You can’t always get what you want … Really?

Is that true?  If we listen to the rest of that chorus line that Mick and the Rolling Stones sing it goes like this:  “…you can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need …”   I have no idea what was in the minds of these rock legends as they generated these words, however we can certainly attach our own meanings to them.  Many years ago I remember listening to Seal in an interview and he said that he didn’t mind what meaning people attributed to his songs, as they would attach their own personal experience to it, so it didn’t really matter what words they were singing.      

Last weekend I attended a Hawaiian Huna Spirituality workshop in Auckland.  For me it was a well-timed ‘nudge’ to remember the important things in life such as connection, attraction, and mindset.  Most importantly for me, it was a reminder to clean up any ‘stinking thinking’ that may have nested in my mind as cleaning up our mindset isn’t a one off job.  For me it’s a bit like housework.  There are daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks which if completed, make our homes clean, comfortable and pleasant to live in.  As a great deal of us live in our minds much of the time, doing our mental housework can help us to keep them functioning at their optimum, and continue to support us in achieving what we want. 

Over the Huna weekend, I also finished reading a book called ‘The Four Agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz which intertwines beautifully with the Huna learnings!  I so LOVE serendipity!

In Hawaiian Huna the Aumakua or the Higher Self (also known as Guardian Angel, The Light, the Sun, Ra, and Parental Spirit) energises whatever we’re creating in our mind.  Therefore if we’re not always getting what we want, it’s a good idea to think about what we’re thinking about.  If we’re thinking of lack, not having enough, needing more and feeling somewhat deprived, judging or criticising of others, then we’re probably going to get more lack, deprivation, judging and criticism.  In NLP we refer to this concept as ‘perception is projection’.  That is, the world that you’re seeing is a reflection of what’s going on inside of you. 

Don Miguel Ruiz reveals the source of our limiting beliefs in his book ‘The Four Agreements’.  They are:

• Be impeccable with your word
• Don’t take anything personally
• Don’t make assumptions
• Always do your best.

When we are judging and criticising others, we are often reflecting a part of ourselves that we don’t like and projecting it onto others.  In this process, we’re also assuming that we know what the other person intends or is thinking, and when we assume it certainly doesn’t help keep us grounded, or support us in getting what we want.  If we avoid making assumptions and do our best as well as clean our minds of words that are not helpful to us, then we have a better opportunity to create what we desire.  

Cleaning up our thinking and taking care with what we articulate will help our higher selves energise that which we aspire to.  I truly believe that we can get whatever we want and it’s all about how we think.  It’s why I love the words that Mick sings … “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need …”