Are You Willing To Do Whatever It Takes . . .

August 4, 2009 | Written By: Janet the Planet | blog

ARE YOU WILLING . . . TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES . . . TO OVERCOME OLD HABITS OF THOUGHT AND ACTION?

I was moved by many chapters of Dr. Wayne Dyer’s new book, Excuses Begone, which I finished reading a few weeks ago. There are many parts of which I’d like to comment on in the future. The day I finished the book, I was struck by how similar my experience of making a mid-life career change was to the experience Dr. Dyer wrote about when he made the decision to act in the movie The Shift. Prior to making his decision, he experienced running through the old habits and excuses that would have supported his decision to NOT do the project such as:

“It’ll be difficult. A risk. I’ve never acted before. Don’t take direction well. Like to do what I want, when I want. Not my nature to act. No one will help me. I’ll be hopelessly lost. Never done such a thing before. What if I look stupid? Too old to learn a new profession. Project is too big. I’m too busy with my existing schedule. I’m scared. Don’t want to be put in a position where I might look be, or even worse, fail.” I’m sure you can relate, can’t you?

Dr. Dyer believes that four criteria must exist in order for you to proceed when making the decision to let go of the familiar for the unknown. The that I could totally relate to was that the project or whatever you are facing be “Doable.” Even though Dr. Dyer didn’t have a clue as to how he’s master whatever skills were necessary to create the full-length movie, he knew it was “Do-able.” Even though he had all the excuses in the world as noted above, he knew that the end results would be a great experience for the viewers and for himself to expand and learn. He was able to ’stow’ as it called it his skepticism — he put aside all those excuses. He trusted that the project was “Doable” because many other people before him have done the same thing, been part of a movie, or created/produced one, acted in it, directed, etc. So it’s not that it was an impossible feat. Once he let go of those excuses and trusted in the talents and experience of those around him to guide him to learn and do what was needed of him, everything that he did need began to show up right on time. His excuses for not being involved disappeared once he let go.

He also knew that the project would fulfill the other 3 criteria: It Must Make Sense, Must Allow You To Feel Good, and It Must Be Aligned With The Callings of Your Soul.

When I finally faced how sick and truly disgusted and dissatisfied I was with my former career as a Financial Advisor and middle management trainer in that same industry, I sought out business models that I could work and run from my home. I was fed up enough to make a drastic change because I was no longer aligned with what made me feel good. In fact I was really having physical illness and neurological symptoms my situation was so very severe with toxic level stress. I wrote a story about it and recorded a video about this experience. The article is being released this week and the video appears on this blog.

Even though I faced the same long list of excuses that Dr. Dyer points out in the last section of his book, Excuses Begone, I knew that making the drastic change in my life would: A) be aligned with my heart and soul (not to mention my health), B) picking a business that allowed me to assist others would be a way of giving and paying it forward which would help me feel good about my work, C) it must be do-able – many people work from home in a home business opportunity, so it’s been done before; I would just have to learn how, and lastly D) it must make sense – all my basic needs would be fulfilled even if my new business were mildly successful, it’s been done before, I’ll have more flexibility in my schedule, time to heal, time to get my weight back down and get in shape, the list of why going into business for myself made sense was, in fact, very long.

But taking that leap, at least for some people, is not as easy to do as it was for me. I had faith. I had faith that the people affiliated with the business I eventually chose to be aligned with were of integrity. I could sense (even though I never met them face to face) thru our many conversations that they were genuine, real, and totally honest with me about the potential for my success. And, I believed in myself. I believed that I was capable of accomplishing anything I would set my mind to. (Okay, grammatically, I know I’m not supposed to send a sentence with “to”, but this is my blog, so I can do whatever I wish!) So, I took the leap and made the mid-life career change to a totally unrelated industry because it was aligned with my passions, totally. I “stowed” all the excuses away, because the potential end result was my brass ring and I wanted more than anything that brass ring. I deserved the brass ring! I deserved success.

For any of you considering making even a small career change or going into business for yourself, my desire for you is fantastic success in whatever you do. Life’s too short not to be happy. Life’s more than just barely providing for yourself and your family. If you believe you will succeed, YOU WILL! You have to believe it to see it – to make it happen. If you have passion for what change will bring about, you can make it a successful transition. You see, self-actualizing people — those that take matters into their own hands and make it happen — never use their minds to think about that which they don’t want to attract. They think and affirm only about what they do wish to attract:

My career/business transition will be successful.

I am deserving of success and great wealth and abundance in all areas of my life.

All the money needed to meet my goals will arrive on time.

I am disciplined in thoughts and affirmations.

I am disciplined with my body, food choices and exercise.

Today I will continuously contemplate myself as being surrounded by the conditions I wish to produce.