Life changing decision

[Enlightenment]

Hello fellow postees,

I have a decision to make. I will be perfectly honest and say that I am on the fence, but desparately need a change.

The problem is this: I have planned a trip to LA for part business and part vacation. I will be meeting with a few people who could bring my film project to fruition. But the truth is I cannot afford the trip. I mean, I have the money for it, but I will fall behind in rent if I go. However, my life has been the same for 15 years now, -- always struggling to pay the rent anyway. In truth, I have heard the saying, 'Do what you've been doing and you'll get the same results, change what you are doing and you get different results.' Or a slight variation of that quote.

I would feel so irresponsible going at this point. I am using airplane tickets that I have won, and they expire in May. But I've had a whole year to use them and something has always come up where I 'couldn't' go. So, in a way I feel an urgency to do this because I see that there is always something that needs to be dealt with and this gets put off. I don't want to end up homeless but I'm tired of the same old mediocracy. What should I do to stay in line with my character and values, but to also move towards my goals? Thanks.

[thestral]

I am not you, so I cannot tel you what to do. However, I will tell you what I would do. I would go. Opportunities like this are precious and need to be grasped, and after 15 years of the same life I'd be dying to do anything to change it. This might be the catalyst for change, the opportunity I've been waiting for.

My favorite professor in college always told me that if an idea sounded crazy or stupid, that I was on the right track.

I wish you the best on your decision!

[modern_monk]

Originally Posted by Enlightenment

What should I do to stay in line with my character and values, but to also move towards my goals? Thanks.

I think we should be responsible for our acts. If you feel you are taking too much risks going then stay and check how you feel abou this decision.
Stop strugling and see what haps. Life can be a challenge but not strugling.

Or imagine you go to LA and what happens when you come back.

Imagine three scenarios in LA : optimistic, realistic and pesimistic and after this exercice sleep one night and maybe you will see clearler what to decide.

There is an audio of Bob Proctor on the internet on Decision making. The title is "decision"- may help.

I like very much your nick name

[rene_stpierre]

Timing seems right, you have free tickets that will expire soon, people you want to meet seem to be available ... If you don't go now, you will never go.

If your project does not materialize, you can find a 2nd job for while you get back on time with your rent.

Like someone said, some opportunities only come once in a lifetime.

However, if you do not go, you need to accept this decision and move on with your life, not looking back on what could have been.

René

[JHL]

It would obviously be very frustrating for you to miss this opportunity that could get your film project up and running.

On the other hand losing your home would be more dire than feeling some transient frustration.

Sometimes risk is necessary to move forward, there's nothing wrong with that per se. To reconcile yourself with taking the "road less travelled", you might try playing the 'whats the worst that could happen' game. If you went and didn't get the backing you were hoping for - what is the worst that could happen regarding your living arangements AND are you prepared to deal with that?

If you can make peace with the worst-case scenario and are prepared to take responsibility for that outcome - then you should feel free to go. If however you would sincerely regret it and feel even more frustration and despair that things didnt work out - as well as have to find somewhere new to live, then perhaps this is not the right time.

There are never any certainties in life. It may be this is the one risk you DO need to take. Or not. I feel you have to try weigh up the pro's and con's rationally. But if that doesnt solve it, then you have to turn to your intuition.

Most of all, you must be confident in your ability to deal with any outcome. If you're ready for that, then you're ready for this risk.

[ejamesw]

first and foremost what I would do if I were you is figure out a way to solve the problem of constantly getting behind on rent for the past 15 years. 15 years is an awful long time to have the same problem occur over and over again. I cannot even imagine 15 years of something like that. Once you figure out how to fix that then you will probably be able to think alot more clearly since that has to be a burden on your life.

[C33]

I had the same issue, a few years ago... I had contacted a director I really admired with the intention to work on her movie...
It was in Canada and I lived in L.A at the time. I had to leave for 7 days, pay for the tickets, just to have an interview with the producer. I made it all casual like...oh yeah...I will be in Toronto to check out apartments...maybe we can meet then....But the real reason for me going was to interview for the producer. At that point, they didn t know how they could use me and there was no money.

Everyone told me that I was CRAZY. At the time, I was temping and really not making a lot of money, and I couldn t afford the trip.

I told one of my best friend my problem, and he looked at me like I was crazy! He said: this is an opportunity, go for it! You must take a chance!
My other friends, who had regular jobs and were not creative types thought it indulgent to take a plane for an interview...To make a long story short: I went for it. I put everything on my c.c. I worked on the film and it s what got me in the IMDB!
My life didn t get financially worse or better after I came back from the interview, I used my c.c and paid off the debt little by little. What it gave me was a goal to work towards:being available and able to be on the movie shoot.

You already have the tickets, so I would take this as a sign to go. Pump yourself up to have great things happening in L.A, and maybe something will happen that will solve your financial problems. If you make one step towards your goal, your goal might make one step towards you by being a bit easier to achieve.

[Isis Kali]

Go. Gogogo. For God's sake, please take this opportunity and go.

I'm going to assume that you're living in an apt. It will take them a bit of time to evict, if things come to that, and I'll wager that you can swing them something- even $100- to keep the roof over your head. Don't worry about rent; that will take care of itself.

You have free tickets, support, and an great chance waiting for you when you step off that plane. That's a once-in-a-lifetime chance lined up for you. Take it. You'll have people who are too scared to go out on a limb telling you, "Oh, noes!" They're threatened by courage, and could never imagine being a bit "bad" in order to make their dreams come true.

Do it. Have fun. And make your life start happening!!!!

[trekr5]

Nobody ever died from not paying the rent..accomodation can always be worked out.

Grab the opportunity and run with it. Remember when you take one step towards your goal, your goal takes one step towards you

Good luck!

:-)

[Enlightenment]

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your advice!! You truly have been so helpful!! I have excellent news that just attests to the fact that if you concentrate on your goals things will fall into place for you.
I was just offered an apartment that is bigger and less expensive than the one I'm in now for May 1, the day I come back! I don't need two months rent either, so it seems that money is surprisingly not the issue anymore!
This happened after I went and redeemed the ticket vouchers and booked my hotel in LA. I got a really good rate for the hotel by the way -- half price for a 4 star!
I have also found out that I am eligible for $1,500 CDN grant, which I applied for last week, I should hear the news on that soon.
All in all, you were all right. It reminds me of yet another saying, 'People move out of the way for someone who knows where they are going.' Meaning, one's actions cause favourable events to happen.
I am still a bit nervous, understandably, but at least I don't have as much to worry about, and I can concentrate on the task at hand.
Again, thank you all, and I will keep you updated!

Kindest regards,
Enlightenment

[Shamou]

More power to you Enlightenment

Have the time of you life... and keep us posted... we're rooting for you...

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