Personal Development Could Be the Key to Financial Abundance: Observations & Evidence
Looking to create financial abundance?
Most of us HOPE we can make more money than we’re currently making.
Income isn’t everything, but all things being equal, a better income would mean more choices and more freedom.
As I’ve heard many wealthy people say:
99% of the problems you’re experiencing right now can be solved with money. You can tackle the other 1% with your newfound freedom.
But how can you attract and create financial abundance?
Trying and Failing
If you’ve been on this journey for a while, chances are you’ve already tried a lot of things to increase your income.
Maybe you started an Amazon FBA business…
Or tried affiliate marketing…
Or gave blogging a go.
Perhaps you’ve read some books or have taken some courses on generating an income online.
But there’s a good chance one of the following happened:
- You created a plan but never got started
- You created a plan and got started but gave up shortly after
- You created a plan, got started, and even made some progress, but something got in the way and you stopped
- You created a plan, got started, and even stuck with the project, but in the long run it fizzled out and you were no better off
You’re not alone, and it’s not your fault.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a project, book, or business in progress that completely stalled out for no apparent reason, sometimes never to be finished!
You can be driven, determined, consistent, persistent, even resilient beyond the level of what most would consider reasonable…
And STILL encounter seemingly insurmountable obstacles that prevent you from attaining the wealth and success you truly deserve.
So, I Reflected on My Most Successful Years…
And I noticed something interesting.
There were specific things I was doing very consistently during those years.
I wasn’t making more cold calls, applying to more jobs or gigs, producing more content, or anything of the sort.
But there were certain behaviors I’d adhered to.
So, let’s look at what those habits were.
Read 52 Books Per Year
In 2015 and 2016, I read 52 books per year or a book per week. That’s a total of 104 books over two years.
I say this because 2015 and 2016 were some of my best years for attracting opportunity.
At times, my work life got a little out of control, but…
Momentum was on my side, and I couldn’t halt the flow of income opportunities if I tried.
I primarily read books on the topics of business, personal development, marketing, writing, leadership, spirituality, money, and investing.
Books like Think and Grow Rich, Beyond Positive Thinking, Smartcuts, The War of Art, The 4-Hour Workweek, The Secret, Life is Tremendous, and so on.
And probably without even noticing, I was being imbued with ideas to help me manage my income and increase my wealth.
I did learn some things I ended up applying and implementing…
But more than anything, what the books did for me was keep me in a state of flow and idea generation.
Document the Journey
In my most prosperous years, I was using hardcopy calendar pads to manage my schedule and log my income in the “memo” section.
The fact that I was physically writing down my income on the calendar pad was key because it helped me focus on the money that was coming in.
It only happened a few times, but I can even recall filling up the memo section and running out of space to log all my income sources.
But this is key:
I have tried too many solutions, both physical and digital, to know that digital tracking simply doesn’t produce the same effect.
Physically writing down your income sources is what has this work.
Go to the Bank
How do people pay you?
Nowadays, it’s more common than ever to be paid via direct deposit, am I right?
That’s no good, at least for our purposes. The more reasons you can create to go to the bank to make deposits, the better.
As much as possible, you want to be paid in cash or checks, so you can physically handle the currency.
Going to the bank all the time could negatively impact your productivity, so you may choose to mail in your deposits or use other alternatives.
The point is you want to handle, with your hands, all the income that comes in. You want to be able to shuffle the bills and checks.
And when you do go to the bank, get a receipt printed up so you know exactly how much money is in your account. NEVER fear facing the truth about your financial life.
NEVER fear facing the truth about your financial life. Click To TweetPay Yourself First
One of the things that people don’t do / hate doing / resist doing most in their financial life is paying themselves first.
But it makes VERY GOOD financial sense.
So, what does it mean to pay yourself first?
It means taking 10% of your income, the moment it arrives, and locking it away in a savings account, investment, or whole life insurance plan (take your pick).
It helps to put this process on autopilot, so you don’t even need to think about it.
Over time, if you can increase that amount to 20, 30, 40% and beyond, even better.
Regardless, the more income you have stored away, the better, because you’ll be in a better position to turn down projects, offers, or clients you don’t want to take on.
But don’t become attached to your savings. Emergencies, investment opportunities, and vacation plans will come up.
Affirm Your Successes
It may sound silly…
I have NOT been a big fan or believer of affirmations in recent years (I can recall putting them to the test on multiple occasions to no avail).
But there was one affirmation I found myself saying repeatedly from 2015 to 2016, and it was from T. Harv Eker’s Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.
It goes something like this:
I am a money magnet. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You want to say this phrase whenever money comes in, no matter how little.
Acknowledging the fact that money is coming in will reprogram your subconscious mind.
More to Come in Financial Abundance…?
The above are the behaviors that I can recall adhering to from 2015 to 2016.
But there could have been others that led to my financial abundance
So, I will be updating this guide as I’m reminded of other things, I did to produce financial breakthroughs in my life.
If you found this helpful, and if would like to see more training like this in the future, then consider pre-ordering my Money Secrets Mastery course now.
Thinking Positively – Day 30
I am bringing love to a situation that I had deemed loveless many years ago.
I can, on occasion, recall expressing gratitude for the situation because it brought money into my bank account. But love? I don’t think so. I hated the guy’s guts.
Honestly, I don’t know whether love has a chance in this scenario. I have remained repressed and largely unexpressed in this client relationship, and that’s something I can take responsibility for. I have expressed my needs when it was urgent that I do so, but I have largely remained agreeable to any requests that have come across my desk, even if they were completely unreasonable. At this juncture, they are only becoming more unreasonable and even incoherent.
I can’t do that anymore. My finances have suffered. Last year, I filed for a consumer proposal. My health has suffered. Just this year, mid-October to mid-November was specifically tough, and I am still on the tail end of recovery.
Being fully self-expressed in this client relationship could mean arguments. It could mean setting boundaries. It could mean the end of a workable working arrangement. I have already put my notice in for the end of December.
But that’s what bringing love to the situation looks like right now. Being honest and truthful about my needs. Being clear about what I’m willing to do and what I’m unwilling to tolerate.
I have enjoyed helping many people build their careers and businesses to this point. But many times, I have sacrificed myself to do that. And it’s not fair to me. Love has been missing there too. I have failed to recognize myself.
For the first time in a long time, I can see the insanity cycle at work, and love was the missing piece. And I’m tired of banging my head against the wall, trying to make a dent in the Universe where I am not appreciated, respected, or valued.
But I am not just bringing love to myself. I am bringing love to my client also. Because sometimes love is letting people know when they’re egomaniacal and bat-shit insane (in the kindest manner possible).
I love you.
I’m sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
Create a Following, Not Traffic
At the risk of offending someone, let me say it like it is…
“Generating traffic” is a gigantic waste of time.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I know that you need eyeballs on your articles, eBooks, courses, or whatever you might be shilling.
But if you approach the problem the wrong way, and build your business on shaky foundations, you will suffer the consequences sooner or later.
I’ve seen it, and it gets ugly fast. You don’t want to end up there.
So, here’s the problem and the solution.
The Problem with “Generating Traffic”
If your business revolves around driving traffic, then here are some of the problems you’re sure to encounter:
Tunnel Vision
It would be in any creator’s best interest to create traffic from one channel before worrying about adding more.
Most experts, even your online heroes, generally aren’t good at more than one or two channels.
Seth Godin? Blogging.
John Lee Dumas? Podcasting.
Ralph Smart? YouTube.
Take them out of their element, and they do not command the same authority.
Most businesses get their traffic from content / SEO first and social media second. So, it’s very easy to conclude that publishing like crazy is the answer.
But any chucklehead can now generate half-baked AI content and post it all day long…
And that’s what you’re competing with now.
Getting too focused on one channel to the detriment of all others is single-source dependency at its worst.
Getting too focused on one channel to the detriment of all others is single-source dependency at its worst. Click To TweetYou need at least one backup channel should one fail you. And remember – one or more channels will fail you eventually.
The same can be said for monetization. Many businesses rely heavily on advertising and affiliate marketing (how many times have these revenue streams been impacted by changes from high up?) and haven’t built other revenue streams.
Complete Lack of Relationship Building and Audience Nurturing
When you’re focused on “traffic,” you’re focused on numbers.
300 visits today. 100 visits tomorrow. 400 visits the next day. And so on.
And the thing we forget is that there are real people behind these numbers.
I’m preaching to myself as much as anyone else when I say this, but:
If you don’t take the time to build relationships, nurture your audience, and genuinely care about the people you’re serving…
Your precious “traffic” will start looking for alternatives. People have too many choices nowadays.
Author Dan Kennedy says the greatest sin in marketing is being boring.
So, in your audience nurturing efforts, you can’t afford to be sending nothing but “Hey, there’s a new post on Conceited Guru Self Aggrandizing Fest .com). You’ve got to mix things up and keep it interesting!
And if you don’t have a passion for the audience you’re serving, please, do us all a favor and find yourself another business.
I know it’s hard to start over but understand that there are plenty of people who are more than deserving of the spotlight and have a genuine passion for the niche waiting in line to be noticed.
No Intent
You can create content around every relevant keyword under the sun.
The question you’ve still got to ask yourself is…
Is there any business value in the keywords you’re targeting?
Is there any business value in the keywords you’re targeting? Click To TweetSome business owners I know gave up on the idea that the audience they’re targeting would ever respond to aggressive call to actions, so they’re perfectly content driving people to their site that may or may not take any action.
And when I say, “perfectly content,” what I really mean is they are shaking in their little booties wondering whether their precious businesses are going to collapse.
This is an easy problem to solve if you focus on personality rather than content, but we’ll talk about solutions later.
For now, let’s talk about the problem with no personality…
Zero Focus on Establishing Your Personality
Look, you don’t need to be the face of your business…
But someone or something does.
At the very least, you need a mascot.
Many creators get a little too focused on riding the content hamster wheel…
While doing nothing to establish their unique personality, interests, talents, strengths, and weaknesses with their fans, followers, and subscribers.
In a world rife with AI-generated content, humanness is going to reign supreme.
In a world rife with AI-generated content, humanness is going to reign supreme. Click To TweetIn a world where people can read, listen to, or watch anything from home, real-life experience is going to reign supreme.
Does your plan include human connection? Pressing flesh? Loving on your audience? Hosting live events?
Are you the kind of person people even want to meet?
No matter how hard you try, you can’t fool anyone. You’re not a superhero. You’re human. That’s what makes you relatable.
People are tired of hearing smart people ramble and would prefer to hear you speak authentically from the heart.
If you have no personality to share with others, of course, you’re going to end up having to rely on generating more traffic.
Sabotage
Sabotage is not as rare as you might be inclined to think.
Sure, casually disguised phishing emails are easy to ignore (although the scammers are getting cleverer)…
But if someone wanted to, they could launch a botnet attack against you, and you would have no way of tracing it back to the instigator (this happened to me).
It’s crazy what a little money can do.
Plus, any chucklehead could launch a negative SEO campaign against you, linking to your site from low-quality Private Blog Networks (PBNs) that Google has already blackballed.
If all your eggs are in one basket (e.g., SEO), you’re at greater risk than you might think. Because sabotage usually has a significant long-term impact.
Why Building a Following Needs to be The Focus
Building a following solves most if not all the problems “traffic businesses” have. Here’s why:
You Don’t Have to Hit the “Content Ball” Out of the Park
Many newbies think better content is what’s going to get them noticed.
True, you’ve got to focus on the content (specifically on your unique approach to it), but I have seen far too many entrepreneurs disappointed with the long-term results of trying to one-up their competition’s content to believe this is the way.
(Especially if they are copycatting content without adding any of their SOUL to it – Stories, Opinions, Understanding, and Lessons.)
The great thing about growing a following is that you won’t need to hit the “content ball” out of the park anymore. In the eyes of your audience, you can do no wrong.
There will be those who want to hear what you have to say, on just about any topic, simply because it’s coming from you.
People can get a “top 10” listicle anywhere…
The one thing they can’t get anywhere else is YOU.
You’ll Know What to Create Next
If you have a following, they will tell you what they want from you next. At times, you won’t even need to ask!
Imagine not having to guess what your audience wants from you. Imagine not having to spend untold hours setting up a sales page or creating new offers only to be met with crickets…
And instead taking dozens or even hundreds of pre-orders on your next course because your fans, followers, and subscribers have told you what they want!
One of the reasons “traffic businesses” have trouble staying afloat is because their offers are based on what they think their audience wants, not on what audiences have specifically asked for.
How do some entrepreneurs make bank on small lists? This is how. They listen to their audience and act on the information available.
Reduced Risk
Virtually everything that’s a threat to a traffic business isn’t a threat to a “following business.”
Consider the following:
- Tunnel vision? Not a problem, because people want to follow YOU, and they will follow you on their favorite channels. Even if one of your accounts gets deleted, you’ll have others to fall back on.
- No intent? It’s all good. Not every piece of content you create needs to be focused on intent. If you prioritize relationship building and audience nurturing, your followers will buy from you, even if you don’t do content perfectly, sometimes without prompting. Trying to sell too aggressively might even hurt you.
- Sabotage? It’s okay, you’ll get by. Even if your website goes down during a launch, your followers will be like, “Oh my god, her site got flooded with traffic and it shut down!” You’ll become a legend. Your followers will DM you via social media and check in to see if everything’s okay, which is another valuable touchpoint you can leverage.
Concluding Thoughts
Don’t think in terms of traffic. Shift your mindset. Think in terms of people, of human beings, of individuals just like you who have wants and needs.
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. So, orient your marketing message around the people who are taking time out of their days to check out your stuff.
Remember – everyone wants to feel important. Everyone wants to feel like they matter.
In a time when most people are struggling with health, finances, and relationships, if you can be a beacon of light, you will build a business that matters to others. And that will solve your traffic problem.
Thinking Positively – Day 25
Spirit has brought to my attention that, even with an experiment that’s been designed around love and positivity, there are some potentially toxic downsides to it that I hadn’t originally thought of.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. Experiments are like that. You try, you learn. You fail, you learn. You succeed, you learn. It’s part and parcel of the process.
I cannot and will not diminish all the amazing things that have already happened on this journey so far, much of which I attribute to a) surrendering, and b) being rather than merely doing. Getting to be, especially in the last month or so, has been one of the greatest gifts in my life.
But reflecting on the possible downsides of the experiment has been giving me some pause.
The Invisible Stress of Failing Publicly
Stress is invisible, I know, so maybe the expression is a little redundant.
But as I’ve already shared, I have not been doing this experiment perfectly. I kicked it off at a time when I was just beginning to recover from burnout, and I’m not completely over it yet. I don’t think I have had any all-out dicey days, but I have had some dicey moments.
If I had started this experiment at my physical and mental best, failing may have held considerably less significance for me.
But right now, I don’t need more stress in my life, and I didn’t know that failing you was something that could weigh on me.
To be fair, failure was not something that was explicitly defined in the beginning. It would be more accurate to say that I haven’t been following all the rules I laid out for myself all the time.
But it is a potential downside to an experiment that was supposed to be healing and joyful. Feeling guilty for my stumbles isn’t going to produce healing or joy.
“Positive” to the Exclusion of “Negative”
This was never supposed to be a “positive thinking” experiment contrary to what the title might lead you to believe.
It was more based on the idea that the Universe responds to everything we think and feel, so all things being equal, better to dwell on the “uplifting, inspiring, and informative” versus the fluffy or negative.
Of course, life presents us with people, circumstances, and events that occur to us as positive, negative, or shades of grey in between all the time. How we define good or bad is up to us, but one inescapable truth of life is things happen. They just do.
Life tends to be more enjoyable when we feel good. And it is even possible to train ourselves to view potentially negative events as positive. But thoughts do not negate circumstances.
When I stop to think about it, the most inspirational moments in life are the ones where someone had to rise out of hardship, challenge, or adversity. In that sense, such events aren’t necessarily “bad,” but they can appear that way initially.
I don’t necessarily have the answer. It would be a cop-out to say, “Life is always in balance” or “Life is always in harmony,” but that is the closest thing to truth I can muster as I contemplate what “uplifting, inspirational, and informative” really means.
Ultimately, you never know what people, events, and circumstances might turn out to be “uplifting, inspiring, and informative” when they didn’t appear that way at the outset.
Closing Thoughts
The above realizations don’t discourage me. Rather, I feel like I’ve discovered something about myself I’ve been unaware or unconscious of. I even feel like I may have understood a deeper spiritual truth.
I need to give myself some grace for being imperfect, and for doing this experiment imperfectly. It would be amazing if I managed to pull it off without effort, but then would it even be worth doing?
It has also occurred to me that these missteps are part of the journey – they are supposed to happen, so my life is reflected back at me like a mirror. I get to see how I do things and why. And there is much to be learned from that.
So long as there are things wanting to emerge out of this experiment, I’m going to keep going. And for the time being, more things are emerging.
Toxic Editing: I Don’t Need You to Mark My Paper
I get it. The Medium community is trying to be helpful. But sometimes it’s a little toxic.
Out of nowhere, people come and mark up your writing like they were the master editor of all master editors.
“Comma here, bad spelling here, missing ‘to’ here…”
Or they tell you that you shouldn’t hit a carriage return after every sentence, because, let’s face it, their reading preferences are far more important than anyone else’s.
Give me a better explanation. I’m willing to hear it. But I’ve read W3C’s website and what they have to say on the matter, and they say to use short sentences and paragraphs to improve usability and accessibility.
So, before you get too carried away, oh mighty overstudied grade three English teacher, let’s set a few things straight.
English is Not English
The first time I saw the word “mum” I was sure it was slang or a misspelling. But I did some research, and I stood corrected – that is the accurate spelling in the UK.
American, Canadian, and Australian English all have certain nuances. I know because as a ghostwriter of hundreds if not thousands of blog articles, I’ve had to navigate these differences at times.
Your cereal box AI writing assistant may have told you otherwise, but to the audience I was writing to, I was using the correct spellings.
Never, ever, ever become too reliant on machines to tell you what good writing is. That’s plain lazy and often objectively false. And it fails to consider the audience. Which brings me to my next point…
Audience Matters
I have been in the music business for a long time. I write to my audience in a particular way, because of what I know about them. And I have received many compliments for my work.
Understand – I would not write the same way to people reading a book about psychology, for example.
So, if I sneak in a creative sentence or two, don’t be alarmed! It could be that I’m creating a connection with my audience, or it could also be that I’m intentionally getting my readers to stop and think about what I just said.
You can’t write the way everyone else does and expect to get different results. You’ve got to interrupt patterns to stand out.
You can’t write the way everyone else does and expect to get different results. You’ve got to interrupt patterns to stand out. Click To TweetThere is more intentionality behind the way I write than you might be inclined to think. Again, I’m a seasoned ghostwriter for industries and niches too numerous to mention, so why shouldn’t that be the case?
On occasion, I have also been known to share a work in progress on Medium, pieces that have yet to be polished to the nth degree. I should not be made a martyr for that!
Writers Should be Allowed to Take Creative Liberties
What is English, if not one of the most flexible languages in existence? If we truly want our writing to stand out, why shouldn’t we let ourselves go a little crazy from time to time?
As history has shown, language is not some set-in-stone, set-and-forget thing. The way we talk and the words we use is continually evolving.
I had to look up “AF” and “SMH” when everyone and their dog started using these texting abbreviations like they were hotter than the latest Taylor Swift track. Because I could give a crap about trends.
The point is – what is considered an incorrect sentence one day suddenly becomes the most hauntingly beautiful the next.
I’m not saying that one should break the language. I think basic conventions are well worth following.
But don’t you let yourself go crazy from time to time? Haven’t you ever attempted to craft the weirdest sentence you could?
You should give it a try sometime. It’s liberating.
Final Thoughts
Look, I understand that some of you truly are trying to be helpful. I assure you your work is appreciated by some members of the community.
You may still want to consider who you’re criticizing before you do it though.
I am in no way saying I’m beyond reproach but as the self-published best-selling author of seven books and thousands of blog articles, I have a good handle on what works and what doesn’t.
(It’s amazing how many people don’t even understand the topics they’re writing about…)
I do enlist the help of a capable editor when I need it, but as an editor myself, I do have the ability to self-edit, and you won’t find too many writers who can do that well.
So, kindly find another article to lambast. I’m doing just fine, thank you very much.
Thinking Positively – Day 24
This past Sunday, I completed my two-year intensive leadership program. I must admit it was a little anti-climactic, but I’m happy to be done and I’m starting to settle in for a couple of low-production weeks (most of my time will be – and already has been – dedicated to laying in bed).
As I’m starting to find my personal equilibrium again (though gradually), I thought a productive use of this space might be to share some of the “inspiring, uplifting, or informative” videos I’ve been watching and what I’ve been getting from them.
If I have any massive breakthroughs or “aha” moments I will be sure to share those with you too, of course, though I’m embracing more and more that healing (healing of the mind, the body, past trauma, etc.) can be a gradual thing.
I’m all for miracles, and I’ve already experienced many in the last 23 days, but I am also surrendered to the sometimes-necessary journey to recovery.
Habits of the Rich
This was bar none the best video I watched recently:
In it, Ralph Smart shares five (six) habits of the rich, which are as follows:
- The rich create twice as much as they consume. They focus on service and giving back, not on the money. This was my favorite insight, but that probably doesn’t surprise you. After all, I love making things.
- The rich don’t keep all their money in the bank. They invest in themselves, in tools, in real estate, and so on. I continue to invest heavily in myself, but after watching this video, I also feel like I have permission to invest more in my passions.
- The rich prioritize their health. They prioritize their health so they can spend more time creating wealth. This has literally been my top priority in the last month or more.
- The rich associate with movers and shakers. They surround themselves with people who can help them, especially mentors and teachers. Thanks to the previously leadership program, more than ever, I am surrounded by successful people, willing collaborators, and loving mentors.
- The rich are lifelong learners. They always want to learn more. They realize that one insight can take them to the next level. And wouldn’t you know it, I learned something from this video!
- The rich work smart. And they even work on the weekends. They are willing to put in the time to become masters of their craft. I have not yet found a way to do this in a healthy, sustainable way, but I’m open to learning.
That’s it for Now
I’ll be back to share more tomorrow.
Thinking Positively – Day 18
So, I know we’re only 18 days into this 90-day experiment, but I felt like it was time to hit the “reset” button on the entire thing.
No, I’m not starting over, but I felt like I was getting off track a bit. So, for my sake, and yours, I’ve decided to revisit the intention of the experiment while addressing relevant questions and concerns.
Here’s what’s up:
What Happened to You?
In a word, burnout.
I was in denial of this fact because I worked very hard this past year to avoid burnout.
But as they say, whatever you resist persists. Avoiding is a form of resistance.
The goal should have been to be healthy and to be healthier. There’s no resistance there.
I can’t deny that the leadership program, along with a punishing work schedule, has taken its toll on me physically, emotionally, mentally, and psychologically this past year.
Has it been worth it? Yes. Because I feel I have uncovered what has been at the root of agoraphobia and anxiety all this time. I realized the other day anxiety came knocking at my door because there was something much deeper waiting to be dug up – childhood trauma.
That’s the good news. The bad news is I did not know that digging up the trauma would mean opening Pandora’s Box. I’ve experienced headaches, physical and emotional exhaustion, depression and anxiety, and many shades of grey in between.
But at this point, I am closer to the end of the tunnel than the beginning. Most days I still feel like being a hermit, but I’ve been around people a lot as of late, and it has mostly lifted my spirits.
What is This Experiment About?
It’s about recognizing that everything we read, listen to, or watch has an impact on our lives. Therefore, choosing our inputs is critical.
The experiment is also about love. In this burnout, I have come to a point of surrender I don’t think I ever have before. Achievements no longer matter to me. Attaining wealth and material things matters less and less.
What matters is love. Loving myself, my past, others, and the Universe or God.
As I focus on love, the discoveries, opportunities, and blessings keep coming, seemingly without effort. But I am not seeking those things.
I am also not “doing” the experiment perfectly, but I keep having new cognitions. So, it has been worth the time and effort, and I’m going to keep it going.
I suppose the experiment is not about doing at all, though, and rather about being. In that sense, I am doing it exactly as designed.
What Are You Working on?
So, you might assume that I’m not working on anything right now, or that I’m avoiding work completely.
Trust me, that is tempting…
But it has been my experience that ironically, you need “burnout projects” to get yourself out of burnout.
So, here are the key things that are keeping my mind occupied:
- Clean Slate: The event has yet to be announced in an official capacity, but we’ve laid much of the groundwork, and we are currently tracking down a viable venue for the New Year live music and multi-media event.
- Productivity, Performance & Profits Blackbook: One of my priorities is to put the finishing touches on the book, so it’s ready for Clean Slate.
- A new composition: I have been working on this since September. It has been taking a while because of burnout, as well as the fact that it’s one of the more sophisticated pieces of music I’ve worked on in a while.
- Comedy writing: I can’t say too much right now, but I am preparing some comedic video content for Clean Slate.
- A joint venture: I have a new product in the works in the domain of skincare / aromatherapy.
I am very gratified that my various creative passions are finding expression.
Why Are You Not Getting Back to Me? You Hatin’ on Me, Bro?
I’ve had very little willpower / emotional resilience, making the whole “depression and anxiety” piece hard to predict and manage. At times, one little disturbing thought could send me down a spiral that would force me to meditate to reset.
I know it may seem like I’m okay and I’m still doing stuff, but I think my work quality and output have suffered some because of this entire ordeal.
I’m still trying to put my best foot forward, though, and I apologize to anyone who has been impacted. My priority now is to get the rest I need to get back to my former self.
I’m not trying to ignore your email, but in the world of priorities, unfortunately, I can’t place it any higher right now.
What’s Next?
Besides the above-mentioned projects, I am mostly going with the flow. I have learned a very important lesson about being and not just doing, and as counterintuitive as it feels sometimes, I plan to lean into that.
Doing too much can impact my health and well-being. Being has helped me connect with more people, uncover new opportunities, find opportunities to unplug and enjoy life, and importantly, spend less time at the computer (which is why it feels counterintuitive).
I feel closer to God, or Spirit, or Universe, or whatever is out there. It has been responding to me, and miracles have amazingly become commonplace. I plan to follow the leadings and the promptings of the divine that has seen to it that I find my equilibrium again.
Thinking Positively – Day 14
The weekend was eventful, at least to the extent that documenting the experience day to day would have been impractical.
It has been a couple of days since my last update, so, let me get you caught up.
The Universe is the Very Expression of Love
This is what came to me in my sleep the other night. I can’t think of the exact words or even the extent or depth of the revelation. What I discovered is that the Universe’s only expression is love. As much as we like to entertain the notion that we are living in duality, the Universe does not know anything other than love.
How to apply this? I don’t know. But if we can accept that everything that’s happening is happening for us, we’ll move into alignment with the love that’s ever-present.
If we can accept that everything that’s happening is happening for us, we’ll move into alignment with the love that’s ever-present. Click To TweetI started this experiment with the intention of loving (myself, my past, others, and God) and found the ultimate source of love, which is beyond compare.
A Good Shove
Like a professional basketball player who just finished rehab and is reluctant to return to the court, I’ve been reluctant to embrace social outings again.
But I went to the acknowledgment party for my leadership program Saturday night, and though I thought it would only make me feel worse, it made me feel better. I ended up becoming the life of the party, without ever trying to.
Some people also had timely messages for me.
On Sunday, I followed through on the short film festival I was planning to attend. For the first time in a while, I felt good about going out. I arrived at the venue early (before the doors opened), and even found the perfect parking spot without effort.
As more and more people started showing up at the venue, I felt as though I would be swallowed up in the energy, but I managed to tune it out. As the films started playing, I felt a little overstimulated at first, but the feelings were mostly temporary and nowhere near as bad as they once were.
I was introduced to one film director and ended up meeting another. The friend that I joined for the evening also told me he might be able to use some of my music in his current project.
Other opportunities kept showing up as well – potential clients, opportunities to promote a forthcoming product, networking opportunities, and more.
I am very grateful for the community right now.
The Tapping Solution
I woke up feeling “just okay.” I was pretty sure that the social outings from the weekend had tired me out. So, after feeding the dog, I decided to meditate. My meditation was interrupted by a phone call, but I still got about 20 minutes in.
I still wasn’t feeling that much better. So, I turned to tapping again.
My TFT efforts have mostly been limited to tapping sequences for depression. Today I tried a sequence for anxiety and was blown away by the results. I felt better almost instantaneously, and I even got my energy back. This is what I’d heard TFT could offer, but I almost couldn’t believe it when it happened to me.
Thinking Positively – Day 11
I am convinced at this point that this experiment has taken on a life on its own, and in some ways, it has become more about documenting the journey than doing or not doing anything specific. It’s as if the Universe has been bringing everything to me, and I get to respond.
Love has been showing up. And a shift in perspective, from yesterday, means I get to notice all the ways love is already here.
Here’s what else showed up for me today:
2 Steps Forward…
I had a good day yesterday. It wasn’t all smooth going, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s one of the better days I’ve had in a while.
Alas, I ended up waking up in the middle of the night feeling a little out of sorts.
I prayed for mischievous and malicious spirits to leave, as I felt led by the spirit. Fear eventually left and was replaced by a sense of calm and peace in the pit of my stomach.
Don’t ask me how the spirit realm works. I just know that it does.
Getting back to sleep didn’t pan out but either way, today still turned out to be a good day. Not all smooth going, but productive.
Retriever
I’ve noticed more and more that he likes to hang out wherever I am in the house.
It could be that he’s a little less depressed in the absence of his owners. It could also be that it’s taken me a while to notice his tendencies.
Either way, he’s a wonderful, healing companion to have around.
Social Situations
I’ve got two outings lined up for the weekend – one for tomorrow, and one for Sunday.
Tomorrow’s gathering will be the equivalent of a house party, so I think I should be okay.
The Sunday outing could be a different story, as it will be at the playhouse. It sounds like it should be a fun event, though, and if I do need to back out, I’ll only be out $30.
While I have been taking baby steps, I haven’t exactly been feeling like coming out of the cave. But I know I need to emerge eventually, and the Sunday outing could be connected to opportunity.
Thinking Positively – Day 10
Another day, another post.
There have already been plenty of blessings and surprises on this journey, but today may have been one of the most uplifting.
Here’s what happened:
Conversation with Year-Two Leader
Yesterday I mentioned that I would be having a conversation with the year-two leader of my two-year intensive leadership program.
We had a conversation about some of the things I’ve recently uncovered about myself, especially while growing up in Japan.
There was a situation with an abusive social studies teacher / basketball coach when I was in Jr. High, specifically an instance where my dad decided to confront him. One day, we were scheduled for a conversation at the principal’s office, and the principal, the teacher in question, my dad, my sister, and I were all present.
What I didn’t realize is what I made this event mean. I made it mean that I didn’t matter and that I should get out of there.
What the leader helped me understand is that everyone present was showing me the highest form of love they could show.
- My dad – wanted to ensure my safety
- My sister – didn’t want me to suffer
- The principal – showed up to listen
- The teacher – engaged in the conversation
This was earth-shattering stuff for me. I feel this conversation helped me fulfill my intention to love myself, others, and God or the Universe more in a significant way.
Personal Interactions
I don’t know why. But meeting with people in person has ranked high on the “irrational fear” charts as of late.
Today, I was tasked with serving a customer who was going to come to my door to pick up her product.
I wasn’t super wary of the interaction, but I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it either.
Ultimately, the interaction ended up going much smoother than expected, which encouraged me in a big way.
Team Meeting
I had my weekly team meeting to discuss my forthcoming January event, and this ended up lifting my spirits as well. I’m starting to regain some sense of normalcy, though I still feel exhausted.
Stumbles
I knew that there would be stumbles on this journey. I suppose the experiment is not about being perfect, but rather about noticing when I’m lured in by fluffy entertainment or temptation.
Based on some earlier discoveries, I am allowing myself to watch tame comedy movies now, so that’s not a stumble.
The stumbles are more concerning the “temptation” side of things. I’ve managed to keep these to brief detours, and I’ve avoided porn sites generally, but in the category of “stuff that turns me on” I’m not doing perfectly.
Encouragingly, I feel like I am developing a lot of patience by continuing in this experiment.