Hello!

This is my first post in reaction to the life labs. I just went through LL8 regarding truth and appearances and I believe I have come across one of my stumbling blocks, and yet I’m not sure how to go about getting past this obstacle.

I’ve been interested in investing in real estate and starting businesses seriously for about two years now, have read many books and attended many seminars on these subjects and on success in general. Some of the things that, up until now, which have held me back are time constraints due to a job that requires many long hours and weekends for nine months of the year (regular hours the other three), and which does not pay particularly well which leaves me with very little money and a lot of debt. Like I said, up until now, I have believed those to be major obstacles despite my stubborn nature telling me that despite that, I can accomplish anything even with very scarce time and monetary resources. It’s been a constant battle between those two lines of thoughts (up until now). Whenever doubt crept in, I would use those as excuses. Whenever somebody asked me why I haven’t done any deals yet or why I haven’t done this or that, I would use those as excuses.

I’m not sure, maybe there is an out of the box answer to this and that perhaps the job really is the major obstacle, and part of my path (along with a certain way of thinking) to get what I want is to either get a different and less-stressful job until my business and investments give me self-sufficiency, or to take a giant leap of faith and just leave entirely. Knowing I would have about two weeks until my money runs out has stopped me from taking the latter choice.

After reading LL8, I now know that these are appearances and that I can “see” my own truth for myself. And yet, I still find myself using time/job/debt/lack of money as my “excuses” for my lack of action up to this point in time. I’ve learned enough by now that I can get around the money challenge, not sure how I will exactly, just that I know for sure it is possible. Maybe I am being too stubborn in trying to accomplish all of this in spite of the challenge of time since the job takes up so much of my energy during the week. Perhaps this is making things much more difficult than it has to be.

I am grateful for any thoughts and suggestions any of you are willing to offer me. I am aware that by focusing on a lot of this I am contradicting the principles of SOGR and that, in itself, is holding myself back. I see this as something I must confront now or it will just keep popping into my mind despite the fact that most of the time my thoughts are now well-aligned toward success and that I am seeing a lot of progress with regards to my outlook.

Thank you,
Kevin

Rebecca often quotes the "faith, focus and feeling" idea. It sounds as though you are feeling pretty stressed out? and that part of that is your job - long work hours, little money etc - and part is worrying about how to make money work for you (investments). The things I'm learning here is that you can't really force anything (#1), and you need to pay attention to how you feel about ... well, whatever ... and let your feelings be your guide in terms of both where your thoughts and actions are. If it doesn't feel good, and that's where your focus and attention is,then you're bound to attract more of the same. How clear are you in your CMI - the course helps to clarify what it is you are truly desiring; and how much faith do you have in where you are heading?
The other biggie is gratitude - I imagine you might be grateful for the current job you have because it enables you to maintain yourself to some extent? or it's challenging? or it's a stepping stone to something else? Is your focus on how little it gives you, or on the helpful things about your situation, or on moving onto something else with "inspired action?".

I think it's all about asking yourself questions around these areas? Faith, feelings, focus - and clarifying your CMI; and feeling daily gratitude for all the little things (and big things).

Hope that helps a little. Just what comes off the top of my head for now ...

Jayne

Jayred said some good things, and I'd like to build off of them. Is there a chance that you could work fewer hours in the job you currently have? If so, and you don't want to give it up right away, I'd suggest making that part of your short term CMI, in addition to expressing a oot of gratitude about the reduced hours.

In SOGR, Mr. Wattles does mention that at first you may be performing the same actions you been performing up to that point, what matters is your attitude and the way in which you perform them. If you do things in the certain way things will change for the better. In your current circumstances, that could be a reduction in hours to regular hours. Or it could result in a different job making more money with regular hours. I don't know... you have a better idea what is better for you than I.

I've been working on re-establishing my gratitude habit as well, so a suggestion to you to help change your thinking - go back to LL7. Do you want to keep manifesting what you currently have, or would you be willing to have it manifest in your life in the next 3 minutes?

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Imagine the story you'll have to tell your kids, grandkids, and other people someday. I remember when I worked x hours a week for barely enough money to live - all the while sitting around the backyard pool or looking out over the ocean from the balcony of your home. I think you see where I'm going. One day you'll look back and wonder how you lived like this. Maybe part of your CMI is telling that story.

Just some ideas.

Hi Kevin,
I think Jayred makes really important points for you to review. I was also thinking you could take your post and rewrite it by acknowledging all the items you are grateful for up til now. And that exercise would begin to shift your context and feeling to a more positive frame of thinking and being. Take what you label as "your excuses" and turn them into deeply felt gratitude. And I'm not sure I see your CMI in the post and would recommend that you become as clear and specific as you can in forming it. This seems to be the major crux of the whole issue. And then be ready to receive when things start flowing your way. This is my understanding from spending time again with Chapters 6 and 8 yesterday. I hope something in here provides the right spark. Jazz

Hi Kevin,

Wally points out that in most cases we begin the process without making any giant moves in our life. We begin right where we are by putting into practice the thoughts we learn in the book and in this course.

I also noticed that others have already suggested that you begin by turning your thinking around regarding your current situation. For example, in your post you state...

1. I have come across one of my stumbling blocks
2. I’m not sure how to go about getting past this obstacle
3. which have held me back are time constraints due to a job that requires many long hours and weekends
which does not pay particularly well which leaves me with very little money and a lot of debt
4. perhaps the job really is the major obstacle
5. get a different and less-stressful job
6. Maybe I am being too stubborn in trying to accomplish all of this in spite of the challenge of time since the job takes up so much of my energy during the week. Perhaps this is making things much more difficult than it has to be.
7. I am contradicting the principles of SOGR and that, in itself, is holding myself back

When we turn around these statements around and frame them in a positive manner we get better information. For example, "Get a different and less stressful job," could be, "To get twice as much money AND work I enjoy."

The other language in your post refers to challenge, difficulties, obstacle, holding back, etc. These could all be considered opportuntities rather than limitations and when you think that way that is what they become.

Instead of, "This is holding me back," I say, "I'm learning how to give myself what I want." "I'm envisioning work that pays twice as much as I earn now and I only work half the time and I'm enjoying myself." Then I go to work as usual except I act in the certain way and I cultivate a healthy optimism for all I desire. I also begin to look for all the ways I can bring enjoyment to my current work and all the opportuntiites that come my way!

As soon as you turn your thinking around your outlook will shift as well!

Life is good!
Bob

Wow! Thank you all so very much for providing that insight. Each one of you really contributed something very valuable and it is helping me see things for the better. It's taken me a few days to reply back, as I've really wanted to let this all absorb and sink in.

You all definitely hit the mark regarding my CMI. It really wasn't clear. I had many ideas of what my dream was in my mind, and had jotted it down on paper a few times, and yet it wasn't clear enough for me to be able to focus exactly on it while blocking everything else out. Doing this is better focusing my energy toward my commitment to my dream.

There really are a lot of components to my CMI, and I made another bullet list while reading your responses. I’m going to use some creative energy to really make it stick, perhaps using a dreamboard with images of what I want and maps of where I want to travel to. This will help me clarify things.

I will also rewrite my original message and post that on here. Jazz really has a good idea here with that. I definitely need to turn around the language I used there.

You are all right about the gratitude also. There was a time in my life about 5 or 6 years ago when I first got into the field I am in, when I thought that this was without a doubt what I wanted to do after college. I knew full well that the money was not very good in the field and that it would take up a large part of my time, and I was completely accepting of this because it is something I had a lot of passion for.

Now 5-6 years later, I have realized it really wasn’t all that I thought it would be. I look at people that have been in the field for a long time, and it is not where I want to be at that stage of life. I am certainly thankful that I have realized this at such a young age that I can now make the proper adjustments to achieve my dreams. Unfortunately many people realize these things too late, so I am truly grateful to have this vision.

There are parts of the job I still enjoy, and I am certainly grateful for that. Would I want to go back and change this if I could? Absolutely not. There are many great things I have to be thankful for that have come out of working this job. People I have met, the places Ihave been, just the overall experience I would not change since it has taken me to where I am today, and I am happy with me.

I just know that there is a far better answer for me, and I have known this for a couple of years. Perhaps my thinking (up until now) of the frustrations with the job have indeed kept me in it – I simply kept manifesting it. I needed to shift my attitude.

So, no longer am I going to go with the “woe is me” feeling about this job, or anything else. I am committed to realizing my dreams, and if that means I am going to have to be at this job for two more weeks, two more months or two more years, well then I am going to make the best of it because I KNOW where I am ultimately headed, and let me tell you, it is great being there!

Thank you Jayne, Phagos, Jazz and Bob for helping me see my situation in a better light! I will turn around repost my original message in the next couple of days, as well as post my CMI. I think that putting that out here will be a big step for me.