The failure of I-M

[daveangeles]

Over the past 8 months, I have been testing I-M with more than an open mind -- as many of you know.

I stocked up on intention-manifestation books, watched The Secret numerous times, and maintained a gratitude journal. Even joined the $1 mln. experiment.

At this point in time:

- I have no girlfriend
- I have very little money
- my dream apartment has turned out to be a disaster; the landlady is a control freak who is demanding cash payment each month (I've told her I can only pay with my checking account; as a rule I don't deal with cash amounts that large)

Now, I am thinking positive and maintaining an attitude of 'receiving' and 'allowing' as Ask and it is Given fans would call it.

I'm starting to think this is all just a sham invented by clever TV marketers (as in the case of The Secret) and money hungry authors.

I've been willing to try it, the results aren't coming in. The universe is handing me failure after failure after failure and this is NOT what I have been 'focusing my intention' on.

'Intention goes where attention flows' one guru said on The Secret Larry King special; I definitely have been putting my attention on successful outcomes, but at a certain point I'm just deluding myself.

None of the physical manifestations are there yet to support my positive outlook on life. Family members are starting to think I'm just unreasonable.

[Steve Pavlina]

The language of your post makes it sound like you tried to use IM as if it were an alternative to direct action. IM is a powerful mechanism, but it will fail utterly if you try to remove yourself from the equation and deny your personal role in the manifestation process.

IM is not a substitute for action. It is action's synergistic partner.

Did you actively back up your intentions with focused action? Or did you go into this with the expectation that these things would somehow magically arrive while you sat passively waiting for them? To do the latter is to corrupt every intention with the silent addendum, "Never mind."

Remember that your physical self is part of this universe. When intentions begin to manifest, you must welcome them with action. Genuine opportunities attracted by IM typically arrive wearing work clothes.

You mentioned having no girlfriend. How many dozens of women did you personally ask out on a date after setting the intention?

I'm probably going to have to write an article to connect the dots between IM and direct action. Many people seem to think the Law of Attraction is a substitute for action, when it's really nothing of the sort.

To use a business analogy, IM is like your marketing dept, and direct action is your sales force. The first brings prospects in the door. The second closes them. Ideally they work synergistically, even though they operate via different assumptions, rules, and mechanisms.

When you set an intention via IM, you must tune yourself to notice its reflections. When they arrive pounce on them.

[daveangeles]

Thanks, Steve.

See, I had been under the impression that I was 'doing it wrong' if what Tony Robbins calls 'massive action' is involved.

In other words, I felt that just letting the intention out to the universe, combined with Tao Te Ching-style 'non-action' would eventually lead to financial success.

I guess I have to keep working my ass off, but with the added personal confidence in knowing the universe is working with me, if not through me.

Is that a healthier outlook for '07?

[LivingWarrior]

Awesome response Steve, reading that was like a sharp sword cutting through illusion. I think you are taking on the gruffness of some of the elder buddhist teachers, whacking us youngsters over the head with a (digital) hand.

I think its important to remember that until we act, our dreams remain just possibilities. When we move energy into motion, then we really start to broadcast our IM consciousness w/ more intensity, more range, more expansiveness.

Let us remember Newtons first law

I. Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

Without DOING something, NOTHING changes.

The world is a sparkling bubbling realm of possibilities, but it is also a system with massive momentum. If you want change to occur, you must be willing to completely accept the world in the way it is, and then move WITH it.

So, we are combining the amazing power of our deliberate intent (thanks Abraham :]) with the gross realm of the physical and our actions. Who could ask for anything better??

Good luck Dave.

[TheColonel]

There is a big difference between 'inspired' action and 'working your ass off.'

Initially, you send your intention out, and you are waiting for a response. It will likely arrive in the form of an unexpected opportunity.

If it feels right, you pounce on the opportunity - but in the way that feels best. You continue taking actions that feel best.

In Steve's analogy, he talks about the sales force. Think of your sales force being guys who don't like to cold call. They don't like to knock on doors. They want customers who show up with cash in hand. They're really order takers. They write up the order, all the while calculating their commission. They're really happy they showed up at work that day...

[cylon]

Originally Posted by daveangeles

In other words, I felt that just letting the intention out to the universe, combined with Tao Te Ching-style 'non-action' would eventually lead to financial success.

I don't think that wu wei, which I supposes is the Tao "non-action" means literally doing nothing. From what I understand, it means you are so intune to your higher self, that you do many things, but you are not struggling. "When nothing is done nothing is left undone", I believe is in one of the chapters.

Which would seem to be opposite of what you say about working your ass off.

I considered a thread about this, becuause I've been thinking about this as well. It seems that many here say that I-M is bunk, you have to do "hard work, work your ass off" which implies struggle. Like you don't expect a positive outcome so you end up moving mountains to make something happen, you are working extra hard to make up for the lack of faith in yourself, is the message I seem to get from that.

I love writing and recording music. It takes physical effort. To someone who isn't interested in that, it may seem like hard work since there are many actions involved. But it's not work. It's what I would be doing, anyway. That would be non-action. I'm challenged, I learn and grow, sometimes I need a breather, but is that really the definition of "working your ass off/hard work"?

Why would anyone want to struggle against themselves? This is a new way of thinking for me, even though I've been reading the tao for a few years. I always thought success meant sacraficing what I wanted (free time, time to create, be with friends, read books that relax me) for money. How is sacrificing that stuff success? Does success mean you spend your whole life struggling, burning the midnight oil, for what? So you can earn enough money to buy the things you don't have any time to enjoy?

[cylon]

After reading what TheColonel and LivingWarrior wrote, I think of this image:
I'm sure it's very common and I'm not the first to come up with it, but I just imagine it's like you're in a river, and the current is going to take you to a certain place, and you know where that place is, but if you don't swim, you'll just drown. You have faith you'll get to where you need to go just by doing the basic actions of being in that current. Maybe in real life you would end up drowing anyway, I'm just trying to come up with an analogy that makes sense in my own mind. I'll have to pull the tao out and look for some more.

[Frans]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

IM is not a substitute for action. It is action's synergistic partner.

Did you actively back up your intentions with focused action? Or did you go into this with the expectation that these things would somehow magically arrive while you sat passively waiting for them? To do the latter is to corrupt every intention with the silent addendum, "Never mind."

The forum moderators should place this quote on top of this forum as a mental disclaimer.

If you compare this post with the effortless million dollar experiment, it appears that Steve's posts are gradually changing from extreme to moderate.

FYI: here's an extract from the million dollar experiment (written in November 2005):

My experience thus far indicates that the intention-manifestation model operates at a high enough level that it isn’t necessary to include other add-ons as part of the original intention. Whatever is truly necessary for you to manifest that $1,000,000 will come to you as part of the manifestation itself. So if a noble purpose is necessary for you, you’ll manifest that purpose. If an action plan is needed, that plan will come to you. If better circumstances or opportunities are required, your circumstances will change.

I'm curious what Steve's opinion on I-M will be at the end of this year.

[Acting Like Godot]

I don't understand your point, Frans. Perhaps you didn't read Steve's post closely enough. You quoted this from his 2005 post:

If an action plan is needed, that plan will come to you.

.... it seems entirely consistent with what Steve is saying now.

[Shaden]

Perhaps IM just doesn't work?

The universe is handing me failure after failure after failure and this is NOT what I have been 'focusing my intention' on.

Failure only comes with action. Therefore I am assuming at least some action was taken in the course of your 8 months? If I am incorrect then I do apologize.

Point is he took action (if minimal), he focused positively, he believed it would work to a greater extent then most people in the world and nothing happened... hmmmmmmmmmm perhaps if he took a greater level of action and control over his life the results might be different?

Who knows?

[Colm OReilly]

dave,

I'd agree essentially with what Steve said but consider this:

In The Secret - and I've only watched half of it I'll admit - they talked about people trying,trying trying and the roots of the plant were just about to bust through the surface. But all the person could see was the surface and since nothing was there they said "ah this stuff doesn't work" and then stopped feeding the plant so it died. Did you give up too easily?

Are you stuck in a "how" rather than a "what"? Look at all the things you want, can you add a "so that I can" to them.

For example, is it "I want a car" or is it "I want a car so I can have more freedom." In which case freedom is the feeling, the what, the end result? A car is just one way of delivering that, a "how".

Ironically, for me at least, when I really dwell and connect with that emotion, I get the physical indulgences and all the other hows and more.

Overall your tone seems to convey that you threw yourself into this as a quick fix solution to all your problems. You latched on to this because THIS was the answer. I've seen people do it with other things as well. So essentially you were bringing desperation with you, and more "please God let this work" than "I trust, I just know, this will work" which seems to me to be the way it works.

How much are you focusing on what you already have, and being grateful for that, rather than thinking about how things could be? For example, you have a problem with your landlady. But, you have a roof over your head, unlike literally millions of people. And what's more you have what sounds like an actually nice place (physically, I understand there is associated hassle)

Did you actively back up your intentions with focused action? Or did you go into this with the expectation that these things would somehow magically arrive while you sat passively waiting for them? To do the latter is to corrupt every intention with the silent addendum, "Never mind."

I tend to think that what is up to me, how is up to the universe, and when you're aligned with what you want, the how door opens and all you need to do is walk through it. Like cylon says it takes effort. I found my purpose and destiny, and I'm doing the how now. It takes massive amounts of effort but the rewards are infinite to me. Have I see even a fraction of 1% yet? No! Will I? Definitely.

On that, how much believe did you place in yourself to embrace the I-M and achieve these things? These posts might help you: Stages of Belief & Believing Confidence is Possible (Obviously they're based around confidence but I think they fit in here as well.

I'm probably going to have to write an article to connect the dots between IM and direct action.

I look forward to it Steve.

TheColonel,
I love your Sales Force analogy.

Lots of love,
Colm

[moviestar]

I suggest you drop I-M and read Steve's 'smart' articles. Especially the ones where he describes how he got out of a low in life. That's going to show you the way. You are probably interested in quick solutions and that is why I-M seems so attractive.

[Steve Pavlina]

People too often try to use IM as an excuse to be lazy, as if it's a "fast and easy" way to avoid taking action.

The MDE works via intention + inspired action. A quote from the main MDE page:

"And when a new opportunity comes to you as a result of this intention, take advantage of it if you feel drawn to action."

I've noticed that if you keep focusing on the intentions, you soon attract the lessons you need to work through -- whatever blocks you from action, such as fear, lack of discipline, laziness, etc. Sometimes people don't recognize these reflections though because they think everything should be fast and easy like marketers tell them, so when a lesson arrives they reject it.

As you work through your blocks, you'll finally begin feeling those calls to action. When you attract an unusual synchronicity, you'll be willing to follow it, even if it means doing some things outside your comfort zone, like starting up a conversation with a stranger.

Sitting on the couch all day wishing your problems away isn't IM -- that's just wimpiness, cowardice, disguised fear.

Personally the MDE has had a huge effect on me. I haven't updated my official results in a while, but they're probably over $100K by now. Seems a bit odd for a website that has no direct sales, no products of its own, no customers, and no employees. And I still haven't spent a dime on marketing.

The ongoing path to $1M now seems fairly doable -- I have several practical ways to get there. But I'm open to twists and turns along the way as the MDE keeps bringing me unexpected opportunities.

The real benefit of this experiment isn't the money but the lessons I attracted that have been helping me change my thinking and my beliefs.

[Cron]

I mean no offense to anyone but I remember as a teenager buying grapefruit pills from a GNC ( vitamin and supplement store ).

There was a claim that something in grapefruits helped people lose weight, hence the grapefruit pills.

The directions said the pills would be most effective if combined with a sensible diet plan and exercise.

I thought this was funny as a sensible diet plan and exercise do not need to be combined with grapefruit pills.

Could it be that the real power in combining I-M with action is really the action?

Could it be that I-M helps by creating inspiration, motivation, and confidence?

[Frans]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

I don't understand your point, Frans. Perhaps you didn't read Steve's post closely enough. You quoted this from his 2005 post:

.... it seems entirely consistent with what Steve is saying now.

I'll explain:
The 2005 article suggests that you don't need to worry about an action plan ("it will come to you"), while he now says that you need to "actively back up your intentions with focused action".
To me, there's a world of difference between these two statements.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Frans

I'll explain:
The 2005 article suggests that you don't need to worry about an action plan ("it will come to you"), while he now says that you need to "actively back up your intentions with focused action".
To me, there's a world of difference between these two statements.

So, let me see, over the course of time you never refine your actions, theories or development to get the most out of it? Have you been piloting your life on the same course of action for the last five years with no adjustments to your goal, or to the how in which you go about it? You dont try things, change them and see if it works better?

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Cron

I mean no offense to anyone but I remember as a teenager buying grapefruit pills from a GNC ( vitamin and supplement store ).

There was a claim that something in grapefruits helped people lose weight, hence the grapefruit pills.

The directions said the pills would be most effective if combined with a sensible diet plan and exercise.

I thought this was funny as a sensible diet plan and exercise do not need to be combined with grapefruit pills.

Could it be that the real power in combining I-M with action is really the action?

Could it be that I-M helps by creating inspiration, motivation, and confidence?

Regardless of whether or not I-M works, if it has such a positive effect on those who use it, I wouldn't consider it a bad thing. Think of it kind of like a "lie of success" -- if it's having a net positive effect and actually improving peoples' ability to function within reality, all the better.

And besides, if something is acting as a catalyst for positive results, there must be some truth to it somewhere. It may be more effective to harness that effectiveness -- that truth -- and do away what isn’t needed, but if the appeal of I-M acts as a vehicle to provide those who use it with that effectiveness, I’d say it’s working just fine.

[Bruce Achterberg]

Originally Posted by Frans

I'll explain:
The 2005 article suggests that you don't need to worry about an action plan ("it will come to you"), while he now says that you need to "actively back up your intentions with focused action".
To me, there's a world of difference between these two statements.

I'll let Steve speak for himself, but personally I think there's a difference between an "action plan" and "focused action" in relation to intention manifestation, the Law of Attraction, etc. The former relies on some sort of understanding of how you are going to do something (the part that Steve suggests "will come to you"), while the latter can (and sometimes must) be completely spontaneous and key to jumping on that awesome opportunity that just came to you (sometimes seemingly) out of no where (the part that you need to "back up" with "focused action").

And Frans, here's a quote from one of Steve's articles that you may find useful:

Expect change. Since I pursue growth with intense passion and energy, and since I do so in a hands-on experiential manner, I undergo shifts which often alter my personality and my writing style [and beliefs, methodologies, etc.]. And that’s only been increasing since I’ve turned this pursuit into a new career (if that term even applies). If you get too attached to your model of who you think I am, you’ll only be disappointed and frustrated with me when I fail to live up to your labels. But if you really like labels, “slippery beast” is pretty accurate.

[Cron]

Hey Bruce.

I think the truth is always preferable......and for practical reasons.

If you know why something works you can use that knowledge to make it and other things work better.

If you know why something does not work, you can stop investing your time, energy, and money in a dead end.

If I know it is the exercise and a reasonable diet trimming the fat off of me I can better use my grapefruit pill money towards paying for a gym membership.

[Adam]

At its very worst, I see I-M as a placebo, just like that grapefruit pill was for many people when it was a fad.

As a psychological tool (labeled by psychologists as "self-fulfilling prophesy" rather than as I-M) it shows results far greater than as a simple placebo, and does seem to work miracles on the human mind.

If science happens to be using a false assumption about the nature of the universe, and reality is subjective, well, you can follow the train of logic there.

Regardless of whether I-M is a placebo, an extremely effective tool, or the cornerstone of existence, the effect of I-M on nearly everybody who gives it an honest try is positive. Regardless of why, it is effective. Psychology actually sums it up pretty well, and therapists use "self-fulfilling prophesy" rather liberally to give people the extra push that they need to get out of their ruts and become more successful. They just don't tell you that they're using a simple trick on you, because if you knew that, it might not work as effectively.

In any case, the most effective way for I-M to work is if a person believes that it works absolutely, even creating things that would seem impossible in an objective reality. It works just like the grapefruit pill. A person who believes that a grapefruit pill will make them lose weight will use that as added motivation to also exercise and eat a proper diet, simply because they now believe that they have an extra trick up their sleeves, so this time it actually will work. People just looking for a quick fix will still be disappointed.

If you insist on being entirely objective, do not forget about the power of a placebo.

[Steve Pavlina]

Planning your actions isn't always necessary. I find that with IM, if I need a plan, I'll feel a strong urge to develop one. If I don't need a plan, I can get results by surfing the synchronicities even if I can't clearly see where they're headed. In 2006 I mostly used the latter approach, which seemed riskier at first but was a lot of fun and produced great results.

Responding to an opportunity doesn't require a written plan. You just say yes and let your actions proceed from there. The role of IM is to attract those opportunities in the first place. You still need action, but not necessarily a complete plan, to close them.

The role of a plan is simply to give you more clarity about what to do right now. If you're clear on what to do next, you don't really need a plan... at least not right away.