[learningtogrow]

I just finished reading "Busting Loose from The Money Game" by Robert Scheinfeld. It was an amazing book which just adds one more piece of the puzzle in the "game" of life as he refers to it. His theory is essentially that none of what we perceive to be real is real. Our "expanded self" which I take to be the real me, is laying out our life for us with challenges and events for us to "bust through" each time bringing us closer and closer to peace and a realization that all of it is an illusion. Smoke and mirrors as he likes to say.
My confusion is this and hopefully someone has been through this and shed some light on this issue for me. In the past year or so I've been reading many self help books. Learning all about goal setting, having a plan, the law of attraction, collages with images of what you want, feeling what you want, desiring what you want. Prior to this, I have been an avid outdoors person. My entire 20's and 30's have been spent playing outside and waiting tables at night to "get by" with bills. No real concern for the welfare of others. Just makin myself happy.
Being in my late 30's I've had a shift. Well, mostly my husband had a shift and I've followed suit. We both decided that we finally want more in our lives. We've interpreted that to mean that we want more finances to make our existence easier, but also to donate back to the environment which we cherish so much. We also have made a shift to being more responsible I guess you could say. We want to make a difference.
We've put our recreational lives on hold and spent tons of time learning these "things" that we think will create abundance in our world. I'm learning investing (which isn't really a passion, it's just something I think will help me financially), and my husband is learning graphic design to start a business. We keep saying these are the stepping stones to where we really want to be which is financially free so we can travel and ski and recreate. Now if there weren't any of these obligatory feelings, we might just do that for ourselves. However, we're definitely brainstorming ideas to take our passions (outdoor recreation) and produce value to others. I mean, I get that part. I've always wanted to provide value to others in some way.
However, I think we get frustrated with the path we've chosen sometimes. We sometimes get the message from the books we've read, that things need to be extremely organized. You need to have a plan, desire, and work hard, sacrifice something (Think and Grow Rich) etc.... Brian Tracy's "Maximum Achievement" or even Steve seems to be the planner type A person.
Robert Scheinfeld and Marc Allen (just ordered the cd but haven't heard it yet) seem to have a different approach. Just feel like doing what you love to do and let the rest unfold. I kinda like this idea but think I would feel guilt. From what I understand of Marc Allen he says just visualize what you want and live your life the way you want and "it" will show up. Don't worry about money which ultimately is my bottom line worry if I were to just throw caution to the wind and ski my ass off and not worry about bills. The message I get from Robert Sheinfeld is that's what I should do BECAUSE NOTHING IS REAL including my bank account.
Sorry for the long explanation! I am just wondering which method to take. Should I follow my bliss and not worry about outcomes (play)? Robert Schienfeld and Marc Allen say I can. James Ray says I can't. I "need to take action". I need to be "responsible" and constantly manifest this responsible lifestyle which will produce something of value to others and feel good about that? Sometimes that approach gives me a headache and leaves me feeling frustrated. Help?! There are only so many hours in a day.