“Step Zero” to Creating Anything and Everything You Choose
There is no downside, even when it's challenging.
Before I became a mentor to conscious Leaders, I was an engineer in New York City building networks for Silicon Alley startups. I have a master’s degree in computer science from NYU, which still makes some people laugh once they meet my “unapologetically woo” side.
In systems engineering, we used to talk about “Step Zero.”
Step Zero, or Line Zero of code, is the step that comes at the very beginning. It’s the code that comes before “one.” The pre-requisites, the foundational assumptions, the stuff that goes without saying. The thing the entire system must rest on before anything else can work.
We don’t start with one. We start with Zero. Zero is the beginning.
Manifestation has a Step Zero, too. In my experience, almost nobody wants to hear it.
It is THIS:
If you wish to fully develop your Creative Power and Be the One Who visions a thing and then it manifests like clockwork…
… then at some point, you must become willing to take 1000% responsibility for everything your life.
For all of your results until now. For everything that has happened to you – or for you – until now.
And for everything that will happen to you or for you in the future. Including freak accidents, acts of God, and yes, even abusive people and situations.
Responsibility Is About Power
Accepting responsibility for everything that is in your life, past present and future, is not about taking the blame. It is not about overlooking systemic oppression or pretending forces outside of you don’t exist.
Accepting responsibility is about power.
Through giving yourself the gift of 1000% ownership, you consciously restore your greatest power, which is… your power to Choose.
Taking responsibility is about acknowledging that we have a role in everything, even things that happen TO us that were entirely outside of our control.
It’s about taking control of the parts of our lives that we DO have control over, while letting go of trying to control what we don’t.
Without ownership, you are powerless to change a situation.
Dr. Steven Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, put it this way:
When you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other. Therefore, if you decide to take responsibility for your circumstances, you automatically tap into the power to change them.
The flip side is also true. When you don’t accept full ownership for your role and your power to change your circumstances, you are powerless to change your circumstances.
From At Effect to At Cause
When you accept ownership, you accept the fact that you are always at choice, and therefore always at cause.
We are never responsible for what OTHERS do. But when we accept responsibility for what WE do – including how we RESPOND to what happens that we can’t control, we instantly have more choice.
And more choice? That’s a GOOD thing.
Carl Buchheit, one of my mentors in the field of neuro-linguistic programming, puts it this way…
“There is no downside to taking 100% responsibility for your life.”
That stuck with me, because he’s right.
There is no downside in activating your power to choose. There is no downside to owning your role in everything in your life, both conscious and unconscious, because doing so restores your Creative Power.
And if that was the only reason to do it, it’d be enough!
But doesn’t that mean you’re doing it all yourself?
Doesn’t that mean you’re relying solely on you?
Of course not.
Personally, I ask the Goddess for help all the time. If any of us had a nickel for every time a living soul on the planet prayed to God for help, we’d quickly be… overwhelmed with nickels. 😎
Every manifestation is a co-creation. You’re never “doing it all alone,” even if you think you are.
“Doing it all alone” isn’t even possible, let alone preferable.
But accepting full ownership of your choices, conscious and unconscious, is powerful.
Magic is a path of full self-authority. Self-authority is where it’s at.
The Trap of “Have To”
One of the sneakiest places where people trip themselves up in this whole jam is the “Have To”s – especially with mentors, teachers, and those they’ve cast as authority figures.
Elizabeth, do I have to what you’re suggesting?
Do I have to heal this thing?
Do I have to do this practice?
Do I have to take these actions?
If I had a nickel for every time a client has asked me this sort of question… I’d have a lot of nickels. 😎
Of course not!
You’re the freaking magician! You don’t “have to” do anything.
There is no hulking man with a white beard and a thunderbolt standing by to smite you down if you don’t “do” something.
You are always at choice.
And, paradoxically, that’s why your choice matters so much.
The moment you move into “I have to,” you subtly leave Creator Mode and move back into force, obligation, resentment, and external authority.
You hand your power over to the thing, or the person.
Meanwhile, conscious co-creation requires self-authority. The willingness to choose intentionally instead of unconsciously reacting.
This is Step Zero.
Taking 100% ownership of everything in your life restores your power to choose. And if that was the only reason why you did it, that would be enough.
Here’s a simple exercise to get started from my early days as a coach. I used to use it with clients who were new in business and not entirely used to the idea of “100% responsibility, 100% of the time, no exceptions ever.”
AND… even entrepreneurs who have made millions need to re-commit to full ownership from time to time.
This is one way.
1. Think of an outcome you’ve been trying to create in your life, but it hasn’t happened yet.
2. Where are you not taking responsibility? This could be not admitting the truth, being unwilling to take action, allowing yourself to be distracted, etc. (Be in neutrality here, and stay out of beating yourself up or making yourself wrong.)
3. Ask yourself: are you willing to take full responsibility now?
4. What would that look like? What action will be required of you?
5. If you’re ready: make the decision to take 100% responsibility for that area of your life and the outcome(s) you have experienced so far.
6. Commit to taking the actions and by when.
7. Return to this exercise before any major manifestation / co-creation.
Love & magic,
Elizabeth