I am finding this course a little overwhelming now. There is so much that I dont understand and I am not sure if what I am doing is right. I am almost making myself sick with worry about money and how the future is going to be. I can't shake that feeling of fear. I hear this tick tocking as I get closer to July when I have to make a big payment, and then August and September. I have a business that I have set up, I have positive moments and negative moments but I cant seem to hold onto the positive and fear always seems to take over. I know what I want to happen and after reading this blog, I am unsure about whether I am doing this in the right way now. I am unsure about the who's, where;s, hows and when. The more I study, the more confusion I have. I am finding that sometimes the discussions get taken to such a level that I get lost. I guess what I am looking for is help on this course but I am unsure how appropriate this is but if there is anyone that could afford the time to take me through some of this stuff and hear me out, I would be incredibly grateful.

For me, the simplest way to avoid overwhelm is to,…

Pay attention to how you’re feeling.

If you’re not feeling good it means you are thinking about something in a way that is going against you getting what you want.

If you’re feeling GOOD – peaceful, calm, at ease, happy, loved, safe, relaxed, empowered, etc. – it means you are thinking about whatever you’re thinking about, in a way that is aligned with you getting what you want.

For me, it's that simple. Since it's this simple for me, I always know, moment to moment, what to do.

Another thing: You need to understand that you create all your feelings. Your feelings are NOT determined by your circumstances, or what others do or don’t do. Your feelings are determined by YOU, by how you THINK about circumstances, or what others do or don’t do (and of course, how you think about yourself as well).

To avoid overwhelm, go directly to getting yourself into some better feeling. Calm yourself, and TRUST that calming yourself, or getting to some kind of good healthy feeling, is actually doing something productive. (Note: To do this, you need to overcome your FEAR of feeling good. This is a key.)

Phil

Phil is absolutely right; trust your feelings and they will always guide you to the best possible solutions. We get ourselves into trouble - sometimes deep and overwhelming trouble, as you put it - by trying to 'THINK' our way through problems and challenges.

Try this exercise: imagine you are in a strange, dark, sound-proof room. Your object is to find your way out. Since you've never been in this room before, you're going to have to 'feel' your way out. In your favor, you have an enormous database of information based on past experience; you know what a door knob 'feels' like and what it takes to open it. You know what a window 'feels' like. You can 'feel' the difference between a solid wall and a partition that is paper thin - could you break through somehow?

Such is the power of 'feeling'.

I'll give you another perspective based on my own experience. As a private music teacher, I would much rather teach children than adults. (Now I understand the meaning of Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.")

You see, adults come with their dream song(s) in mind, thinking they will learn to play all their favorites (and then some) within a lesson or two. After all, their friend plays so beautifully and makes it look so easy - how hard can it be?

How does an adult FEEL when they realize they have to start off with some basic training BEFORE they get to play their favorite piece? Frustrated, disappointed, discouraged, even angry are just some of the more common adult reactions! Within months - if it even takes THAT long - they quit!

Children, on the other hand are a much different story. You show them how to string 3-4 notes together and they are ELATED! They just can't wait to go home to show mom, dad and anyone else who will listen, the amazing new skill they just learned. Within months - if it even takes THAT long - they are playing pieces that they can really be proud of!

Buddhist Chick - looks to me like you've got some 'dream songs' in mind. Your frustration, disappointment, discouragement and even anger is coming from your unrealistic expectation that you should be able to make this all happen in a lesson or two.

Drop the expectations.

Ah - ah... put it down. I'm watching, you know!

Now breathe! Sometimes just taking that 'weight-of-the-world' expectation off your shoulders can make such a huge difference.

Who or what made you smile today? FEEL IT!

Who are you looking forward to seeing again - someone who really ROCKS your world? FEEL IT!

How would you feel if you could be doing the thing you always wanted to do with the person you love the most right NOW? FEEL IT!

HEY! I KNOW you can't afford it! I KNOW you don't have the time!

You picked up those nasty expectations again, THINKING you had to do it YOUR way.

Remember, you're in that dark room. This time you're going to FEEL your way out.

Matthew 6:33 says, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

And how would you FEEL if you were in heaven right now? Most people would say, "Happy". So, seek first to BE HAPPY!

Let's try this again then shall we:

Have a child-like attitude. Be ELATED just to put together a couple of successes. And before you know it, you'll have so much more of which to be proud.

Who or what made you smile today?

Who are you looking forward to seeing again - someone who really ROCKS your world?

How would you feel if you could be doing the thing you always wanted to do with the person you love the most right NOW?

You get the point now, right?

Off you go. Tell someone about a little success you had. Watch it grow!

Promise me you'll really DO this now. I've committed to writing this response and I'll be watching this forum for your progress! (that's just the teacher in me following up on my students)

Come back in a month or two and re-read what you wrote. Trust me, you'll have changed so much by then, you won't believe what you posted here!

All the best from Toronto,
Russ

Wow, wow, wow. Both fabulous responses. I really cringe when I read my post - but it took a few days of feeling frustrated before posting. I have said before, in one of my earlier posts that I know this will work. I just get overwhelmed with the information that I have to absorb - while feeling anxious that I am going to have to ... do you know what? I am not even going to put in print my fears right now. I am going to work so hard on feeling good and doing all that I can in the next few days to get this business moving and fulfilling my dream to be a stay at home mom while earning from home? I am close, I know I am. And each time I feel low, I am going to read these posts and get myself out of the low place.

Just so I understand, I have a vision of what I want and to achieve this, I have to be happy so I am perfectly aligned? Do I just feel my vision or do I have words in my head that I should be reciting?

Much much love xx

Hey again, BC

Once again, don't try to work 'hard' at feeling good. Like my beginner music students don't start off attempting the Rach 3 (considered by some to be the most technically demanding piece in all of piano literature), start simple.

What makes you smile NOW?

Who is in your life that ROCKS your world NOW?

(OK, those are MY questions that help ME focus on MY happiness. You gotta get your own that work for YOU!)

Like Phil said, keep it simple! Find something that will easily and quickly make you happy NOW! You KNOW where it is!

All the best from Toronto,
Russ

P.S. See, I told you I'd be watching your progress!

Russ, I am thrilled that you are watching me and witnessing my vision come true and guide me when I look like I need it! No really, I mean that! Just one more thing - when does gratitude come into it? I have my vision and I concentrate on feeling good, but when do I offer gratitude?

Much much love from Dubai xxx

When do you offer gratitude, BC?

Ha, that is an easy question.

All the time.

That is how it becomes a supportive habit.

God bless you,

Caroline
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BC

In keeping with Phil's "simple" theme, see if this concept works for you.

We all get our energy from the source. What we DO with it is our gift back to the source, and as you know from your studies, what you do effects EVERYONE and EVERYTHING.

Just by BEING HAPPY can be your gift of gratitude. Others will see it, and more importantly FEEL it, and thereby reflect back to you 'multiplied and shaken down'.

This explains why the rich get richer, etc. You can't out-give the Giver. Make happiness your #1 priority until it becomes a habit, as Caroline suggests... as natural as breathing.

(you do breathe, don't you?) JK

To be happy is to be grateful.

Simple, yes?

BTW - in my book, just being aware and making the effort puts you miles ahead in this game of life. You're doing fine!

Russ

Hi Budist Chick;

Good suggestions already; I'm sure that you know that the references to the bible and Christianity apply to the Budist faith also.

I've been in situations where I thought all was doomed, do a find for "migrant workers" to read posts about that stage of my life.

Also remember that Wally does advise us to do all that we can every day in our business. If you do that with a grateful attitude you will suceed!

This is all so good. I have a note in my phone that says this:
1) feel good
2) be grateful
3) imagine what you want
4) taking obvious, fun action

That's what SOGR is all about. That's really it. The good feelings POWER the movement of your riches. Gratitude RECOGNIZES the riches you have already received. Imagining (including imagining the feelings) CALLS your riches to you. Actions RECEIVE your riches.

That's really all you have to do. Of course those 4 little things imply that you can also do some other things that for some reason are really hard for some of us. You need to relax, believe, allow, and wait. And don't get hung up on action. When you're thinking and feeling is right, you will naturally know what to do. It is NOT about "work." It's about being happy. Really.

If nothing else remember that stressing out certainly doesn't help and feeling good does!

Love and Blessings,
Rachel

BC, if reading it all is confusing and encourages you to accept overwhelming feelings, stop reading it all. Stick to the Life Labs and read the forums for Practical Geniuses and don't worry about the rest for now. Do one life lab at a time, let it sink in. I am a big achiever kind of girl. I like to get through things. But I decided with SOGR I was not going to do that. It took everything in me to just meander through the course. It took me almost 18 months to do 30 lessons. But I think I got it better. And now, I want to start again.

There are some pretty fabulous minds on these forums and they like to pull it all apart and examine it and feel it and share it. I am not saying that isn't good. But, it can appear more complicated than it is, when they are all basically saying the same thing. Which I think Rachel summed up beautifully and simply.


1) feel good
2) be grateful
3) imagine what you want
4) taking obvious, fun action

Take a breath. And consider being grateful for every "negative" experience and feeling as well. Like these I shared.

Raindrops

Neighbors

The rest of the story on the neighbors is that the land went for half what I thought it would and it still sits vacant months and months later. No we did not get it, but I know there's something better.

when you feel overwhelmed;

1] allow yourself to feel overwhelmed [which demonstrates your strength]

2] get back to work...and be lost in your work [ which also includes SOGR activities, play etc]

You just ask yourself: "How would I be doing this if I was letting it be fun?"

And when that tight feeling comes in, and the thoughts are black: "Do I want these thoughts to materialise in the next three minutes?" Of course not, so you ask yourself: "How would I be doing this if I was letting it be fun?"

This is my loop - it works for me.