In my work with Wishweavers, and
on a regular basis in general, I hear from people who want to make changes in
their life, but have no idea where or how to start.
I heard Neale Donald Walsh (author of the wildly successful CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD series) speak - along with several other well known writers and teachers - in Wilsonville, OR, a few years ago. The topic was the same as what I am writing about here. I remember Neale saying (paraphrased), “If you don’t know what direction to go in, just take a step. Any step. If it doesn’t feel good, then turn a different direction and take another step.”
Obviously, that stuck with me.
I hope it does with you, too.
Your authentic self wants to be expressed. You came to this planet for a reason. Squelching your true desires out of fear only makes you and the people around you unhappy, perhaps as miserable as a mouse hiding under the washing machine to escape the cat. And the cat from not getting the mouse, keeping the paw going underneath, over and over and over.
Fear, you might ask? Fear of what? I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count! J Well, actually, they do – because there is more than one fear. You can likely list far more than the three I will here.
1. Money. Security.
2. What will other people think?
3. What if I fail?
Our culture is based in huge part on the exchange of money for goods and services. And then there is health insurance. There is no denying how important this kind of security is for our comfort level and even survival in some cases.
But you don’t have to quit your day job to pursue your heart’s longing. All you have to do is take one step.
*Let’s say you like your current business and simply want to expand your client base.
Here is just one suggestion: You could start collecting e-mail addresses and create an e-zine or blog that will grab your readers’ attention, wherein you offer periodic discounts – maybe two for one offers – that will bring more people to your practice or business.
Obviously, you are only going to do this if you are good at what you do, want to continue doing it, and know once people have a free sample they will keep coming back for more and/or invite their friends. (If you don’t know this, you should definitely move to the next asterisk!)
My first chiropractor used to write a monthly newsletter called “Dr. Steve’s Spinal Column” that was so funny I would read it from cover to cover every month. If you’re not a good writer, you could collaborate with someone who is, perhaps exchange services on a barter basis to start. Again, this is just one suggestion.
The first step is simply to start collecting e-mail addresses. That’s it. You don’t think about anything beyond that at this point.
*Let’s say you hate your job or business right now and have absolutely no idea what else you might like to do.
Here is just one suggestion: You could start by asking friends and colleagues if they know a good career counselor. If anything comes up, you could book an appointment – just one appointment, mind you – with that career counselor and see what happens. You could also start reading Barbara Sher’s WISHCRAFT or I COULD DO ANYTHING IF ONLY I KNEW WHAT IT WAS and make a lot of notes. That is actually two suggestions. (Personally, I preferred WISHCRAFT.) Just start with one step. Don’t think about anything beyond that at this point.
*Let’s say your back is sore from sleeping on a crappy mattress, and you know you need a new one, but can’t afford it.
Here is just one suggestion: Go to reputable mattress stores (I got my TempurPedic at Sleep Country) and try them out. Make sure they will give you 90 days to make up your mind, to see if the mattress works for you. You can also (another suggestion) do what a friend of mine did – ask a friend who had the same mattress if she could sleep on it for a night or two.
Many of these stores have a year to three year payment program with no interest, as long as you pay it off before the due date. Whatever you do, don’t go into debt for a new mattress; what you can do is set aside the money each month and pay off the mattress before the interest kicks in. In this case, it might be a good investment.
Perhaps your first step could be simply to send one e-mail to several trusted friends whom you happen to know sleep well at night, and ask them about their mattress. Just one step.
Next up, next week: Dealing with what other people might think. (Ahem, who cares?)
Just take a step. One step. Any step. –Laura Handke
One of the most hopeful messages I received from successful women is that we need not fully believe something is possible, much less have a full-blown plan firmly in place. We just have to decide what we want and be willing to do whatever comes next. –Barbara Stanny
Authentically Yours, Laura
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