The Secret Strategies
By now everyone in the personal development area is riding the tidal wave created by the success of the film The Secret. By using a link to this popular movie, personal development sites have created a huge buzz. In fact the buzz is so huge, it is confusing!
HOW do you KNOW which process, tool or course is right for you? And more importantly, when is enough - enough?
As I look at my own experiences with courses and processes during the past several years I see a pattern that existed in me that you may recognize as one you have too. That pattern cost me thousands of dollars, many hours of time, and lots of frustration. The pattern is to be in acquisition mode of information; thinking you need one more thing before you can step into your power.
I remember taking a very expensive course, (at a bit of a discount off the then $5,000 price . . . I was special so this was a great deal for just me . . .). The course was not something I wanted . . . I guess an explanation is in order. I chose to take the course unconsciously because my fear was about being left behind by others in a particular organization if I did not. I was not able to speak my truth that this was something I did not want or need. To make matters worse I was not fully resonant with what was going to be taught. This was a teacher training and I knew I did not want to teach this subject. I told myself getting the presentation skills would be great and I rationalized my attendance that way.
What I did need and want was to continue to be in relationship with these people. The course was mediocre and full of promises that went unfulfilled. The business model of this particular company was one of the recurring customer and getting them to continue to feed at the trough. The notion of under-promising and over-delivering was completely foreign to the organization.
For me, this became a bit of a crisis. There was a big disconnect in values because my business model was and continues to be one of freedom and empowerment. We want our clients to stop needing us and to stand arm and arm with us supporting others in growing into the full potential of their being. I found myself in a situation that was not congruent with who I am. It was not yummy! It was a fantastic learning experience and taught me a great lesson.
The second time I chose to take an unwanted course (again a very expensive one, I seem to have been attracting $5,000 opportunities), I chose again from a place of rationalization. I had contacted a person I had coached with in the past for coaching and got sold something else that I became convinced I needed. Again at play for me was a lack of clarity regarding why. This came from being focused on how I was going to make something happen instead of what I wanted to happen.
In both of these cases I made a choice to purchase and participate in expensive courses that had nothing to do with what my vision and end point were. They were however peripherally related. I found myself overriding my intuition to let my rational mind rule and only becoming aware of this after the fact. The truth is I chose both from a conditioned and reactive posture. This notion is common to all of us . . . if I do this, I will have that.
Have you ever purchased a course or CD set and let it sit? How many books, tapes, CDs, courses and things have you acquired that you still haven’t gotten to? Piling something else on to your to-do list is not going to move you closer to your target. To make matters even more complex, some of these people have your best interests in mind and others are creating opportunities to profit from your pain. You can learn to discern the difference between the two types of offerings and to choose those opportunities that move you closer to your end desired result.
We have a simple, quick process that works every time. It is an adaptation of our using your body as a compass tool.
Here’s how it works:
- An opportunity approaches - ask yourself: is this opportunity one that will move me closer to my target?
- Close your eyes and imagine attending this program, workshop or tele-class. How does your body feel when you imagine yourself there? Is it feeling expanded or collapsed, light or heavy? In other words, is it yummy or yucky?
- Ask yourself why? What will you have when you have participated in this opportunity? Tell yourself the truth.
- Notice if the word “should” is coming up. If it is, be aware, this is probably a good clue that the time, money and energy will not be well spent.
- What is the business model of the person or organization offering the opportunity? If you notice that there seems to be a never-ending, growing, offering of what is now needed; you may be evaluating an offer from someone who is not interested in teaching you to fish and would rather keep feeding you.
- Imagine not attending. How does your body feel now? Yummy or yucky?
- Remember that we often make our choices unconsciously, from fear or to reduce tension.
- Choose based on the information you get from your body. If it’s not yummy don’t do it!
The title of this article is The Secret Strategies and this process is one of those strategies we teach in our Rockit Your Life™ programs. You see - what you really need to do is stop acquiring more stuff and start eliminating your limiting beliefs as you take action that supports fulfillment of your vision or desired end result.
What does this have to do with The Secret? Everything! The Secret gives you a glimpse of what is possible—it is after all a 90 minute presentation. We give you the rest of the story!
You have all you need.
Now learn to use it