so much
Lots of Smiles
Lisa
Your most grateful stuent,
Christina Hope
Joe, thanks for the update. It’s exactly what we’ve been telling people on “The Prosperity Podcast”; you don’t know what mountain there is waiting for you until you climb the one in front of you.
Thank you, one more time for your words. I need to hear them, again, Now to “be” at zero – one with the Divine. I am off to do just that!
When are the DVDs from Maui going to be available?
Brilliant Joe!
I believe this is what Florence Scovell Shinn meant when she spoke of the Divine Design. For everything we desire, there is a Divine Design for its manifestation. Sometimes that means no manifestation.
Some of the most unpleasant (a mild understatement) experiences happened when I used my will to manifest something I thought I really wanted. Once I got it, I realized it wasn’t what I really wanted.
Fortunately, the universe is a self-correcting system.
So, now I remind myself — why not save time and just allow the universe to unfold instead of trying to direct it? When I do that, my experience is so much more deeply beautiful than anything I could have ever thought possible.
As I’ve learned to let go and allow, inspiration comes and flows easily.
Thank you for stating this so well!
Much love,
Frank Butterfield
This is great Joe – I was definitedly Inspired to sign up for the miracles coaching program – and wrote an ebook before my first session! That was 2 months ago and in less than 1 month, the site will be up, and I will have joined the ranks of published authors. Thanks for the coaching, the promting, and the permission to go with what seemed to be a crazy, yet inspired idea.
Joe,
I was “inspired” to act and respond to your post. Your point is that Intentions are not organic. For them to be effective they must be inspired?
Joe,
I loved your blog!! I love the simplicity in explaining a very complex subject and how easy it is to understand the way you write about it. Your writing is an inspiration to me! Thank you,
Alicia
Joe, neat article, well put. I understand what you are saving. Many times something has popped in my head and I sat on it only to see someone else take a similar idea to market. While I was waiting for the planets to line up just so.
Could you give us some information on how to clear? Or where we can find more information on how to clear, say in a self study format.
Thanks
Amen Joe!
Let In-spir-ation sing from Divinity!
Love, Jeannie
Hi Joe,
As you already know, I have great respect for your work. I would question the confusion that’s created around your “intention” model and the concept you create. It’s the least clear thing I’ve ever seen from you.
As you may recall, in my book, “How To Take No For An Answer And Still Succeed,” the act of intention is clouded only by the attempt to control the outcome. The Eastern teachers show us the power of high intention, however, the secret to less stress is directly proportionate to the lack of attachment we have to outcome.
In other words, we can’t control anything but our actions and reactions. Outcome is completely out of our control, no matter the certitude.
The higher the intention, accompanied by the lowest possible attachment to the outcome, creates a much more powerful set of actions on our part with the freedom of not trying to control what we cannot control.
Best wishes,
Tom Justin
http://www.howtotakeno.com
Thank you, Joe… I really appreciate you explaining the difference between ego base and divinely inspired intentions.
Joe
You give such amazing insight into life. I particilarly liked your comments
“But when I allow an inspiration to become my new intention, and combine my energy with it, than I often create something astonishingly unexpected like, say, my own television show.”
This reminded me of when I was sitting at my knitting machine creating a design, it was on a particularly happy day, the design changed before my eyes and out came a wonderful garment and to today I don’t know how it happened because part of the design, was something I did not even know I could do …
Love your blog and so looking forward to your TV show, in the hope that I will be able to get it in Europe.
Big thank you – AnneMarie
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
(from – An Irish Blessing)
Dear Joe,
I really like what you are saying here.:razz:
Doris
Thank you, Joe, for this inspiration, That makes a LOT of sense. Have a wonderful day
Joy
Thank you, Joe, for a wonderful, clear, and inspiring explanation of the process of surrender to the Divine and why that is so much more effective than trying to run the show from the ego!
I LOVE that you wrote down these stages and shared!
Nerissa
HELLO JOE, SOY DE CHILE, I AM HAPPY FOR CONOCERTE, ME THE OUTCOME OF SATURDAY 4 DVD AND ALSO I HAVE THE 1 AND THE FEAR, WORK WITH THEM IN SPITE OF THE DOMINO THAN ENGLISH LANGUAGE, BUT I BELIEVE IN THE SYSTEM AND IT. .. GO THERE AND ACHIEVE AN OBJECTIVE IS A MIRACLE, BUT CAN STILL SEE GREATER SL, CONCIENTE BE THAT WHAT PIDES CAN GET TO BE A SUPER MIRACLE, THE TRUCO I BELIEVE THAT IS OPENING TO HAVE ONE, HE LEARNED THAT YOU.
SOLE
Joe – the idea of being open to guidance versus trying to completely control one’s life, creativity and outcome is certainly a concept that hit home.
For many of us entrepreneurs, we are driven to direct using Ego and often can achieve a good level of success using this approach, however deep down we all know there are things that seem to just ‘happen’ in our lives that have made huge impacts on our life. Unexplained bursts of creativity, changes in our personality, a risk that we would not normally have taken but when accepted turns your life completely around.
Perhaps what you are putting your finger on here is being open to intuition and instinct – simply clearing obstacles out of the way and letting them guide us as intended.
Jeff
Hi Joe,
I feel that the difference in energy between affirmation,and intention is what your speaking of. Affirmation has always felt ego driven, where intention feels more from the heart to me. When I state I am willing, or I am in the process of, that is enpowering
to me. If I just waited for guidance, I would not move forward in any area of my life.
Just my opinion.
I was interested in your coaching program, yet the man who called me didn’t
seem to know much about the program,and he said your coaches do not do
‘’sample sessions” like most of us do in the coaching world.
Perhaps as you get more organized, I would be interested.
Happy New Year!
Joe,
Thank you for this blog. Wow! This is SO true in surrendering to the Divine. I remember when I first got interested in metaphysics and such, the word surrender always used to bother me. Because it felt like I was either (a) giving up control, or (b) admitting that I was powerless all along the way anyway!
I’m now at a place in my life where I’m pretty OK with both (a) and (b)!
Blessings to you and Nerissa!
Todd
This answered a very nagging question that I didn’t even know I was needing the answer to. I’ve “intended” to do something I’ve been “inspired” to do for a long time now, but kept questioning that inspiration. I now know what I have got to do and I don’t “intend” to do it, I WILL do it. Thanks.
PS: Congratulations on your new television program
I LOVE THIS ONE!
It has taken me on a new journey of fulfillment and it will be used in my new daily rituals.
It answered a question that I have held deeply in my heart since learning about LOA and watching, reading, and learning all that I have. The question of WHAT am I doing to ALLOW THE DIVINE into this. I firmly believed that everything we’ve been taught so far was just ego trips on steroids.
THIS explains the reason why some of us haven’t been able to achieve the things we wanted because the ego trips got too carried away on US instead of putting the credit where credit was due!!
Thanks for the clarification Joe.
I think I got the gist of it from Zero Limits, but this explanation helps me make better sense of it.
I also bought The Attractor Factor a while back and haven’t read it. I wonder if reading it now, after Zero Limits, would be counter-productive?
Also, not to nit pick, but I believe it was Jesus who FIRST said (in the garden of Gethsemene) “Not my will, but thine, be done.” I’m sure many since – including PT Barnum – have said those (or very similar) powerful words.
Be well,
Russ
Way to go Joe, I always thought that being inspired is the most mportant “atractor factor” but I could never expresed that openly. I guss I am smart than I thouhgt after all. You inspired me. I don’t have to strive for these damn goals any more. Thanks a million.
Lidia
Joe thank you for another insightful post . I also want to thank you and Dr Len for sharing what you know about Hooponopono through your book and other media.I really feel like this is the real missing secret, sweet and simple . Not easy ! But sweet and simple. I am amazed how every step we take gets us a little closer to home . Thanks for the reminders and the “hey it”s over there” !http://blog.mrfire.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
Joe, thank you for this lovely affirmation. Living an inspired life moment by moment is my #1 priority, in spite of anything. I love what you wrote.
Best Wishes Always,
Karen
Well… I just want to say that I LOVE YOUR SMILE. YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL BEING. YOU ARE PRETTY OUTSIDE(:wink:) BUT YOU ARE MUCH PRETTIER ON THE INSIDE.
YOU ARE A SURPLUS VALUE FOR THE WORLD AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSE SMILE WITH YOU.(excuse my bad english:lol:
An lovely and immense blue sky for you!
Hi Joe,
Thanks. What a relief from the constant urging to force ourselves through an ever narrowing tunnel of limiting possibilities.
It’s so much easier to follow your inspored desire and correct your course as you learn and grow!
Love,
Mandy
Praising you,
Merilee
Joe, You’ve gotta be the luckiest guy on the internet. Your fans are really devoted, and nobody seems to even question you. Whats your “secret”? Does the Law of atraction work that well? I think some of the other bloggs could learn from you.
Thanks, and keep bloging.
Another Joe (from Trenton)
Joe,
I too think that we need to be open to possibilities and ideas beyond what we can imagine. I love to have intentions tho, I love to really know what I want and flesh it out with my visions and even doing it to any degree so I know what it will feel like when I manifest it. Yet I have always said “this or something better”…leaving open the possibilities that there are even better things out there that i could not intend. because I do not even know they are possible.
I also practice something I call “detachment”…not being attached to the outcome, that way I intend what I want (ask), then I “release” the outcome to the universe, knowing that the best outcome fro me in every way will happen. This way i do not go through disappointment or other roller coaster type emotions. When we get frustrated that what we want has not happened, we block the flow of the energies that are all working together to bring us the best possible result that we want. So in order to stay in a state of happiness, or what I call “Joyful Creating” (in my audio it helps you be joyful and visualize what you want, the perfect state for manifesting), if you are not emotionally attached to the outcome, you stay open to receiving it.
Also, I EXPECT what I want to happen. These energies combined help the original intention not to get bogged down in any “counter intentions”, because you have released, expected and open yourself to any good outcome.
Finally, I bless and clear, all the time, as JOe and Dr. Len show in “Zero Limits”…thank you, I love you, forgive me, I am sorry…
Love, Nan
Thank-you for sharing this wonderful day with us Joe and THANK-YOU for your generous and miraculous gifts to us. If there was to ever be a super-duper get on your way with marketing and miracles it would be all the books, audio programs and DVD you gave all the Certification clients. I’ve listened to the complete Buying Trances audios, and watched the preiemer version of The Secret, love the contributions by Esther Hicks where were not included in the widley circulated second version of the DVD and am currently reviewing your Missing Secret audio and DVD package. The knowledge and love containted in these volumes, combined with inspired action is sure to sky rocket my coaching practice to success. Thank-you thank-you thank-you.
Love,
Julie Vohra
You are always my favorite guru. I’ve experienced miracles after I apply what you have taught me in your book.
Thank you for being a such great teacher for me.
Joe-
I just got through watching The Secret for the first time. It’s an interesting message with a lot of possibilities. I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but how come it never occurred to you to manifest hair? If people can dissolve cancer and rebuild their bodies, it seems making hair grow should be a piece of cake.
No offense intended. Just wondering.
I’ve answered this before, but the bottom line is, you have to want it to manifest it. I could care less. Or hair less.
Your question suggests you think baldness is bad. It isn’t.
No I don’t think baldness is bad. I personally don’t care either. My SO does. So I think he thinks everyone should. He kept saying “Why doesn’t he manifest hair?”
It does seem easier to say “I don’t care if I’m bald” rather than face the possibility that you can’t manifest hair.
Hey Joe,
I just had a life transforming moment this morning, and I felt compelled to talk about it. Something urged me to look up your blog and see if you had written anything about what I just experience, and sure enough, here it is.
I have watched “The Secret” and listened to “The Key”. They have all reaffirmed things that I have been aware of for the better part of 20 years now, and that was great. In fact, I have been working hard to “act” on my knowledge this time.
Well the action paid off, because I came to this very realization this morning.
After watching “the secret”, and reading the “science of getting rich” and reading “getting what you want” and listening to “the key”, I got that I should be looking for the spark of intuition. I got that I should be striving for the best I can do now and not to worry about the future so much. What was bothering me, however, was that I was still getting attached to the result. I was still worrying about the future, even though I knew I shouldn’t be.
You are exactly right when you say that intention requires an act of will. I have been so wrapped up in willing things to happen, that I think it had become a habit. Even having it in my mind that I want certain things to happen, I would find myself getting nervous that they wouldn’t happen, or that I didn’t want them enough, or that I shouldn’t want it, or that that’s not what I am supposed to be doing, or … [fill in the blank].
Anyway, it was the song “Running Down a Dream” that Tom Petty sang last night at the Super Bowl, halftime that triggered it all for me.
This song, almost encapsulates the entire idea of what is being said here. Now, rather than trying to direct my life, I see that the real key is to see what my life is all about. To explore the mystery of my life. To see what it is that God has in store for me. So rather than directing my future, I feel like I am on an adventure and I am exploring my future.
This has lifted so much weight off of my shoulders. I still have intention, but I no longer have the attachment to the result. I still think it would be helpful for me to have more money, I still think that I would like to enjoy certain experiences. I still want things for myself and for others (and I believe it is likely that I will attract those into my life). What is different now is that I understand that if that is the right thing for them and for me, it will happen. If it’s not the right thing for them or for me, it won’t (and that’s okay). I finally have a sense of trust in “The Universe” that I never had before. By the way, this totally eliminated that “threshold of deservingness” issue for me. Now, it doesn’t matter to me if I believe that I “deserve” it or not. Before, I could not seem to shake it. I now realize that, even that concept, is very egotistical. I realize that by having those thoughts, I was attempting to wrestle from God the act of judgment. I am now beginning to realize that it is this very struggle to assert control that really belongs to God that has caused so much distress in my life.
I now find myself more interested in the journey than the destination.
I still strive to do the best I can each moment, and make the best decision I can make each moment, but I don’t assume that because that action or decision doesn’t end the way that I expect it to that it wasn’t the right action or decision. I simply take comfort in the idea that I’m doing my best and that’s all that’s expected of me by “The Universe”.
I am now very excited to see where my life will lead, and I hope that our lives will cross again during that journey.
Thank you for sharing all of these ideas and helping so many people.
I love this. Thanks Joe. I am finding the same to be true.
That is one of the reasons I created the Stillness Experiment. When we are still, we can hear the inspiration. It slows down the mind chatter, which is mostly chatter of the ego. and provides space for the divine inspiration to show up.
Feel free to join the stillness experiment – it’s easy and free.
You can learn more at http://www.Balancedliving.com/stillness.html
Hello
As a fresh blog.mrfire.com user i only want to say hello to everyone else who uses this site
Hello.
I’m new there
Nice forum!
Hello!
Can somebody help me to find pioneer elite pro-111fd plasma tv. I find one on Amazon, but that one is too expensive
for me atm. If you know where I can find it cheaper plz let me know. I need this badly….
Sorry if posting in wrong section.
I have been a dedicated student of the law of attraction for the last 5 years with great results. I am still amazed by all the things and events I have manifested during that period of my life. There are a few big things I couldn’t manifest despite all my good intentions and focus, but after all, maybe it was better the way The Universe intended it!
With that in mind, I now realize that I recently moved to stage three. I am much more a “Yes man” like Jim Carrey in the movie. I only have a few intentions and I don’t care at all if they are going to manifest or not. Life has been great for me and I am happier than ever. Can’t wait to see what surprise is coming next! Love you. Thank you.
Making an intention defeats the purpose of manifestation. Allowing yourself to follow what excites you seems to bring better results. Using your intuition and understanding and mastering your power seems to be what works best for me. It is not about choosing, it is just about going with the flow. When you make an intention, sometimes it can distrupt the flow. Your desire will always be there, you just need to know the right times to act on them rather than try to force them to manifest.
Hello Joe,
Can you tell me, why do you sell books, you teach people how to attract money, if you preach about hooponopono.
We both know that hooponopono is about letting GO, and letting GO
Please, don’t erase my message, answer me. I think there’s a contradiction in your speech. you teach how to attract money, how to handle situations with the mind, and at the same time you teach hooponopono, about letting GOD choose what is the best for us.
I would like to talk to you abot this. I think this is important. I’m looking forward your answer
Paola
Paola, did you read the book Zero Limits?
Money is not bad or counter to the Divine, but your thinking can be.
Maybe god is trying to give you money.
blessings,
joe
Thank you Joe for your answer !!!
Paola
Joe,just a little question.I sign up for a hupnosis class ot help me with my focus, to zero in on the thing that mean the most to me.Have you heard of anyone doing this and do you think it’s a good idea? Thank you so much for your time. You said in one of your books to reach out to people that can help you….Well HELP!
Thank you so much,because I know help is on the way!