In my Jazzercise classes, we change routines weekly. Doing so provides variety, but even more importantly, different exercises challenge our muscle groups more effectively. If I did the same sit-up routine all the time, I wouldn't be working all my abdominal muscles. The ones I did work would become used to the routine (unless more reps were added), and the maximum benefit could be diminished.
I'm finding the case to be true for personal development tools. I felt off-kilter recently. The familiar tools - LOA truths etc. - fell flat for me. Then I discovered an "old" resource and was amazed at what happened.
Allow me to create some context for you. "Intense" describes the past couple of weeks. Lots of unexpected complications from a recent real estate investing deal, including lack of clear title, difficulty finding an investor to buy a property within our time constraints; another seller having doubts about selling us her house days before the closing; and a driver who hit my car while I was in it.
Counting my blessings, no one was hurt in the car accident, and the other driver has insurance.
You could say I have not been in a perfect state of calm. But neither have I been a basket case. Between prayer, understanding about what I want/need, and clear action, I keep moving forward. What I haven't liked feeling is the worry that insinuates itself into my space, robbing me of a sense of well-being. Negative thoughts find fertile ground and swarm around me like gnats, diminishing my confidence.
Knowing, via LOA, that I need to focus on the positive feels trite. I try, but I'm getting less mileage out of it. So I turn to a book I recently purchased but hadn't begun reading - The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, by Dr. Joseph Murphy. It's a book first published in the early 60's and came recommended to me by a spiritual psychic I have worked with.
By page 30 I decided I ought to put into practice what I was reading. It was the beginning of my morning. I was feeling a sense of dread about logistics I needed to arrange between several people re a property. I used the advice from the book and sent a positive message to my subconscious about what I wanted - that the logistics come together easily for all involved. I then read an affirmation from the book to "root" the message, and re-read it a few more times during the day.
Within an hour I heard from the seller of this property re the logistics I'm trying to arrange. She informs me that the tenants can be available for professionals that need to go through their duplex. I find this one brief phone call makes me smile silly for the next hour, and shifts me into a better feeling place. Then I contact the tenants and we are able to arrange visits around their 2nd and 3rd work shifts. I call the professionals, and all can mesh their schedules with the tenants.
Following this I receive a phone call from an East coast investor who's ready to fax me an offer on a property we're trying to sell. From there I can sense my confidence returning. I call an old lead, with a hot property. This time he returns my call. He tells me he hasn't sold this house yet. He's looking at a written offer but hasn't signed it yet. He even tells me the price. Is he accepting other offers? Yes. I schedule a time to go out and see the property.
I speak again with our shaky seller, due to close in 2 days. She has received my directions to the closing attorney's office. She assures me she will be there.
All day long I stay in that stream of well-being. As dinnertime rolls around, a West coast investor calls with interest in the property we need to sell quickly. Following that phone call, a local investor who had agreed, one week ago, to pitch our property to his out-of-state investors, calls me. His California buyer is in town and wants to see our property. And so on it goes.
That all happened 2 days ago from the time I write this. I'm in awe of how a small shift set into motion a snow-ball effect of resources, solutions, and well-being coming to me.
Was this LOA? Of course. What was different for me this time? Hindsight tells me that I created the shift when I let go. Before this I would pray to God, but kind of "take it back." Or I would define what I wanted, but wouldn't line up with it energetically.
We've all heard the saying that there are no new ideas out there, just different ways to describe them. That is exactly what helped me. The author of The Power of Your Subconscious Mind teaches the same principles as LOA but uses different words and examples. That difference first caught my attention, intriguing me mentally. I'm still only 50 pages into the book, and have derived tangible benefit.
In truth, different routes can get us to the same destination. If you find, as I did, that something "tried and true" isn't cutting it for you right now, try something else.
As a postscript, our shaky seller came to the closing. In addition we now have both a buyer, and a back-up buyer for the property we need to sell.
Hey Debbie...this was great. I always love reading your posts...they are fun and inspiring. I was sitting here alone grinning through the entire post. It's amazing what happens when we go with the flow huh?? Awesome experience for you. Thank you so much for sharing!!
I am famous for re-reading my books a gazillion times (is that a word?)
Posted by: Tuck, The Rebel Belle | May 13, 2007 at 05:44 PM
You make a great point in re-reading material, Tuck. Since we're never in exactly the same place, the words can hit us differently. Or an idea that we didn't even notice before leaps out the second time around. All good stuff . . .!
Posted by: Deb Call | May 13, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Great post Deb! The slightest twist or turn on what we know sparks a new revolution...better yet a new remember-lution! Thanks for shining brightly!
Posted by: Terri | May 14, 2007 at 09:24 PM
Hey Terri - great turn on words - "remember-lution!" It is true indeed that a slight twist marks a new revolution. Another justification that "small" can be mighty.
Posted by: Deb Call | May 15, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Hi Debbie!
I read that book, The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, about a year ago. I loved it!
It's amazing what can happen with even the slightest shift in perspective. Best wishes on your investing business...
By the way, I've tagged you in the High Vibe Game ;)
Posted by: Maria Palma | June 05, 2007 at 02:21 AM
Maria - it's always edifying when someone else has a similar reaction to a book.
Thanks for stopping by, and for the "High Vibe" tag!
Posted by: Deb Call | June 05, 2007 at 09:30 PM