Building wealth isn't something for the frightened, ignorant, and lost. You have to be emotionally strong, prepared, and standing in the right spot. So many of us fantasize about making more money and call it prayer. We then wonder why the universe isn't delivering our fortunes to us. I can't tell you how many people I've listened to grumble about how they've taken all of the steps to manifest more abundance into their lives and yet it just doesn't seem to be working. As someone on the outside looking in, it seems so obvious why their money hasn't arrived. They are usually sabotaging their own plans and don't even know it. But why? Because they're living in a fantasy and not looking at the reality of what it takes to make your own fortune.

If you ask most people what they would do if they won a million dollars, they've got it all planned out. They can tell you exactly how they'd spend it. A few are wise enough to invest, but most of those don't know who or what they would invest in. Ask someone what they would do to earn a million dollars and you'll seldom get an answer. For most of us, we'd buy a lottery ticket. Almost every other answer you hear will fall under the heading of "I'd like to be paid a million dollars to ___________." You fill in the blank. The thing is how many people are actually doing what it takes to get paid that kind of money for doing whatever they wrote in the blank?

That's the difference between fantasy and reality. There's a big difference between visualizing a nice fat paycheck and actually taking the steps to create it. Creating abundance is not about placing an order and then sitting on the couch. The reality is, it takes a heck of a lot of emotional strength and training, job expertise and quality craftsmanship or service, and being at the right place at the right time. Stating your affirmations is a small but incredibly powerful piece of the mental preparedness, but by no means is it the only step necessary.

The truth is, most of us don't create a million dollars for ourselves because most of us don't want the headache of such a big chore. We subconsciously put up roadblocks and stalling techniques in our path so that we can feel good about making an effort, but don't actually have to do the really big work. One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to come into alignment with what it is that we really do want - not what we've fantasized about wanting.

Sit down and really draw it out on paper. How much money do you really need? How much extra do you want for playtime and frivolousness? Then look at how hard do you want to work to get it? How much free time do you want? How much vacation? The ability to take paid vacation is a form of financial compensation - figure it into your equation. How much fame do you require? How much privacy? The general public is fascinated by wealth, how much of their attention do you want? How much can you tolerate? Do you want your every mistake on the front of the tabloids? How important is your personal freedom? What about the ability to be completely

Once you've got an accurate dream based in your own reality, then look at where you really are today in comparison to where you want to be. How long do you want to take to get from A to B? How hard are you willing to work to get there? What are you willing to give up in order to get there? What are you absolutely never going to give up to get there? Find a balance between these answers and plot your course.

In plotting your course, what steps do you need to take? Do you need to educate yourself? Maybe you need an actual college education or a trade school degree. Maybe you need to educate yourself on how your market works? Maybe you need to learn how to present yourself or how to sell your product? Do you need to move to another town because that's where the industry is centered? Do you need to perfect your craft? Do you need to create a reputation as an expert? Do you have self-defeating habits that must be broken? This is a tough one for most people to answer honestly about themselves. If you need help get it. Change whatever you need to change about yourself. Heal whatever you need to heal. Educate, grow, evolve, and inspire yourself however you need to in order to get to that end goal. Only you can answer what steps you really need to take and how long they will take.

The most important part is that you plot your course from a realistic set of expectations and timelines. Positive affirmations can help keep you on track and can even work a bit of magic to help you to speed the process up a bit here and there, but plan on staying the course however long it takes. It's a commitment that you're making to yourself and to that lifestyle that your money is going to create. Along the way, reward yourself with pieces of the dream. It's not like you have to wait until the entire million dollars is in your bank account before you can suddenly live that millionaire lifestyle that you planned for yourself. Give yourself a piece of the good life each step of the way. It'll help fuel the fires and it'll confirm that the affirmations are coming true.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, and parenting. Her books and articles have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. To read more of her articles, sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, and get free previews of her books go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net