A couple of week's ago, I was lying in bed incapacitated. For about three days, I couldn't sit. Any computer work required balancing the laptop on my chest (which squeezed my lungs) and stacking books up next to me for a mouse-rest. I was feeling miserable and rather sorry for myself.

What was wrong? In the words of the physiotherapist: "severe lumbar-sacral joint inflammation and muscle spasm". It felt as nasty as it sounds.

But, while I was plastered to the bed, I wondered about this "affliction". My ponderings took me down the following lines:

1. We get what we ask for
   
2. There is no positive without negative

So, let's start with the first:

We get what we ask for

This sounds a bit harsh perhaps, but another way I would phrase it is to say that we manifest. We manifest our thoughts.

This may sound too "Law-of-Attraction-ish" for some of you, but, well, I am frequently amazed at how often events seem to unfold based on the thoughts that are occupying my mind. The subconscious has a phenomenal power when it comes to plotting the course of one's life.

These are the thoughts that I had been having (and having very strongly and frequently):

• I need a break from work
  
• A good rest for me would be to simply huddle up and read
  
• I need some timeout from the laptop
  
• I need some reduced social interaction

What did I get with my backache?

• Three days off work
  
• Bed rest (reading has been the only real activity that I have been able to undertake)
  
• Very limited laptop time purely because it was too uncomfortable and painful.
  
• There is generally not much socializing going on in my bedroom.

I got what I had been thinking about - although not exactly what I wanted or in the manner in which I would have preferred it.

The back pain was quite an effective solution to get what I had been focusing on:

• I've had in my mind the belief that I "can't/shouldn't take leave from work" at the moment - so I had ruled out that option.
  
• I have so much on the go at the moment that involves "the laptop", that to get myself away from it for a decent amount of time is difficult.
  
• Lying in bed all day is not a luxury I would easily afford myself. (I'm still working on the "being kind to yourself").
  
• Avoiding people-interaction is not always an easy thing to do.

According to the Law of Attraction, you need to be specific in "what you ask for", but, I think the catch is that you can't always cater for everything, which brings me to my second point:

There is no positive without negative

I find this very difficult to accept. I simply don't like the idea of every positive dragging along a negative behind it - although, when it comes to negatives, I won't complain about having some positives with the them ;)

I got everything I wanted, all of the positives, I just had excruciating back pain with it.

So,

Could I have caused a different outcome? What could I do in future?

I think I need to be more proactive in taking charge of my life and my wants and needs i.e. take responsibility and, in this case, arranged some time off. If I know what I need, I should either act on it, or decide not to act on it, and LEAVE IT AT THAT. No more thoughts on it. The thoughts just bring it about eventually - and not necessarily in the way one wants. And, of course, ensure my thoughts are (to as great an extent as is possible) positive.

That won't make my life perfect, but it will mean that I have more say in it. And that, I feel, will bring me more peace and happiness.

Have there been times where you have witnessed your thoughts playing out in your life? Have you noticed negatives tagging along with the positives? What are your solutions?

Check these out too:
A successful method to turnaround negative feelings
What Are The Signs That You Need A Break?
What Are You Denying Yourself?
Why we sometimes resist changing the way we are feeling

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	Daphne 2/22/2009 3:32:00 AM
	Wow Juliet. That's quite a story! First of all I hope you're recovering well and quickly. It really is scary how we bring about what we think about. I know that in the past I have expected the worst to happen in relationships and it did! Good food for thought here, and thanks for the personal example which really makes me want to be careful of my thoughts now.
	Lance 2/22/2009 3:59:21 AM
	Hi Juliet, Just reading that big long word was painful - glad you're feeling better now! I do think that our thoughts can manifest themselves, and I think that part of that is because if it's in our thoughts - we're more likely to be making "it" happen. In your case, I'm not sure? It is definitely an interesting thought - and one I want to bounce around in my head a bit more. I guess - in a small way - I've had negative thoughts - when I'm running late to get somewhere - about the slow driver in front of me or that the lights always seem to be red. And it's on these days - when the negative thoughts are the greatest - that I seem to attract more of the same - slow drivers, red lights, etc. Is there something to this? I don't know - maybe? I'm going to try to think much more positively the next time it happens and just see how things flow. Interesting concept...
	Julie 2/22/2009 6:46:15 AM
	Hi, Juliet. What a beautiful example (sorry) of the Law of Attraction! You've explained it so well. Once we start seeing these causes and effects, it's so easy to see all manner of them in every aspect of our lives. It's so empowering! We can catch ourselves starting to create something we really don't want... ;) About the positive/negative. I see it a little differently. That there isn't a negative inherent in each positive, only that for every positive there also is a negative. Rather, for every one way there is an exact opposite way. Sadness/joy, love/hate, activity/inactivity, passive/aggressive, day/night... And that the purpose is simply that we cannot fully know and understand one without also knowing the other. We can't know what happiness is unless we know what sadness is. We can't know the qualities of sadness unless we know what happiness is. And... in every moment we get to choose which opposite (or even which degree of opposite) we wish to engage in. I'm glad you're feeling better now! :)
	Amanda Linehan 2/22/2009 8:17:47 AM
	Hi Juliet - I agree with what you said about not taking things into your own hands (actually taking leave from work) so the Universe (or some other force) does it for you! I've often found that I get what I need, even (especially) when I'm not giving it to myself.
	Karl Staib - Work Happy Now 2/22/2009 3:54:25 PM
	Your body was telling you to rest and that's exactly what you did. Good for you. My thoughts play out in my life every day. I just recorded a video post about wearing the underwear that helps you to create the right mindset. When I wear my dark red underwear I feel more confident. Our thoughts create our life and the better we are at adjusting our thoughts to match the situation, the more we can enjoy ourselves in any situation.
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 2/22/2009 10:19:25 PM
	Hi Lance Thank you for the well wishes. I'm glad you going to give it some thought. I also feel that emotional issues can express themselves physically, so I don't rule out some of those factors here. Hi Julie I like your explanation of positive and negative and that they are not so directly linked. Sometime I'd like to hear more of your thoughts on choosing which opposite we wish to experience. Yes, it's good to be moving again! Hi Amanda It's good to notice these things. Sometimes I think one can be so caught up in life that we are completely unaware.until they "hit" us that is. Hi Karl I like the way you have expressed the concept. I'll take a look - at your post, not your dark red underwear I assume ;) Cheers everyone, Juliet
	J.D. Meier 2/23/2009 10:19:48 AM
	I think it's about always making the most of any situation. I think the other key is keeping a buffer in our lives for the unexpected. Unexpected happens. Anything from downtime to traffic to the printer won't print. A little buffer helps us roll with the punches. A buffer can be time or a reserve of energy or just not filling our plates until they overfloweth.
	Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK 2/23/2009 8:09:16 PM
	That's so true, sometimes I'd feel I don't want to go to work and then I'd be having this headache that would allow me to go on sick leave :-) Good excuse but not so good a way to spend my day away from work, haha. I hope you're feeling better today. By the way, I've added you in my Blogroll so I could keep in touch
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 2/23/2009 9:56:14 PM
	Hi JD That is a good idea about the buffer. It is not something I cater for. I shall think about it. Hi Jocelyn Ah, the emotional and physical side of us working together - not always for the best I'm afraid ;) Thanks for the addition. Cheers Juliet
	Tess The Bold Life 2/24/2009 7:26:19 AM
	When I sense my negative thoughts are running my life one thing I've learned to use is "affirmation saturation." I do this at least 3 times per day. This allows me to shift into another way of thinking. Nothing is worth me losing my joy.
	Mark 2/24/2009 12:21:53 PM
	I am there everyday! My thoughts continuosly play out into a manifestation of sorts. I am very careful what I think about and what I wish for. I am also very aware when other people wish for things without thinking about what they are asking for. We do have to be very specific when we ask for something. The Universe does not judge what we ask for and often times as in your bad back, deliver what we ask for in a manner that we would have not asked for. I am not a believer in complete duality. I don't believe that there is a negative carried with every positive. In the end, is there really a difference or is it only a difference in our perception. Great post, thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts.
	Chris Edgar | Purpose Power Coaching 2/24/2009 4:30:52 PM
	Thanks for this post. One way I've noticed my thoughts playing out in my own life has been the way I've tended to believe "life is a struggle -- you've got to fight for every inch of ground." And so it's been true that to achieve everything I've done in life, it's been a long, hard battle. Sometimes I wonder if I could make it easier by making it okay for myself to effortlessly get what I'm seeking.
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 2/24/2009 9:47:06 PM
	Hi Tess That's a really good strategy. Needs some drumming in in the first place. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative that affirmations slip away into the distance. Thanks for the tip! Hi Mark I agree about the perception. I would too like to hear your thoughts on duality, especially the "balance" aspect. Hi Chris I think that in our society the typical mindset is one of that you have to work hard to achieve. It's difficult to break out of that. Cheers all, Juliet
	Believe Achieve - Hugo and Roxanne 2/26/2009 5:28:21 PM
	Hi Juliet, I hope you're doing better. Sending much healing Energy your way. My thoughts are always playing out in my life. For the most part, they always result in the Positive. But, I recently manifested a thought that I didn't mean to intend. The other morning, I set my tall thermos mug filled with coffee on the dining table, next to my laptop as I always do. I had a thought that in the event the cup of coffee spilled, it wouldn't be so great. So, I moved it farther away from the laptop towards the center of the table. Later, that morning, our son reached across the table for a banana inside our fruit basket and accidently knocked over my cup of coffee. There was enough coffee still left in the mug to spill over to my paperwork and laptop. I rushed over and saved the laptop but my paperwork was drenched. Most people would be upset, but I couldn't help but laugh. I knew my thought caused the event. You should of seen the confused look on our son's face. Priceless! :-) It was great reminder to be more aware of my thoughts. I got a good laugh, my laptop still works, my paperwork redone and our son enjoyed his banana. :-) Many Blessings..... Roxanne ~ Believe Achieve
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 2/26/2009 6:24:04 PM
	Hi Roxanne Glad you could laugh! I remember once, many years ago, dropping the milk and it sprawled over the whole kitchen floor. I was very stressed at the time and it felt like the last straw. I actually started to cry and my ex couldn't help but say: "no use crying over spilt milk". I had to laugh - although I did want to hit him ;) Juliet
	Believe Achieve - Hugo and Roxanne 3/2/2009 3:01:37 AM
	Hi Juliet, OMGosh! I remember those days! I've had the exact experience. The milk, the crying, my husband thinking I was being silly...except, back then I don't remember laughing about it. lol Those days are long gone. I get a good laugh now! Thanks for sharing your experience. We truly are never alone, are we? :-) Many Blessings.... Roxanne ~ Believe Achieve
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 3/2/2009 10:28:34 PM
	Hi Roxanne And not being alone, really helps to put all of these "big issues" into perspective. Juliet
	Chelsea Elm 3/4/2009 10:42:50 AM
	A very good point made about expecting every positive outcome to carry a negative baggage. I don't beilive its true at all, the same way I don't like the saying "Its too good to be true" because guess what I've got it and its true:-)
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 3/4/2009 11:50:51 PM
	Hi Chelsea I agree: focus on the positive and, especially if you have it! Juliet
	Carla 3/5/2009 4:11:52 PM
	Be careful what you wish for. I think in my situation, I have always wanted extended time off work and now I have to take a six week disability - more if my doctor doesn't feel I'm ready to go back. I haven't had that much time off aside from stressful unemployment since I started working. I guess I should have wished for time off work spending time in Paris, Prague, etc, not on EDD and FMLA. This is a great example of the LoA at work. I hope you are recovering nicely!
	LifeMadeGreat | Juliet 3/6/2009 1:07:50 AM
	Hi Carla Oh, dear, so you have "done" the same thing. It sounds much worse though. I hope you recover quickly. Juliet