In childhood and adolescence, we are full of possibilities for our future. Our minds are open and receptive to ideas. Our innocence allows us to believe that anything is possible. Children are like sponges, they soak up the environment around them. They also soak up beliefs and emotions from those responsible for their care and wellbeing. A sensitive child is particularly vulnerable to the feelings of others. The child unconsciously absorbs fears, beliefs and objectives of others as their own. As the child progresses to adulthood, this way of thinking is embedded as their belief system. Suppressed feelings, stemming from fear seriously inhibit emotional development. There are many adult children craving love and security that was not available to them in their formative years. Many try to meet emotional needs in a co‑dependent relationship. Relationships are formed out of dependency rather than love.

Through constant affirmations of self‑acceptance, your subconscious receives a clear message and dissolves negative thoughts that clog the mind. Loving messages come into your awareness through your connection to the universal field of awareness.

Initially you may try to hold onto conditioned beliefs preventing your growth and expansion. The conditioned mind clings to old beliefs as a security blanket because it fears change. As you align with the universal field through intention and affirmations, love clears any fear or negativity blocking its path. This can be a difficult phase, but it only worsens if you identify deeply with arising thought patterns. Old mental habits are conditioned beliefs absorbed in your formative years from the world around you. Knowing this allows you to detach from the old mind patterns and see that it is not personal to you.

We come into this world with the ability to create our own life experiences. Depending on your upbringing, you can quickly lose the innocence that allows you to believe anything is possible. You lose your creative purpose and get lost in mental noise and limited thinking. External circumstances in the world around you absorb your attention and set a mould of limitation. The more negative the mind‑set, the more prominent the fear of failure and the need to stick to familiar routines, even if these routines cause stress, unease and unhappiness.

When you liberate your mind, and open your heart to love, you can regain the feeling that anything is possible. Inspiration flows freely to a nature open to receive it. You must lay the ground work to allow the seeds of inspiration to grow and flourish. Conditioned beliefs and limited behaviour patterns choke the progress of inspiring ideas. The world you experience is rooted in your principles and beliefs. Your true nature springs forth from your connection to universal source energy. An open nature and clear mind are fertile ground for inspiration. When feelings of enthusiasm are added to an inspiring idea, the resulting action benefits all. Benefit is the fruit of nature.

Extract from ‘In Quest of Love’ by Collette O’Mahony