What I Learned From Going Bankrupt in My 20s That Proves to Be Immensely Valuable in

[cylon]

DivaLion your story almost gave me chills. I love how it was "gradual". It's so encouraging to read this stuff. I am asking the same sorts of questions of myself right now. "Just a job", I can't take anymore of that.

[Monique7nuns]

Originally Posted by carenkh

You can earn credibility by teaching. Offer free classes at first, or for just a small amount - if what you're offering is of value, word will get out! If it comes from your heart, it will be of value, because how many people do you know who are living completely from their heart? It is unique and special - as are you!

I have a friend who moved to WV. Because she's the alternative, new-age type - rare in that state! - she got asked to teach yoga. She knew next to nothing about yoga, had only taken a few classes herself. But she said, "Yes! If you'll pay for my training." They did; she now teaches several classes a week. Yoga was in her heart, and she knew it. If she had waited to say "yes", it wouldn't have happened for her.

Thanks so much for the encouragement and advice! That is something I hadn't considered. It's great that the opportunity made itself known to your friend. Obviously it was a clear sign for her to move forward with her yoga and teaching. If/When a similar sign presents itself in my life, I will definitely do the same.

[Monique7nuns]

Originally Posted by Dan.Linehan

Monique, I really like your portfolio on 7nuns. Is there a way to order prints? My apartment needs some color!

Hi Dan.. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. I really enjoy taking them even when the bugs are eating me alive! I would love to help you out with your apartment but unfortunately I'm not set up to sell prints. Which is not to say I never will be.

I just always figured the quality wasn't good enough for print, but actually I really don't know. I will look into it and perhaps in the near future they'll be available. It'll be noted at that site.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

Hi Dan.. I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. I really enjoy taking them even when the bugs are eating me alive! I would love to help you out with your apartment but unfortunately I'm not set up to sell prints. Which is not to say I never will be.

I just always figured the quality wasn't good enough for print, but actually I really don't know. I will look into it and perhaps in the near future they'll be available. It'll be noted at that site.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be mean or to sound rude, but just in the last few days I've seen so many examples of people who are being given opportunities by the Universe to follow their dreams and to be paid for it and they keep putting up blocks.

What do you mean "I'm not setup to sell prints"? and "perhaps in the near future"? Did I not just hear someone on here offer to pay you for doing what you love?

You said:

I know there are ways in which I can improve and learn more about photography independently.. I guess I just get stuck when it comes to the actual "making a living" part.

Let me help you with that. Try making your first $1 or $100 by doing what you love, such as your photography. You don't have "selling prints setup"? Who says you have to? Even if you have no clue how to do that, why not offer to sell what you already have... THE DIGITAL PHOTO.

For example, why not say to Dan "Dan, I don't have selling prints setup, but if you are willing to send me $X via paypal (xxxx@xxxxxx.com) I will send you the highest resolution image I have from my camera and you can go to the nearest BestBuy or whatever place prints out pictures in whatever size you want. Just tell me which images you like."

Or even just: "Dan, pick a picture, and PM me how much you'd pay for a hi-res image that I can email to you and you can print it yourself at a local print shop."

In the last few months I've been in situations/conversations where I heard someone say "Yeah, I'm looking to start a business doing Blog design." and the person they were talking to said "Oh really? That's cool, cuz I'm looking for a design for my site." and then the other person said "Yeah... We'll see how it goes..." or something to that effect. It's like...uhh... did the Universe not just put you in front of your first customer? I just wanted to scream "Seal the deal!", "Seal the deal!"

I've been on a Blog that I wanted to put up advertising on, and they have an advertising page which says "I haven't figured out prices yet, but contact me with an offer."

Uhm, are you kidding me?! You spend 2394729374 hours writing content for your Blog, you have advertising spots (filled with non-paying ads at the moment), you even have an advertising page, but no pricing, and no easy way to buy advertising except by "contact me" which is difficult to find as well?

Sorry, I just keep seeing so many people stuck at jobs they hate, wanting to make money doing what they love, yet when opportunity knocks, their fears complicate the process of "making money doing what you love".

I had to say something.

By the way, your pictures are awesome. For two reasons. (1) I really like them and I do think they are good enough to be turned into prints to put on a wall...and (2) Looking at them inspires me to learn how to take pictures outside with my digital SLR and put them up for sale online. I live in an area that's very similar to your pictures, full of greenery and trees and beautiful nature but because I see it every day I kind of take it for granted. Others might really enjoy seeing pictures like that. Of course I'm still a complete noob when it comes to photography, but it is kind of fun and I'm sure I could brighten someone's day with some of my pictures.

Once again, sorry if my post comes off "direct" as I don't know you, but when I read it I just heard a screaming "Seal the deal! Seal the deal!" in my head.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by impaul99

What do you mean "I'm not setup to sell prints"? and "perhaps in the near future"? Did I not just hear someone on here offer to pay you for doing what you love?

<snip>

when I read it I just heard a screaming "Seal the deal! Seal the deal!" in my head.

I was having the same feeling. Like, hey, the universe just served up what you said you wanted on a platter...make it work! (And I too don't mean that to sound harsh, but it's what I instantly felt when I saw the whole "not set up for prints" response). You said it better than I could have, Paul.

[Angela]

Paul, you are so cool.

Speaking of cool, Paul, a few weeks ago I declared the intention of manifesting $3,000 out of the blue and you suggested I think bigger, remember? Well, this morning I received a phone call telling me that there was some additional funds out of my mom's estate (she died eight years ago!) that would be sent to me this week. Guess how much the amount is. On the nose, to the penny.

[Steve Pavlina]

What Paul said.

When the universe knocks with an opportunity, it isn't a good idea to reply, "Sorry, I'm in my PJs. Could you come back later?"

If you do that, the universe will simply say, "I'm outta here. Next!"

The proper response is to answer the door in your PJs.

Memorize this line from Ghostbusters: "The next time someone asks if you're a god, you say YES!"

[DivaLion]

(I'm just Posty McTalksalot today...)

This post is very timely for me. I've been doing some personal retreat work lately because I feel like-- well, it's like Steve said in the article about ranking your job from 1 to 10; if it's an 8 or a 9, it's still just a 1.

That was a big "OW. Yeah...you're right" moment for me.

My whole life has blazed from about a 5 to about an 8.75 in the last two years. But as things stand right now, I think 8.75-9 is about the ceiling of where I can get if I keep on the same way I've been.

I can feel the seeds of a 10 life within me; some of them are even showing signs of sprouting. I feel pretty clear about my mission, after lots of soul searching and especially some recent revelations. I feel a very insistent sense that it's time to get up off the plateau and start living at a 10, and I only feel a *little* fearful about testing my wings.

What I'm struggling with is the medium. I've always thrived best when I had a variety of things to do, and I'm fortunate to be good at a number of things. However, I feel like I've been shallow and broad instead of narrow and deep. And don't get me wrong, I don't regret it-- I tried lots of different things, had lots of very interesting and colorful experiences, and it's allowed me to synthesize knowledge from many different sources in a way I couldn't have done otherwise. I love being a Renaissance person.

But at the same time, "jack of all trades, master of none" hits a bit painfully close to home. It's made me think about whether there's been an element of self-sabotage hiding in amongst my accomplishments, which are more noteworthy for their variety than their mastery. What I mean is, am I running myself ragged trying to do *everything* that interests me, plus keeping on top of all my responsibilities, because it makes me look really accomplished while giving me "no time" to go too far out of my comfort zone with anything?

(answer: Um, YEAH.)

So I find myself wondering, where's the balance? How do I know when I have just enough variety that my days don't feel monotonous (or that I have to give up almost everything I enjoy), yet enough focus/priority on one thing that I'm really able to test my potential?

And on the heels of that, I look at my options and I feel lost. There are several things I really love to do, where doing them would be an end and a reward in and of themselves, and I love them for different reasons. How do I choose one place to start? The one that seems most readily available and has been a more regular part of my life? The one that's built the most momentum lately? The one I've loved since childhood that I only recently re-engaged with? The one that cropped up recently as an unexplored hunger and surprised me? The one that's more of a challenge just to pursue in the first place? I honestly don't think I can say for certain which one would bring the most value to the most people, not at this point.

I know, I could just pick one out of a hat and run with it. And maybe that's as scientific as I should get. But then do I try to carve out a little space for any of the other things, or do I work on taking my energy back from the anxious feeling that maybe I should've chosen door #2, or 3, or 4 instead?

When Steve writes, do what you'd do if you were broke and living under a bridge...well...I can still think of about 5 things I'd do! (I know, you're all playing the world's tiniest violin for me...) I'm okay in theory with doing one now and another later, but even putting the second-guessing aside, I know I'll really miss the others if I don't do them at all. I just don't want to circle back to being too scattered all over again.

Even just writing this I had a new idea for how to make that choice...but am still open to hearing others' wise words, and grateful for the ones I've already seen here!

PS (Thanks, cylon! Glad it had an effect...though as you can see I'm far from done! )

[tekomino]

Originally Posted by DivaLion

How do I choose one place to start? The one that seems most readily available and has been a more regular part of my life? The one that's built the most momentum lately? The one I've loved since childhood that I only recently re-engaged with? The one that cropped up recently as an unexplored hunger and surprised me? The one that's more of a challenge just to pursue in the first place? I honestly don't think I can say for certain which one would bring the most value to the most people, not at this point.

On your thought "which one would bring the most value to the most people": Thats same as starting business. Where you see lot of rich companies in market its a good market with lot of value. Take personal development for example, ton of people doing that, there is obviously market for it.

Which one you should pick? I say pick any of them, but do the best job you can on it. Do really world class quality work. We are happy when we bring good, quality stuff into this world.

To expand on my point that Steve and others disagreed with earlier, if you are interested in personal growth (well many here are not, it seems you are here for entertainment only) give it a good 30 day trial.

Try doing your job, the job you are doing today, well. Do it damn well. Do it world class good. Forget your negativity, drop your preconceptions, try to do quality work. If you can do that for 30 days and be honest about it, let me know how you feel after 30 days.

After thinking about this some more I conclude that we are happy whenever we do quality work. Maybe its what you dream about, but it does not have to be. You know quality work when you see it. You can't fake it. You feel it. So try doing that. Bring quality into your work and see what happens...

Or you can just dream about it. Things in our dreams are always easier to do than real work. When we see things in our dreams we see imaginary work. This picture masks the real work that needs to be done to achieve them. Most give up when they actually try to implement dreams because it just did not look that hard when they dreamed about them. Be ready for it and may force be with you

[Holistic Star]

Fantastic post Steve,

Really helpful. It made me think about things differently. It made me think about how I can turn around some things in my life just by thinking about them differently.

I remember in the early days of the board that someone was slagging you off along the lines of 'you couldn't manage your games business and went bankrupt and now you can only make money from us by telling us how to make money' or some such nonsense.

This post really explained how you turned it around. How your attitude and approach turned around your life. I think your Feeling Blessed post is also really useful in explaining the practical approach you took to doing just that.

Thanks

[Monique7nuns]

Originally Posted by DivaLion

Monique,

First of all, your photos are beautiful!

And two thoughts for you:

There's a photo artist I follow on LiveJournal who posts a photo every day that is for sale. She has some she sells only one print of, and others she'll do however many prints people order. I don't know how much of her living she makes this way, but I've seen a number of "SOLD!" tags on her posts, so she at least sells some of her work. LJ, Flickr/Picasa, and PayPal are all free to set up. I'm just sayin'. =)

Also, if you can get your hands on a copy of Paulo Coelho's novel The Witch of Portobello, I think it'll give you a whole new appreciation for teaching. I was struggling with preparing some workshops I was about to teach when I read that book, and I found myself drifting off the page regularly because my mind had started whirring with new insights and ideas based on what I read. I'll paraphrase one of the most relevant quotes for you: "But how can I teach that? I don't know anything about it." "If you teach only what you already know, then how will you learn anything from it?"

Thanks so much for sharing your story in the later post as well as for the advice. I'm really glad you enjoyed the pics! I am working on letting my insecurities go and focusing on the process of creating the work.

Even though it makes sense, putting my energy into creative outlets was never really encouraged as I grew up. My brother and I did hard manual labor that we both hated for very little in return. In a way I've been doing the same thing with jobs.

I've decided that I'm not to set up an interview for another call center job and it's such a relief.. Perhaps this is the lesson I've missed the last two times it's come up in my life and the reason it keeps coming up.

What Steve was explaining about the freedom (in more ways than one) just being in nature provides it is something I too value a great deal.. a great deal more than wasting my life away in cubicle in the middle of hundreds of other miserable people.

I'll look into the resources you suggested and begin to put more energy into doing what I like to do.. and opening my horizons. Both yours and Steve's stories have been very inspiring.

Take Care!

[Monique7nuns]

Originally Posted by impaul99

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be mean or to sound rude, but just in the last few days I've seen so many examples of people who are being given opportunities by the Universe to follow their dreams and to be paid for it and they keep putting up blocks.

What do you mean "I'm not setup to sell prints"? and "perhaps in the near future"? Did I not just hear someone on here offer to pay you for doing what you love?

Well yeah, yes I'm guilty as charged. I mean, is that what an opportunity from the Universe looks like? Cause in my mind I automatically start thinking 'that guy is just being nice' and 'my shots aren't good enough yet' and 'one day they will be good enough and I will sell them'. All negative-someday stuff.. it's what I'm used to which is not to say that it will always be that way. What you suggest didn't occur to me. My train just isn't on that track..

Originally Posted by impaul99

Let me help you with that. Try making your first $1 or $100 by doing what you love, such as your photography. You don't have "selling prints setup"? Who says you have to? Even if you have no clue how to do that, why not offer to sell what you already have... THE DIGITAL PHOTO.

For example, why not say to Dan "Dan, I don't have selling prints setup, but if you are willing to send me $X via paypal (xxxx@xxxxxx.com) I will send you the highest resolution image I have from my camera and you can go to the nearest BestBuy or whatever place prints out pictures in whatever size you want. Just tell me which images you like."

Or even just: "Dan, pick a picture, and PM me how much you'd pay for a hi-res image that I can email to you and you can print it yourself at a local print shop."

In the last few months I've been in situations/conversations where I heard someone say "Yeah, I'm looking to start a business doing Blog design." and the person they were talking to said "Oh really? That's cool, cuz I'm looking for a design for my site." and then the other person said "Yeah... We'll see how it goes..." or something to that effect. It's like...uhh... did the Universe not just put you in front of your first customer? I just wanted to scream "Seal the deal!", "Seal the deal!"

I've been on a Blog that I wanted to put up advertising on, and they have an advertising page which says "I haven't figured out prices yet, but contact me with an offer."

Uhm, are you kidding me?! You spend 2394729374 hours writing content for your Blog, you have advertising spots (filled with non-paying ads at the moment), you even have an advertising page, but no pricing, and no easy way to buy advertising except by "contact me" which is difficult to find as well?

Sorry, I just keep seeing so many people stuck at jobs they hate, wanting to make money doing what they love, yet when opportunity knocks, their fears complicate the process of "making money doing what you love".

I had to say something.

No, that's cool I understand .

Originally Posted by impaul99

By the way, your pictures are awesome. For two reasons. (1) I really like them and I do think they are good enough to be turned into prints to put on a wall...and (2) Looking at them inspires me to learn how to take pictures outside with my digital SLR and put them up for sale online. I live in an area that's very similar to your pictures, full of greenery and trees and beautiful nature but because I see it every day I kind of take it for granted. Others might really enjoy seeing pictures like that. Of course I'm still a complete noob when it comes to photography, but it is kind of fun and I'm sure I could brighten someone's day with some of my pictures.

Once again, sorry if my post comes off "direct" as I don't know you, but when I read it I just heard a screaming "Seal the deal! Seal the deal!" in my head.

Thanks Paul I really appreciate it. As I'm about to type this I have a strong feeling it will sound like an excuse - but I'm honestly not used recognizing opportunities or I guess even feeling like I'm worthy. I mean.. I'm happily shocked that so many people here are chiming in with advice. Usually whenever I try to participate in online discussions where I've never been before I'm ignored and I end up thinking it's something I'm doing wrong.

Clearly experiencing abundance is a mind set that I am predictably (based on my blues story I first posted) not familiar with. Perhaps there is a way to help others get out with their cameras more.. perhaps viewing the world through a camera lens can open some eyes to what is so easy to take for granted.. there may very well be a need or demand for a 'source photography' workshop. You've got me to thinking about it.

Dan.Linehan: If you are still paying attention and interested in a print, please PM me and let's figure something out.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

Dan.Linehan: If you are still paying attention and interested in a print, please PM me and let's figure something out.

Yay! Monique, did you see that Steve's most recent blog article is right up your (and my) alley? Abundance Alley, that is!

[kumargh2]

Originally Posted by tekomino

On your thought "which one would bring the most value to the most people": Thats same as starting business. Where you see lot of rich companies in market its a good market with lot of value. Take personal development for example, ton of people doing that, there is obviously market for it.

Which one you should pick? I say pick any of them, but do the best job you can on it. Do really world class quality work. We are happy when we bring good, quality stuff into this world.

To expand on my point that Steve and others disagreed with earlier, if you are interested in personal growth (well many here are not, it seems you are here for entertainment only) give it a good 30 day trial.

Try doing your job, the job you are doing today, well. Do it damn well. Do it world class good. Forget your negativity, drop your preconceptions, try to do quality work. If you can do that for 30 days and be honest about it, let me know how you feel after 30 days.

After thinking about this some more I conclude that we are happy whenever we do quality work. Maybe its what you dream about, but it does not have to be. You know quality work when you see it. You can't fake it. You feel it. So try doing that. Bring quality into your work and see what happens...

Or you can just dream about it. Things in our dreams are always easier to do than real work. When we see things in our dreams we see imaginary work. This picture masks the real work that needs to be done to achieve them. Most give up when they actually try to implement dreams because it just did not look that hard when they dreamed about them. Be ready for it and may force be with you

You are right. I second your opinion. It happened to me in many cases. If we try to improve the aspect of our work without negative preconceptions, after some time we will start to like the work. I know most of you wouldn't agree with me.

[Wreck]

Originally Posted by impaul99

"Seal the deal!", "Seal the deal!"

Awesome post, Paul.

Originally Posted by Wreck

"If you were broke, bankrupt, and homeless and couldn’t spend any money, what activities would give you the most joy?"

How would one go about finding the answer to this question?

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Podcast #20 explains why skills/talents are the wrong place to start... and why it's best to start with your desires.

I went back and listened to the podcast several times over the last few days. I was misunderstanding the medium for the actual expression.

I agree with what many of you said regarding this blog post on two points:

1) The timing of this post, for me, couldn't have been better.

2) It's the best post I've read on here in a while.

Regarding some things I've been going through this summer (what the universe has been trying to teach me and I've been resisting), this post really spoke to me and has me pointed in the right direction.

[kumargh2]

I love this article not because of the quote "Do what you like". If we think different perspective, it tells the steve's courage at odd times. Getting back the complete control at the tough time is the real factor to distinguish the real winner. That too giving the best at tough time is awesome.
Perhaps the most important lesson is that money and business/career success are side effects of expressing your creativity.

I too accept the following quote.
"Perhaps the most important lesson is that money and business/career success are side effects of expressing your creativity."

Only thing I disagree is "Do what you love". With proper mindset or proper references, we can love most of the things in the earth. But if we want to go the Flow state, obviously we should have the proper skill set.


This is really wonderful article.

[KeithHandy]

Originally Posted by kumargh2

I love this article not because of the quote "Do what you like". (...)

Only thing I disagree is "Do what you love". With proper mindset or proper references, we can love most of the things in the earth. But if we want to go the Flow state, obviously we should have the proper skill set.

I'm not sure why we keep getting recurring comments along this line. Love is the fuel that makes it possible to acquire the skill set. Why would somebody be resistant to that?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by KeithHandy

I'm not sure why we keep getting recurring comments along this line. Love is the fuel that makes it possible to acquire the skill set. Why would somebody be resistant to that?

Hey, KeithHandy, I think it's often procrastination -- Someday Thinking. "As soon as I get the proper skills....find the right lover... figure out what massive action to take... lose 10 pounds.... THEN I will be ready to love my life." Why wait? Well, because it's scary -- I'd have to let go. I would have to Be Accepting. Yikes!

I recognize that you were asking a rhetorical question, and you probably recognize that I'm talking to myself. Thanks for the great timing of your post.

[KeithHandy]

Originally Posted by Angela

I recognize that you were asking a rhetorical question, and you probably recognize that I'm talking to myself.

And I recognize that you recognize I would recognize that.

[Monique7nuns]

..manifesting more of the same..

No word from "Dan" about pictures.
No job offers after any of the recent job interviews.
The people to whom I offered to do a free website for declined.
A personal loan is half of what I was originally offered and it isn't enough. I'm coming up way short again.
The person who expressed their moral support a few weeks ago reneged and I'm back on their 'looser' list.


Anyone know of a good exorcist looking to do a little pro-bono work? Please IM me ASAP.

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

No word from "Dan" about pictures.
No job offers after any of the recent job interviews.
The people to whom I offered to do a free website for declined.
A personal loan is half of what I was originally offered and it isn't enough. I'm coming up way short again.
The person who expressed their moral support a few weeks ago reneged and I'm back on their 'looser' list.

It's supposed to happen precisely this way.

The universe is testing you to see if you're serious and committed. Are you going to follow a new path or stick with the old one? Will you choose comfort or courage?

You're in charge of what you create. Will you create something new or settle for what you're already getting?

The universe gave you your alpha reflection. It's up to you to take action now... not to wait around for something to happen. No one is coming to save you. If you expect to fail, you most certainly will.

The question is whether you're ready to lift yourself up to a new level. If you can't demonstrate that you're ready to do that -- regardless of external circumstances -- you won't be capable of holding onto any of those new gains either.

To me your words signal resignation and failure, not excitement and commitment. If you keep doing this, new opportunities won't present themselves. You're broadcasting that you aren't ready for that kind of change yet. People who are ready to change simply don't communicate the way you do.

If you seriously want a new direction, prove it.

[tekomino]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

No word from "Dan" about pictures.
No job offers after any of the recent job interviews.
The people to whom I offered to do a free website for declined.
A personal loan is half of what I was originally offered and it isn't enough. I'm coming up way short again.
The person who expressed their moral support a few weeks ago reneged and I'm back on their 'looser' list.

Listen, universe doesn't care about you or other 6.6 billion of people on this planet. You can try to manifest till your eyes pop out. If that worked all those poor kids in Africa and elsewhere wouldn't be dying every single day. Forget it! Wake up!

What you do and how well you do it results in what you get back. The better you do anything the more valuable you are.

Job interviews did not go well? Did you call back to see why and eliminate or minimize that cause from your future ones? You have to fine tune your interviewing skills and read the interviewers to know how to respond and present yourself. That means gathering feedback afterward to see what went wrong and how to improve next time. There is always next interview, but if you always interview the same your results will be always the same.

You know, definition of insanity is keep on doing exactly the same thing and expecting different result. You need to change approach if things are not working...

You've got a decline for doing free web site for someone? Big deal, their loss, offer it again and again elsewhere after you get what you want.

Focusing on what you do not want gets you that. Did you as kid when learning to ride bike go into the ditch becouse you focused on not getting into the ditch? Yep, see that's what you are doing. You must take control of what you are focusing on and thinking about and you must take action.

Its rough and we do not all start from same line in life, but in every single one of us there is a seed for greatness. You too! Don't let that seed rotten!

[Angela]

I think it's pretty difficult to instill and maintain change in your life if you're doing it way down on the "Doing" (behavior) level. I think it's more effective if you move up the scale from trying to change what you're doing to making changes in who you are being, and what you value.

On the one hand, you think you value financial or artistic success, and on the other hand, you also value the payoff you get from not having financial or artistic success. The latter may be less clear to you, but it's there, and it's keeping you stuck. You might want to look closely at what you're subconsciously committed to, because just seeing it clearly can free you of its power over you.

Even easier, I believe, is to change your way of being, which is another way of saying what Steve said -- being resigned and being failure are not really having the effect you want, are they? Being excited and committed might seem like too much of a leap from your current way of being, but if you can get yourself thinking thoughts that have you feeling a little better, you can get yourself into an upward spiral, and if you keep deliberately thinking thoughts that feel good when you think them, you can actually get yourself to excitement and joy. I recommend "The Astonishing Power of Emotions" which has some very practical advice for doing that.

And by the way, the Universe does care about you. I know, because I am the Universe, and I certainly care about you.

[Ari Koinuma]

Originally Posted by Monique7nuns

..manifesting more of the same..

No word from "Dan" about pictures.
No job offers after any of the recent job interviews.
The people to whom I offered to do a free website for declined.
A personal loan is half of what I was originally offered and it isn't enough. I'm coming up way short again.
The person who expressed their moral support a few weeks ago reneged and I'm back on their 'looser' list.


Anyone know of a good exorcist looking to do a little pro-bono work? Please IM me ASAP.

Monique,

1) Did you PM Dan? Just a line at the end of your long post may easily be overlooked. How do you know he didn't leave on a vacation?

2) What is happening to you today is a result of who you WERE. Change takes time to settle down and start showing effects. Did you see Steve's post on how intentions manifest?

How Intentions Manifest

I am reading James Arthur Ray's Harmonic Wealth -- and he says pretty much the same thing.

3) Every mistake, failure, painful experience is an opportunity. They scream "learn from me!" If you keep creating same kind of "negative" experience, that means you are not seeing something that you are supposed to get from it. And it'll continue to happen until you do.

Two thoughts that helped me through tough times.

What didn't happen yesterday, can still happen today. It's wrong to assume that future will be the same as the past. We are not god, we can't see our future. If you are waiting for something positive, and if it didn't happen yesterday, or the day before, or however many years -- it still doesn't mean that it won't happen today or tomorrow.

Quitting is the only sure way to lose. Take a break, sure, but don't give up on something very dear to your soul. It doesn't matter if you're making no progress or regressing. If you believe in something, don't let any outside force or events talk you into quitting. As long as you stay in the game, things can still happen. Change often comes unexpectedly and suddenly.

Here are more posts that may help you -- (mods, please let me know if any links to my own material is illegal)
Our Best Version | The Formula Fails
Our Best Version | Your Ultimate Goal Revealed
Our Best Version | Happy Ending No Matter What Happens
Our Best Version | Starting Is the Hardest Part

It's understandable to be discouraged. But don't give up!

ari

[Hyperchiller]

Hey kumargh

I would like to really know what are you referring to when you say the 'proper mindset or proper references we can love most of the things in the earth.'

Thank you tekomino and kumargh for some good advice.

[Monique7nuns]

Wow.. you people are amazing. I don't know how to thank you for so much advice and words of encouragement.. as if you all are messenger-angels from the universe trying to help guide me, trying to help me turn this around.

It so frustrating when there is nothing more I'd like to do than change and it seems as if I am trying so hard to only get the same result.. it IS insanity. An insane cycle of karma.. the way it's "supposed" to be. It makes me wanna scream, go eat more crap processed sugar foods, go spend more money that I don't have and retreat into a movie marathon. All these compulsions feel so strong.

I'd just like to take my head off and screw it back on straight. Then I'd fall into a very deep, restful sleep for about 3 solid hours or more and when I wake up the constant pain in my neck would be gone forever right along with all the negative emotional baggage, fear and paralysis. I'd feel energized and alive and my path would be clear. All hesitation to act would be gone and I'd know exactly what I need to do in order to bring about the changes.

You know in the past few weeks I had a remote clearing reiki done, I started listening to Joe Vitale's clearing audio and I started the free Silva Life System including my first alpha system centering audio. I bet a few issues have been getting a jostled around in my sub conscious and are working themselves out, sending me on a roller coaster ride - that's not PMS..

I know I'll get through this.. I've just got too much stuff rattling around in my head. I don't know if it's the right sort of message to send to the universe to let it know I'm ready.. BUT perhaps taking those 3 days completely off as recommended earlier in the week IS the best place to start. No computer, no news.. lots of breathing, reading, relaxing, outdoor exercise, yoga and cooking.

I'll be back on Thursday to reread Steve's series this past week as well as this discussion and see how it feels.

Btw.. this week I unsubscribed from all the other personal development feeds I was reading and decided to just focus on this one. It's the first site I found and a year later, the one I'm going to stick with. Thanks so much Steve and everyone else!

[BlueCrane]

I think I finally get it.

Why does it take so long to sink in?

For years I have been trying to be a businessman. I always 'knew' I wanted to do something commercial and embarked on a career as a manager and then business-owner, with partners. I worked hard - and always had a hard time. It worked, but not the way I had wanted my life to be.

For the last 5 years I have been an independent freelance entrepreneur, initially doing what I had always done : jobs that others needed done, only now I write an invoice instead of collecting a salary at the end of the month. I still work, without the illusion of financial security.

Then my decision to move from South Africa back home to Europe : gradually I lost the jobs I was doing for my clients with a remote internet connection, one after the other.

Panic? No, but anxiety. The old has to go before the new can come in. I know that, right? Still, anxiety.

A lot of soul-searching gradually reveals that I never really wanted to be a businessman. Turns out that my true passions are personal growth, writing, publishing and the internet - I would continue to do these things, no matter whether I had a few millions in the bank or be dead broke; I have, through all these years of anxiety.

I translate famous quotes from English to German and vice versa for fun, can you believe that? And publish them on my websites? I write my own blog on personal growth in German and enjoy the feedback, scant as it is.

Right now I am starting a new project with a genius programmer next door that will enable everyone to have and easily manage his own professional website without any real internet-skills because we'll build them free of charge - something I have battled with on my own for years and now want everyone to enjoy.

All this is where my passion is, that's what I am doing more of every day and that's how I am creating a life for myself.

You're an eye-opener for me, Steve - have been for years : thanks, it's so good to have my own thinking confirmed by yourself and so many people in your forum.

[DivaLion]

Hey Monique (and others who are feeling resonance with where she's at),

I had kind of a breakthrough realization at a point in my life where I thought I'd made a lot of progress in a particular area, only to discover that I had been presented with a situation that I'd gotten into thinking it was one thing, until it revealed itself as yet another manifestation of an old, unhealthy pattern I used to sink a lot of energy into, which had caused me great misery and from which I thought I had broken and moved on. After all, I was *very* conscious that I wanted a newer, healthier situation!

Like yours, my heart sank, and I felt like giving up. "What's the use...obviously this is all I'm ever going to get offered in life, more of the same old crap," etc.

But what I *did* have was that consciousness that I wanted a different situation. I had been down this path before and I knew where it would lead; I knew if I kept following as I had in the past, it would suck up a lot of energy and time, and leave me feeling very unhappy, drained, used, exploited, and bitter.

So this time I changed my response. I chose not to engage with that path and I walked away. It was still a very hard decision and I almost didn't make that choice, because I wanted to hope that I could stay engaged and somehow make it turn out better, because I wanted to believe that the situation was what I originally thought it was, and not what it turned out to be, because walking away still represented a loss that felt painful to me. I grieved a lot over the decision and wondered if I was making a big mistake. I felt like I didn't know what was the right choice anymore.

The breakthrough I referred to came when I was pissing and moaning about how I thought I'd done the work to avoid those situations anymore, yet ended up with another one. Suddenly I realized-- or had it downloaded into my head, perhaps-- that that was the point of the whole thing. I *thought* I'd done that work. But now I'd written a new ending to that kind of story. Now I have reason to *know* I've done work on that area. I was given the exact same situation to test whether I'd fall back on the same old responses and reactions, or whether I'd take what I learned and worked on and try something different.

I wouldn't be surprised if I encounter that kind of situation a few more times, and then maybe once in a great while after that, in order to make me "practice" making better choices in an area that was a major struggle for me, and then just to keep me on my toes. When and if it does, I intend that I will have the keen eye and wisdom to know it!

The path of personal development is an initiatory path, and no serious initiation comes without the need to pass certain tests or overcome certain challenges. Those challenges are *always* going to be the things that are the most insidious and difficult for you personally. They're always going to be the things you've "failed" at in the past, the things most likely to tempt you to stray and to give up and give in, to betray the values you're trying to adopt and the beliefs you're trying to build. They will be your personal demons. "Demon" comes from the Greek "daimon" meaning "guiding/teaching spirit". Your demons are your daimons, the guardians at the gate who challenge you and try to frighten you off in the ways that are most likely to work on you. They don't *really* want you to fail. They want you to meet their challenges and dig deep in yourself to find what you need to succeed at them. And then they'll let you pass and travel further.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. Personal growth feels like going crazy, but really it's going sane. You grow when you're presented with the same situation and realize that you have to do something differently this time.

The things you mentioned about getting reiki and the kind of energy work you've been doing make me think these might be useful to you (I hope, not like I'm personally invested or anything ):

What Is Awakening?
The Shadow Side Of Awakening

Don't give up. You're on the verge of something magnificent.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

If you seriously want a new direction, prove it.

Good stuff, thank you!

[dalante]

JK Rowling (Harry Potter author) gave a speech at Harvard Commencement on the importance of failure in making her who she is today. You can read the speech and see the video on that link: J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement : Harvard Magazine