By Raphael Angel Aguon

Don’t just long for a better life – create it! Creating a greater abundance of meaningful work, financial resources, better health, and deeper love is yours for the asking. Raphael teaches that if you want to live a bigger life - the size of a skyscraper - the deeper must be your foundation. Starting here is the perfect place to begin to dig deep.

You already have a good life but know you are destined for more. This little e-book is a basic primer, a key to unlocking your destiny. It will give you the necessary foundational understanding from which I launch all of my teachings. Life is ever-expanding, calling out for your time and attention. You've been gifted dreams that you know are yours for a reason. Within these pages begins the process of living a full and abundant life. So repeat aloud "YES, I CHOOSE ALL!" and begin the process of welcoming in the abundance.

Whether a 'beginner' or an 'expert':

I was a Professional Religious at one time in my life. As a novice, Theology high school teacher, and graduate student of Theology I felt a call to Catholic Priesthood as a Carmelite Friar. Today, many years later, I still feel like a novice when it comes to prayer and reflection. That being said, whether you are a novice or an expert, when it comes to the following information, I ask that you be open to reading the material (as a humble novice) for kernels of truth that speak to your life. You were somehow drawn to receive this information, so allow it the opportunity to stir and move you into action. When you are the best you can become, the entire world is blessed by your presence. And as a member of our global community, I thank you for your willingness to become more! Read on.

TWELVE CORE BELIEFS

1. THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS

Look around you at the color of the paint on the walls, the style of the light fixture on the ceiling, or the lamp plugged into the wall. Look at your very own hairstyle today. It all began in thought, your thought or someone else’s thought. You gave a thought of how you want to look and feel today with the hairstyle you chose; someone thought to manufacture lighting for a room, your room. And suddenly, with the passing of time, whether minutes or months, it appears: ‘POOF!’ And now it exists today in the material world. Some thoughts last for centuries, like Hebrew Scriptures, the Bible, or the Koran; some simply linger and fade, like, “what’s for dinner?” Wouldn't it be great to have our own chickens? Just a thought.

2. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT COMES ABOUT

You may have heard this said from one personal development guru or another. This is a powerful concept; if you think about it, it helps us realize that our mind and its thoughts are very powerful in its ability to manifest or create. The word ‘manifest’ comes from the Latin word ‘manus’ which means ‘hand.’ So to manifest simply means ‘to bring to hand.’ If you think negative thoughts about a situation or a person, all you see is the negative perspective, even looking for proof that your thoughts are real. I have seen many couples manifest separation and divorce by focusing only on how things ‘aren’t working,’ rather than focusing on ‘what is working.’ I’ve even saved marriages by simply helping clients change their focus to everything that is working, rather than not working. This commitment to pay attention to the positive brings about an increasingly happier relationship. Not too many couples I know ever came together in marriage thinking, “when will we divorce?”

3. WHAT WE FOCUS ON EXPANDS

Another example of the power of thought may be that you want to graduate early, so you start to suddenly see opportunities for classes to advance you quickly. Or you want a new car, let’s say a Tesla. Now suddenly you are seeing every Tesla on the road as you drive along. Funny, they’ve always been there, but now they are entering into your conscious awareness, and you're seeing them more frequently than ever before.

Another example of how our focus expands is likely familiar to all of us. When a child scrapes his or her knee, the child instinctively begins to cry. All that child can think about and feel is the pain. And what does a loving parent or caregiver do? They clean and cover the scrape, reassure them with a hug or a kiss on the boo-boo, and then immediately distract the child’s thoughts to something better like a toy or an ice cream cone. What gets created is that once-again happy child. The Universe wants to do the same for us, inviting us to focus on the goodness surrounding us even in the midst of pain or apparent deprivation. Why? So that we too, like any crying child, can get on with happily living our lives. So pay attention to what you think about while noticing what you’re noticing around you. For the Universe wants to distract you towards a happier existence. Look attentively for the good that you seek.

4. YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

Take a closer look at the word desire. ‘De’ in Latin means ‘from’ or ‘of’; and ‘sire’ means the parent. So, while keeping things simple, I like to teach that our heart’s desire comes to us from the parent. From that which created me, and you. And for those of us with loving supportive parents, whether rich or poor, we know that when a child is hungry, they are fed; or cold, clothed; and when tearful, loved. Also, too, if a child has an interest, talent, or gift in music, they are given music lessons. The same for dance, art, or any sport; they are given opportunities to grow in that interest, gift, or talent. Parents do everything within their power to encourage their children to grow toward their dreams.

Well, how much more will God/The Universe/Source of Life who loved us into existence, do for us? How much more will this supernatural being support us toward the manifestation of our desires and dreams? The very dreams that were placed in us by that which created us in the first place? So begin to speak about your dreams aloud, for they were gifted to you uniquely. Begin to believe they were placed in you for a reason. That reason is for more expression of life, in you and through you. Not just for ourselves, but for the sake of the world around us. These simple thoughts are like little sprouts needing your care and attention.

These twelve core beliefs give you the simple tools needed to help your dreams grow. So get busy. What are you choosing for your beautiful abundant garden of life? Select the seeds you wish to plant, better health, deeper relationships, financial abundance, or anything else you hear bubbling up from within you. Place these dreams in fertile soil, water them, give it support if it needs it, cut away the dead stuff, and believe

they will grow into that which you intend.

5. “I AM 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE”

“What?!” you say. Consider this for a moment. We each make our way into this life by what we inherit of our race, eye color, and even temperament and disposition; but it is what we do with what we have been given that we each become responsible for. I was one of ten children and my father retired as a grade-school janitor, and yet I’ve had a taste of ten careers so far, from an army officer to a restaurant owner, speaker and coach, and many others in between. How did I move from apparent mild-to-moderate deprivation to a life of extreme abundance? Every experience in life brings with it opportunities to respond in one way or another. Choices are made every step of the way, leading us to this moment. Blaming people or circumstances to explain where we are currently only serves to slow our growth.

6. THINK NEW THOUGHTS

What if you did accept 100% responsibility for your life? And what if you decide to make a new choice of how you tell your life stories? And lastly, what if you did set yourself free by forgiving it all, and retelling your stories with gratitude and love? Becoming 100% responsible for this new outlook takes on a lighter, more life-giving expression that you can begin to embrace.

So today I tell the truth about my life story – I had nine playmates. My father taught me the value of working hard (he had three jobs at the same time to support us). We lived in a gated community (an army post) with luxuries of all the food we could eat (from the commissary price break on food), and the finest of clothes (from the Post Exchange, tax-free), dental and medical care was available whenever we needed it (the Army Hospital nearby). My formerly bleak story of having nine siblings, never eating at restaurants or going to movies, and no summer camp or sleepovers sounded pathetic. But the truth is that I was surrounded by love and all our basic needs were always met. So learn to retell the nasty divorce, the untimely death of someone you loved, the job you lost, and instead learn to give voice to the good that also exists. It’s there, I promise. You just have to look.

7. THOUGHTS HAVE ENERGY

Before I ever get angry or annoyed about something, I notice that I have a thought and a feeling of it first. This is usually spawned by someone’s behavior or action toward me or around me. I know you know what I’m talking about. It’s the energy in the feeling of any experience that registers in our consciousness. The feelings are even palpable. Have you ever walked into a room where people are arguing? Or if someone is giving you the silent treatment? You can “cut the tension with a knife.” These lingering thoughts tied to the emotions of anger, hurt, or resentment impact us energetically, with the potential to toss us about like ragdolls. Suffice it to say that my point is made here – thoughts have energy.

Henry Ford, creator of the automobile assembly line said “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right!” If we are to follow this idea we have to admit that we often own and live out of every thought we have, giving them full credence as if it is gospel truth! I often say that what we think becomes the truth for our lives. As smart as we humans “think” we are, we will never be as smart as we need to be if we don’t learn how to be objective observers of our life experiences. In doing this, we can more easily separate our emotions from the experience; for it is the emotion that carries the energy. Being objective allows us to see the experience in a new light. This is where we have an opportunity to insert a new emotion that is less reflexive and more responsive. So we replace contempt or resentment with compassion. If we can look at every experience objectively and with eyes of compassion, we can begin to emit new vibrational energy that can shift us toward a more life-supporting experience. We can then ‘attract’ to us more positive experience which subsumes and transforms anything negative and destructive.

8. “I CAN CHANGE MY LIFE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE”

I learned this idea years ago from Lyn Grabhorn’s book, Excuse Me Your LIfe is Waiting. What she taught made perfect sense. And today her idea is supported by science. She teaches us to crack a smile whenever we want to change our energy. This action of making smile muscles move is activated by motor synapses in the brain. Funny thing that the brain doesn't know the difference between back then and now. But the feeling of happiness is evoked when the muscles get activated, like muscle memory. So when you are feeling discouraged, disgusted, or any negative emotion, simply crack a smile and breathe into it. This will activate what is referred to as The Law of Attraction (LOA).

One goal of this e-book is to introduce you to this law (that is, if you aren’t already familiar with the concept). Smiling may not instantly change the circumstance you are facing in the moment, but it will certainly begin to change the frequency of your energy around it as you move through it toward a more positive outcome. But for this to work, this must be your intention. This is where words like “fake it till you make it” ring true. Or I teach folks to “do it on the outside; eventually, the inside will catch up.” So stand up straight, wear that uncomfortable tie, practice smiling in the mirror and speaking with confidence, and before you know it (with practice) there’s newfound confidence that wasn’t there before. So smile. Practice over and over if you must, but watch what happens and report back.

9. THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IS LIKE THE LAW OF GRAVITY

The Law of Attraction (LOA) is like the law of gravity, it obeys every time. It doesn’t matter if you are a good person or a bad person; if you step off the roof, you will hit the ground every time. Same with LOA; what you put out energetically will come back to you in kind. This is where our common nomenclature teaches us this simple concept: “birds of a feather flock together,” and “misery loves company.” It’s the idea that like attract like. The idea of LOA made it big in American culture back in 2006 when Rhonda Byrne's book, The Secret, hit the market. I have been teaching in the concepts since 2004. I've been told by my mentor, Mary Morrissey, that I am what is referred to as an "Unconscious Competent." This is a person who naturally lives the principles without conscious awareness of it. Now that I've learned the language, I feel confident to teach it.

The Law of Attraction is a New Thought Philosophy. It’s the idea that what we feel about anything in life emits a vibrational frequency that is sent out into the quantum field. That frequency aligns itself with like frequencies, which get interpreted into life experience. Simply stated, it’s the belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person’s life. It is further taught that like any law of the Universe, it obeys every time.

10. “I ATTRACT EVERYTHING”

A bit radical in its ideology, but worth considering. Here are some hard questions: how does a child attract cancer? Or how does someone we love die in a horrible car accident? Did they attract it? It doesn’t sound rational or even fair. My answer – life happens. Admittedly, it is all a bit mysterious, but it’s true. Life happens, and none of us is getting out of here alive. We are all free agents with freewill, living in a world of varying cultures, economies, political structures; some of us are liberal and others more conservative; some patriarchal and still others liberated forward-thinkers. We each inherit our physical characteristics, height, skin color, challenges of moods and addictions, and so on. We exist in a sea of diverse realities, expressions, values, and more. But I go back to the most basic truth about human beings; most people simply want two things: to be happy and healthy. How that looks for each person can be radically different. And as we awkwardly bump into one another trying to get our own needs met, we experience an abrasive action. One that, if I may suggest, polishes us into the beautiful gemstones we were created to be – if we let it. Conflict is never easy or pleasant, but it can sure pull out of us unknown strength, patience, and courage.

This struggle causes us to experience conflict and even pain when one free person drinks too much and causes an accident, for example. Or if someone as a child was sexually abused or physically neglected, carries the scars of this abhorrent treatment, and continues to suffer mental disruptions or physical pain. What then? Or if in the environment where we recklessly squander resources, polluting and destroying entire eco-systems, leaving us with an aftermath of hurt such as cancers, lung disease, auto-immune responses, extinction, climate change, etc. I may not have intentionally attracted the experience or the pain, but I can certainly choose how I respond to it. This is where the gifts we carry in our dreams may have an inherent ability to heal our world and all of the suffering around us.

Radical LOA believers say that, without a doubt, we attract it all. As a Christian, I use a Christian lens to try to understand it. I (like with most things) jump to the punchline and look for redemption. I look to ‘be saved’ from the pain, doubt and worry. How do I do it? I imagine that I am already free and happy, as if the best is already here. Even in scripture, we read “Look first for the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and everything will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) And what that feels like, being in God’s Kingdom, is pure and utter joy! I feel gratitude and a love for life knowing that in my thoughts, I can alter my outlook on life and have hope. And in this joyful demeanor, I attract more joy, abundance, and love.

11. “I AM MORE THAN ANY CONDITION OR CIRCUMSTANCE”

I am not my body; I have a body. I am not my job; I have a job. The real, true me is bundled up in all of my potential. I suggest to people who say they are ‘neither spiritual nor religious’ that they have a part of themselves which is always unfolding, becoming, evolving. And I ask if they have hope for something better. Invariably, people respond, “Sure I want something better!” I ask them to consider that spirit is where hope dwells. It’s that part of ourselves that cannot be fully measured or expressed. It is my hidden potential. It is my connection to the Divine. Call it what you will; just know that naming it doesn’t fully express it completely anyway. But if you’ve ever had an extraordinary experience in life, like a wonderfully magical courtship and marriage, or the birth of a lovely child, you get it when I say it consumes us with awe. Little coincidences, synchronicities, found parking spots, someone calling us out of the blue that we just happened to think about; any and all of these experiences make us know that there is more to this thing called “life” than what we see with our eyes.

12. THINK BIG, IMAGINE BIGGER

Thinking about stuff doesn’t cost anything. I am learning to take the roof off the top of my head (my thinking). I learned this from my younger brother Gerry. I have had, like most folks, constraints that I have historically self-imposed, limiting my ability to think big. But yet God, The Universe, Source Energy (name this however you feel most comfortable with and connected to) wants me to evolve into the very highest being I was created to be. I have had countless life experiences that seem impossible to most but seem to come naturally for me. It was my mother whom I credit for this. She was a stay-at-home mom doing the best she could to raise ten children (it was the 60’s and 70’s). Whenever we asked for any material thing we couldn’t afford, her loving response was always, always, always (did I say always?) “Look first for the kingdom of heaven and everything will be added thereon.” As a child, I immediately felt disappointment, but I was unaware that this bible verse was seeping into my subconscious mind. I am learning today that these words could never be truer.

The times when I’ve said, “I’m in heaven!” were times that were moments of ecstasy, like tasting a delicious morsel of food, holding a sleeping baby in my arms, falling in love for the first time, or experiencing God in the depths of prayer. These moments are expansive, life-altering, and simple invitations to live life more fully. Linger in these moments and appreciate how they cause you to feel open for even more life and more love. And from this feeling space, open your mind and heart to imagine the very best your heart is in search of. Find the courage to think bigger than you’ve ever thought (my heart seeks to serve millions and millions of people around the world to know and understand the love the Universe has for us all).

I imagine BIG! I manifested and owned for 3 years a 95-seat fine dining restaurant and 12-room bed and breakfast. I painted a portrait of a friend out of the blue, never painting a portrait before, and 12 weeks later I had a show of 12 funny portraits in DC, selling 8 of the 12 on the night of the opening reception. I picked up a guitar and in 2 weeks I played my first mass solo, and once sang solo in front of 20,000 people. So I invite you, too, to imagine BIGGER! Believe me when I say fear will show itself, doubt will challenge you, and the temptation to quit will be there; but so too is belief, courage and faith to carry you through.

I continue to imagine that I am invited to speak to the hearts and minds of influencers, spiritual leaders/politicians, large corporations; also too the marginalized to give them hope, and to the weary to lift them up. I am being invited by colleges and universities to speak about human potential and a commitment to our call. I am invited by large companies and businesses to recognize and realize that they are not just professionals in suits, but also souls in suits looking to do good in the world. Our world needs your very best and biggest life. So I invite, challenge, and encourage you to become who you are.

The world needs your brilliance! Where are you being called? My first and middle name is Raphael Angel. I became an Occupational Therapist before I even knew what my name meant. While in the US Army as a Medical Specialist Corp Officer a friend Alice from church told me"Did you know your name means 'God's Healer' or 'the healing of God'? It's as if you had a big target on your back - you didn't have a choice but to do what you do. Good thing you were listening!" Since then I have spent a lifetime of listening having tasted ten careers. Now bringing me and you together, so that you too can live out your destiny. This primer helps to create a mindset of abundance that will set you on a path towards that which has been gifted to you in your heart. What you ask for is here already. So be grateful - and smile.

A Note from the Author

Dear Friend,

I, like every person, have known some measure of suffering and pain. But I also know the fullness of joy and abundance that takes me beyond the stars. An abundance of all good things is here with us now, waiting to be invited in by you. This is what I know as Grace. That which is freely gifted to us, undeservedly, yet always available when we humbly ask.

I pray this bit of information is helpful to your life. Begin to examine your thoughts and your patterns of thought. Seek to change them and align your thoughts, ideas, and feelings with all of the goodness that life has to offer. Honor your traditions of faith, your values, your commitments to the people you love, and your life. Filter this information through the values you hold. Ask questions in the quiet, and know the answers are being revealed to you. The Universe is always speaking to us, wanting more for our lives than we can even yet imagine.

In the meantime, be patient and kind. Be forgiving of everything so that you may be free. And love with all your heart whenever you can, however you can, and whomever you can who needs your love.

During my studies to be a Catholic Priest during my late 20’s, early 30’s while on a retreat, an 80-year-old nun asked me to pray for her. She taught me the simplicity of prayer. After asking for my prayers, she stopped me cold in my tracks, walking together along a narrow path. She stepped in front of me, looking squarely into my eyes, and said, “I know your type. You’re too pious. Just whenever I come to mind simply say, ‘God help her!’ And He will.”

So I end this note to you asking for your prayers. Simply say out loud, “God help him!” And I promise to pray for you too. “God help you!” That the fulfillment of our very best, highest-endeavoring selves becomes real in our world today. You are breaking the soil of a humble life. Can you feel it? You are now on your way to blossoming into that for which you were created.

May you be blessed with a sound body, peace of mind, and a joyful spirit,

Raphael Angel Aguon

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

Raphael Angel Aguon

How to Manifest an Life

Table Of Contents

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

1. THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS

2. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT COMES ABOUT

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

3. WHAT WE FOCUS ON EXPANDS

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

4. YOUR HEART’S DESIRE

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

5. “I AM 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE”

6. THINK NEW THOUGHTS

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

7. THOUGHTS HAVE ENERGY

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

8. “I CAN CHANGE MY LIFE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE”

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

9. THE LAW OF ATTRACTION IS LIKE THE LAW OF GRAVITY

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

10. “I ATTRACT EVERYTHING”

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

11. “I AM MORE THAN ANY CONDITION OR CIRCUMSTANCE”

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

12. THINK BIG, IMAGINE BIGGER

How to Manifest an Abundant Life

How to Manifest an Abundant Life