Who's done a 360 and changed their life around?

[ellie]

Just wanting to find out how PD has helped people turn their life around? Has anyone made significant changes in their life for the better?

I need hope - tehe!

[cdn2wheeler]

ummm... not to be pedantic about it, but doesn't a 360 mean you're back where you started?

Perhaps you mean a 180..?

But to the point...

For me personally, determining how one has changed their life can only really be seen in the fullness of time. I see it more as a process than a result which isn't something that can really be measured by a static snapshot.

When we're in the midst of it, I think it may be hard to see how new attitudes and different mind-sets are creating a better life. We humans - silly creatures, aren't we? - tend to have a pretty narrow focus of attention and as such we tend to see little issues as being really big ones.

Let's say, by way of analogy, that you're going for a walk on a beautiful fall day. The sun is shining, the air is crisp, you're with someone you care about, you've got a full belly and all feels right with the world.

But there's a stone in your shoe. Blasted thing digs into your sole every time you take a step. Where do you think your focus is going to be?

It's been said before that what you focus on determines what you miss. So if you're focused on the stone in your shoe and how it's digging into your foot, you'll probably miss all the other good stuff that's happening.

As for myself, I also tend to focus on the stone in the shoe because, well, it's uncomfortable, dammit. But if I give myself permission to look at the larger picture and see where I was compared to where I am now and where I'm going, it gives me heart and confidence. Then when I finally reach down and dig out the stone, I realize that it's not nearly as big as I thought it was. It just felt that way.

[ticktockclok]

Hehe, I was thinking the same thing as cdn2wheeler. 360 would be right back where you started.

But, yeah, I have done a 180. Completely due to understanding and utilizing intention-manifestation/subjective reality.

[ellie]

lol - you are right - te he!!!

All I can do is blame it on typing it late at night, if you want a poor excuse

[Jim11]

you'd probably find a lot more people who have done a 360 anyway.

[ixmatus]

That's funny that it should come up - I just had a funny thought (this is related to LoA).

In essence, aren't the majority of people doing 360's everyday? If your thoughts determine the reality you live then why are so many people caught in seemingly stagnant places? They are doing 360's! Getting dizzy from doing it too I would imagine.

What about that ailment that won't go away that you know your body is fully capable of handling? You're doing 360's!

That is an awesome catch phrase... Stop doing 360's! If life is cyclical though - then even on a grander scale aren't we doing 360's anyways? What is the difference between 360's of old stale thinking patterns and those of forward, expressive, and evolving thought patterns?

Excuse the tangent.

[Lola]

Originally Posted by ellie

Just wanting to find out how PD has helped people turn their life around? Has anyone made significant changes in their life for the better?

I need hope - tehe!

Back on topic!

A little over two years ago, I was still in a marriage with an abuser. (It took me half my life to figure out that it was what it was because he was the mental/emotional type of beater, rather than physical). I was tired, scared, hopeless, overweight, physically ill, completely lacking in self-confidence, clinically depressed, and borderline suicidal. I had begun to buy into his version of me and did not believe I could make it on my own, or that I even had a right to.

I am now single for two years and have lived completely on my own for the first time ever. I am self-supportive. I've lost weight and regained a higher level of physical activity. I've gone back to school (something that was always *impossible* in my marriage). I am happy, peaceful, and engaged in life. I have purpose. I look, act and feel younger, healthier and more alive than I did 10 years ago. I have conquered fears that I once believed would destroy me.

Thanks for starting this thread, ellie! I needed to remind myself how far I've come!

[Parthon]

That's fantastic to hear Lola, it's awesome to hear how well you are doing.

For me it's very much a 180. For the previous 10 years I was drifting in and out of university, didn't really do anything with my time and didn't even have a job. Months would go by where I couldn't remember doing anything at all, I used to go out twice a week to friends places and a busy week was where I went out 3 times. I spent much of my time on the internet or playing computer games which I wouldn't remember the next month. Money was almost nonexistant, spending it on junk food and having nothing to show for it. Looking back it suprises me how okay I was with the whole situation.

Nowadays it's like night and day. I have a full time job during the day for finances, and in my spare time I work on improving myself or towards various endeavours I want to pursue. I'm totally financially responsible to the point where I've just come back from my first overseas holiday in 13 years, fully paid for by myself. I've now got many good friends, I go out at least 5 times a week, sometimes more and enjoy a much more varied life. It's getting to the point where computer games that used to be my life don't even interest me anymore. Life is far more entertaining to spend it zoned out in front of a screen.

All this happened in two years. All it took was one friend believing in me, and me deciding to actually do something about my life situation for a change. I think just being willing to improve, and acting on that will has been the thing that's made all the difference.

The biggest improvement I've gotten though is going from relying on outside circumstances to make me happy, to really being happy from within and sharing that with everyone else. I know that no matter what happens, I can be okay with it and happy with myself no matter what. That's the main thing I've gotten out of Personal Development and I wouldn't give it up for any material posession in the world.

And much Kudos for Steve's awesome site. Without it I think it may have taken another 10 years.

[Lola]

Originally Posted by Parthon

The biggest improvement I've gotten though is going from relying on outside circumstances to make me happy, to really being happy from within and sharing that with everyone else. I know that no matter what happens, I can be okay with it and happy with myself no matter what. That's the main thing I've gotten out of Personal Development and I wouldn't give it up for any material posession in the world.

Yeah - thanks for this reminder. The single most important development in my life the past two years has been learning to take personal responsibility for creating my life. I spent a lot of years being a victim - placing external blame for my misery. That was getting me nowhere fast.

Originally Posted by Parthon

And much Kudos for Steve's awesome site. Without it I think it may have taken another 10 years.

I'll second that. Besides what I've learned from Steve and Erin, I've learned a LOT from the other forum participants - and made some great friends. Thanks guys!

[norbert]

In the past 6 years, I have finished school, worked as an employee for 2 years, turned into a self-employed and am transforming into a business owner and investor. Reached a quite high level in my profession (web development: speaking at conferences and working on a professional tool for the industry) and got into a second area that I love (music production and DJing). Life has challenged me too: I've lost the last living member of my family and my best friend at 21. I moved to a MUCH larger city that better supports my personal goals and I have stretched my comfort zone to not accept low income. I'm 24. The thing is that I'm satisfied with what I get for what I put in but I'm disappointed by what life throws at me sometimes (it's not related to my endeavors to grow although). Now I'm looking for a girlfriend, or, better said, a mate for my strange but exciting life based on self-expression and being a good person.