Everything that is massive in the world, started with something very small. Every tall skyscraper, started with one brick. Every best-selling book started with one word. Every billion dollar business started with one idea. Every catastrophic natural disaster started with one small movement of air or earth. Every wave that crashes in on the shore, began with one small ripple. So, as I sit on this flight to the USA for the month of September 2019, I have a mission. My mission is to initiate a ripple that will turn into a wave of wellness around the world.
I am starting to write this blog on Sunday, September 1, as I fly to my first destination, which is San Francisco, by the time you are reading this, one week will have passed, so I am excited about what will have happened in just one week. The reality is that I am deeply concerned and agitated about the rate of physical and mental issues in the world. Even though we live in the 21st century and have no shortage of information, resources and technology, we are sicker, as a world, than ever. Not just physically sick, also; mentally, emotionally, financially, relationally and spiritually sick. There is no logical reason for it, so it is my purpose to do my part, and, make the difference that I can make. People who are experiencing their current state of health, started from a ripple, and so, I want to help those in need, and want, to create a new ripple leading to an amazing and purposeful life.
I got off the plane in LA and then flew to San Francisco. I got on the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel, so I could check in and then rest up, after a long flight. The shuttle bus made just one stop before getting to the Hilton Hotel. It was at the Red Roof Hotel. Nope, I had never heard of it before either. As we had stopped and people got off, within my first few hours of being in the country, I observed my first dramatic event in the USA.
There were about five policemen, they all had shields, except one who had a really big gun. They stood outside one of the hotel room doors, yelling; “Let us in peacefully, or we will break down the door.” After another couple of warnings, and no response from inside the room, they started ramming and busting down the door to get in and capture the fugitive or fugitives who were refuging inside. That was about all I saw before the bus took off to drop me to the Hilton Hotel. Thankfully, as evidence that you are reading this, the drama stayed at the Red Roof Hotel!
As I reflected on this incident, I thought about the person in that room, on the verge of getting arrested. He or she was not born a criminal. In fact, I’m sure he or she is a very nice person. But over the years of little ripples of negativity in his or her life, resulted in a wave of crime that will possibly put that person in jail for a very long time. Tragic really, when it could have all so easily been changed, by getting some positive ripples started to lead this person on a very different path in his or her life.
The ripple begins by dropping one small pebble!
Most people put off, or talk themselves out of, pursuing a goal or aspiration because it all seems too hard and too far away from where they currently are. What most people fail to realise is that every amazing achievement started with one thought, one idea, one phone call, one word, or just one small action. It’s just like dropping a small pebble into the pond that starts a ripple leading to the wave of success you are looking for.
This is going to sound dumb and obvious, but, the ripple can’t lead to the wave if the pebble is not first dropped. As obvious as it sounds, let me ask you this, what are you putting off? What seems too hard, too scary, you are doubting, or is out of your comfort zone? What you may not be realising is that what you are putting off is dropping the pebble that will start the ripple which will lead to the wave of wonder in your life.
You have an idea right? You have a thought or a vision of how you would like your life to look, don’t you? As amazing as it is, however, it will stay as a nice idea or a beautiful vision unless you drop your first pebble. So, what do you need to do? What simple action do you need to take to start the ripple that leads to the wave? You know what it is, don’t you? How about you switch off the over-analytical part of your brain, and click into action mode? Don’t worry about getting to the top of the mountain, just take the first step. Unless you take the first step, you can never take the second.
What is your pebble? Is it making the phone call to start the process of resolving conflict with someone? Is it making an appointment with a coach, personal trainer, mentor or trusted friend to help you get a plan? Is it eating breakfast? Is it actually sitting down and starting your book? Is it making that sales call you are resisting? Is it opening the savings account and putting money in it? Is it starting the process to look for a career you will be passionate about? It really doesn’t matter what it is or how insignificant it may seem, unless you drop that first pebble, there will never be a ripple that leads to the wave you are looking for.
I am just reading a great book called ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear, and he talks about the formation of the wave of success. It takes time and it takes daily action until the ripples well up enough to create the wave. James calls this period of what seems to be wasted effort,the ‘Plateau of Latent Potential.’ It takes persisting with the pebbles, and creating the ripples until the break through to the other side happens. Then, the flood gates open and the waves crash in. This breakthrough moment, that may take years to get to, is often referred to as ‘Overnight Success’ by those who don’t understand the truth of success. What many fail to realise, it may have taken years of pebble dropping and ripples to create that ‘overnight success.’
Again, none of it can happen without the first ripple. This trip to the USA for me is just the beginning of my vision to create the wave of wellness. It will not provide the end result, but another ripple that will lead to the wave. Getting to this point has taken years of vision, focus, passion and dropping pebbles. Moving on from here, to make the wave happen, will take more of the same. It’s not always glamorous, and it’s not always comfortable, but, if you want what you want, then you need to do what must be done.
The key factors to persistence, (ie. continuing to drop pebbles when it seems to be having a minimal impact) is faith, belief, vision and fun. It’s critical that you have faith and belief that if you continue to drop the pebbles and start the ripples that the wave will happen. When times get a little tough, and challenges confront you, stay focused on the vision that moved you to drop the first pebble in the beginning. Then, finally, have fun with it knowing and believing that with every pebble you drop and ripple you create, you are getting closer to the wave of health, happiness and prosperity that will wash over you and your life.
What are you doing? Why are you reading? Stop now! If you keep reading, I can’t be held responsible for what happens in your life. I would, however, take some credit if you do keep reading, are willing to accept responsibility and actually take some uncomfortable action. Is that what you want? I just want to make sure before you venture out into open waters, you know what you’re in for.
When trying to learn, improve and become our best, it is recommended by successful people that we read books, listen to audios, attend seminars and get a mentor to guide us. All of these mediums can offer amazing wisdom, powerful strategies and life-changing perspective, if we take notice. If you are anything like I was, you don’t like being uncomfortable. If you are anything like I was, you gloss over the things you need to do that seem too hard, and, focus on the things that are easier. If you are anything like I was, you’re after feedback you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear. If you are anything like I was, you are after pleasing methods, not pleasing results. If you are anything like I was, you are kidding yourself and still stuck in a life you don’t want.
If you are still reading this and already, at this early stage, getting defensive and starting to justify why you are doing what you are doing, then… stop reading. You are not ready for this blog. It will just cause stress, anger and resentment towards me, and, I don’t want that!! I used to get really defensive when I was challenged, and, I would justify all my questionable actions to anyone who prodded me. Whilst my mentor didn’t tell me at the time, what he has since told me, is that, at that time of my life, I was not ready to listen, or, to change. These days, I am grateful to hear feedback that will improve me, even if it challenges me. So, at any time during this blog, if you start feeling angry, defensive or making justifications, please stop reading until you are ready to hear what you need to hear. Okay?
The truth is that you, and I, are 100% responsible for the outcomes we are experiencing in our lives. YES, I said 100%! There may be some pretty cool excuses that you could come up with that may sound plausible, believable and even justified, but trust me, they will not help you move forward in your life. By making excuses and justifications, you are handing your life over to someone or something else to provide your success and happiness. How do you think that will turn out?
Do you really want to keep reading?
The only, and most important, first step is to take ownership of your own life. You need to own your flawed thinking, your poor choices and your undesirable outcomes. If you don’t, they will keep appearing and re-appearing in your life, and, getting worse and worse each time. How do I know this? For much of my life I’ve had a poor relationship with money. If I tell you some of the decisions I have made and things I have thrown money away on you will feel better about yourself, and I will lay on the floor in fetal position! My biggest issue was not that I made poor choices, it was that I refused to take responsibility for those choices, and, learn the lessons.
I had money, and without wise counsel, instead listening to my own flawed thinking, I literally flushed it down the toilet. I am going to share with you here and be very transparent, because I want you to identify this behaviour in yourself, and then, do something about it before it’s too late. As I tell you these sad money stories, you may need a box of tissues with you. You will need to wipe away the tears of sorrow for me or tears of joy because you are laughing at me! Either way!
Many years ago, I inherited some money when my Grandmother passed away. So, what would you do with a large sum of money if you wanted to invest it wisely? Would you buy a part share in a racehorse? I hope not, unless you know something about racehorses. Well, I learned that anything that eats while you sleep is bad for your bank account. I blamed the horse, and, that money disappeared. Then I got hit with the ‘shiny object syndrome’, when, without professional advice, I invested money in a company called Sausage Software, about three days before it went into liquidation! The share price dropped from about three dollars to ten cents overnight. I blamed the market, and, that money evaporated.
Then, not having listened to wise counsel or learned my lesson, and, with no experience in hospitality, I bought a café. Two years later, after working like a crazy maniac, I found myself in $100,000 debt. I blamed the hospitality industry, and, the money was gone! You would think by now I would have learned, but no. I decided to make another large investment, to speed up my debt recovery program, only to go further into debt. It was then, when I was drowning in the financial toilet, and had been there for too long, I finally, for the first time, blamed the right person… me! That’s when everything started improving in my life. It was a horrible period of self-reflection, mind-detoxing and uncomfortable change to get me to a very different place in my life.
My telling you this story of woe has taken pressure off you for a while, hasn’t it? Well, now I’m about to put it back on you. So, if you want to stop reading, now would be the time to do it. You are probably experiencing or have experienced adversity similar to me. Right? You may still be doing it now, as you read this. Please don’t make the same continual mistakes I made. Please stop blaming everyone and everything else, and, take responsibility for your own choices, your own learning and your own outcomes. It’s a big beautiful world out there, but you have to; face your faults, own up to your responsibilities and make the uncomfortable changes necessary if you are going to enjoy it.
Amazing successful abundance is not just for the lucky few. It’s for the people who are willing to face the truth head on and make the changes they need to make. That, my friend, is available to every person. Yes, even you. If you have read this blog to this point, I am impressed. But not nearly as impressed as I will be as you make the uncomfortable changes you need to make to live the life you are destined to live. You are now in the last sentence and despite my efforts to stop you, you have kept reading, so, deal with the truth, take responsibility, do what you need to do and love your life.
There are some of us who are shy, introverted, and, maybe don’t even like socialising or connecting with other people. That was me, and still is to a certain extent. Always much happier at home, in front of the TV and in my comfort zone, than out meeting and talking to people. Whilst, I still find it uncomfortable, I am much more focussed and determined to connect with new people. Why? Well, as you can see from the picture below; if you ever see a turtle on a fencepost, there is one thing you know for sure… it didn’t get there on its own!
As I look back over my life, and things I am grateful for and blessed to have achieved, I can see one thing in common with all of them. Whether it was my professional sporting career, my fitness industry career, my success as an author or the other wonderful things I am able to do today, I know very clearly, I didn’t do any of them alone, and, I could never have done any of them without the help, support and power of other people.
I am in a zone right now, and on a mission to create a wave of wellness all around the world. I am agitated by how sick the world is becoming; mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, and, I want to make a difference globally. I have a lofty aspiration, a large vision, and an uncertain path, but there is one thing I know for sure. That is, I can’t do it alone. It will take many people, with a shared vision and I need to be willing to reach out, connect and inspire others to action.
I am excited to be heading to the USA next week for the month of September to launch my new book, The Wellness Puzzle, share my message and start the ripple that will lead to the wave I am hoping for, and, aspiring towards. This large vision was formed a couple of years ago, with myself and a great friend of mine, Deb, in St Louis, USA. We started talking about the trip, the people we could reach out to and the impact we could have. Since that time, with the help of Deb, for whom I will be forever grateful, and my willingness to connect with amazing people all around the world, I am blessed to have an exciting plan and full schedule for the month of September. I will be visiting, California, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Washington State.
The most wonderful part of this trip is that, when we started working on it, we had no idea what shape it would take or where I would end up, with the exception of St Louis, MO. It was a dream with a mixture of faith and the power of connecting with amazing people that has turned an idea, and a dream into a plan that excites me more than you can know. I am certain, that even when I am there, I will meet more people and many more doors will open to help me to continue my mission of creating this wave of wellness.
It happened one connection at a time…
So, how did it happen? It all started with a burning desire to want to make a difference. This vision was followed by a massive fear about how it could possibly happen. I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I then started making connections, one person at a time. Deb was working away in the USA and I was on the job here in Australia. My greatest ally, over the last 12 months, has been my existing network and the LinkedIn platform. I started looking through profiles and sending messages to people who I thought may be open to join me on the journey. Over time, the connections were made, conversations had started, and, collaborations were happening.
Through one LinkedIn connection, I met an amazing lady, Danna Lewis, in the San Francisco Bay area, and we are running a wellness event together on September 5. As the result of a fabulous man, I have been associated with for several years, Fred, just out of San Jose, I am running a writing event on September 7. On LinkedIn I met the amazing Sonia Barrett in LA, who has agreed to interview me on her radio show on September 9. Through LinkedIn, again, I met Greg Sellar, another Aussie living in LA and doing incredible things. We have collaborated on a life-changing event together on September 12. So, somehow 10 days in California have come together beautifully, because of the power of great people.
Through another connection on LinkedIn with the fabulous Michelle Smith, in St Louis, I have met a variety of incredible people who have opened doors, made introductions and led me to collaborating on several fabulous events that I can’t wait to be a part of. For the last years, I have been working with an amazing family, Heather, Lynn and Randy, on their book. they have convinced me to come and spend time with them in Pittsburgh. Together, we are arranging a variety of new events. Finally, through a fellow Australian, Dr Allan Meyer, who is co-incidentally in the USA at the same time as me, we will be presenting an event for men just out of Seattle.
As I look at my schedule for the USA, I am excited, amazed and stunned at how it has all come together so beautifully. It started with a dream and a vision, and, then conversation with Deb. The rest has happened one person at a time. The pebble was dropped into the pond, the ripple began, and the wave is now forming. It is all possible – in fact, anything is possible – with the power of people. As much I believe in myself, trust my message and want to make a difference, the only way it is, or, can ever be possible is with wonderful people who come on the journey, to help me, support me and collaborate with me.
As you toil away at; making a living, striving for your dreams, providing for your family, achieving your goals and creating your destiny, please look to the power of people to help you make it happen. Who, in your existing circle of influence, can you reach out to? How can you go about meeting people who can help? What social media platforms can you leverage to meet great people? Who can you help in their lives, so they are more open to help you? Who can you find with a like-mind to collaborate and share your load and burden? There are more than 7 billion people on the planet. When you only tap into a handful of them, you won’t believe what is possible.
Multi-billionaire, John D. Rockefeller said many years ago, “I would rather earn 1% of 100 people’s efforts than 100% of my own efforts.” He understood; the power of a team, the power of leverage and the power of people. As you strive to get to the top of your own fence post, just know, like the turtle, you can’t get there on your own. Put your pride in your pocket and be open to the help of others, and, understand and believe in the incredible power of people.
Be consistent!! Wow, there’s a new and mind-blowing concept. I know you’ve never heard that one before, and you must be floored with my originality and creativity. It’s nothing new that consistency is one of the most crucial keys to success, in just about anything you want. We know it, we hear it, we say it, we believe it yet for the most part we ignore it. Then, if that’s not crazy enough, we force ourselves to go through the pain of re-starting, and, getting back on track time and time again. We are very intelligent beings, just not very smart sometimes!
So, whilst I’m not going to give you originality this week, I am going to give you the truth, and, hopefully, move you closer towards consistency, and the abundant success that will come with it. I am almost fifty-plus GST. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, that’s 55 years old. At my age, I am proud of my wellbeing, I excited about how I look and feel, and, I enjoy my level of physical fitness. People always say to me, “you’re so lucky that you are as disciplined and committed to your health as you are.” I believe I am blessed, not lucky, and as for disciplined, well, not really!! I mean, I was for a while, but now it’s just what I do. I don’t have to think about it, debate it or negotiate it. I exercise and eat well because it’s important to me and it’s the way I operate. It’s just like brushing your teeth.
There are times, in the evening, I find myself brushing my teeth, and I can’t for the life of me remember walking into the bathroom, or, putting the toothpaste on my brush. You? It’s just what I do. Similarly, for me, my alarm is set for 5:30am to get up and exercise, yet I am always up before my alarm, and, before I even know what I am doing. My consistency is not because of my ability, my discipline or any special talent, it’s simply because of the time I took to turn this daily action from something that is annoying, painful and uncomfortable, to something I just do. But it wasn’t always like that.
As a footballer, in my younger days, I couldn’t wait for the end of a long season. The seasons were hard work; pre-season was lunge-busting and the season was bone-jarring, and once it was all over, I would allow myself a month or two of rest, recuperation and maybe just a little bit of indulging on food and drink! I really enjoyed it, but boy did I pay for it on the first days and weeks of pre-season training, when myself and a number of my teammates often found ourselves suffering immensely as a result of our physical neglect.
Make the decision and consistency is a piece of cake…
There was one pre-season, in particular, I remember with torment, as the pain is still etched into my memory, and this was over 35 years ago. The season had ended, and I decided to go for a trip to the USA for a few weeks. It was winter there, the weather was cold, snow on the ground and so I justified to myself that I could take a few weeks off training, and, indulge myself. Wow, did that decision sure come back up to haunt me, in more ways than one! When I got back to Australia it was summer, and, hot!
The first training session after Christmas relied on the players having reached and maintained a certain level of fitness, one which I did not acquire in the USA. I tried to keep up and I pushed myself as hard as I could. It was painfully torturous. My lungs were burning, my muscles were melting, my gut was churning, and, before I knew it my lunch was revisiting! I somehow got through the session, and, survived. I then struggled over the next brutal few weeks, as I slowly regained my fitness level and caught up with the group. It was after that pre-season that I decided to never again put myself through that agony, and, that I would avoid the pain of re-starting by not stopping!
I have held true to that decision ever since, for well over 35 years, and I am so incredibly grateful for the decision, and the resultant habit it enabled me to form. Exercise for me now is not a struggle, not a chore and not something I need to negotiate, it is just something I do, consistently. It’s interesting and important to note that once I had made the decision, the rest was actually very simple. I definitely won’t say easy, as many gut-busting sessions will provide evidence for, but doing it, and, staying in top physical shape was never questioned again from that one point in history.
So, are you ready to make history in your own life? If you are sick of the pain and discomfort of re-starting, you can do it right now, with a simple but serious decision. Are you sick of yo-yo dieting, on-and-off training, floating in and out of health, and, desire optimal wellbeing? Great, make a decision, get started and… don’t stop! Are you over filling your bank account, spending it all only to have start from zero again? If so, find a way to make additional income and keep doing it, so your bank account always has a surplus.
I learned the lesson again just very recently. A couple of weeks ago, the real estate agent came to inspect our house. The day before, it was a mess, as I had just let it all pile up. So, I got to work cleaning, sweeping, scrubbing and wiping. It was a big, painful and tiresome job. Once the place was clean and looked good, I decided to keep it that way to avoid the pain of cleaning from scratch all over again. I discovered that it is so much easier to tidy as you go, consistently. Who knew?
There’s nothing mind blowing here, is there? Boring stuff, but significant in the journey towards being happier, healthier and more successful in life. One of the things I have learned, so far in my passage through life, is that the process of achievement is not always fun or glamorous. In fact, sometimes it is darn right inconvenient and uncomfortable. It doesn’t require natural talent, it requires effort and work. I doesn’t require knowledge and intellect, it requires a willingness to learn and improve. It certainly doesn’t happen when you stop and painfully start, over and over again. It happens when you avoid the pain of re-starting and keep going with consistency.
I played my first senior game of professional football in August 1983. I played my second in April 1985, some 20 months later. During that time, I was not injured, my form was good, and, there was no logical reason why I would have to wait that long between senior games. It wasn’t until I played that second game and was one of the best players, which launched my professional career, that I worked it out. When I started submitting the book about my amazing mother, Dance Until it Rains, to publishers, I had no idea I would have to face over 50 rejections from publishers, and that it would take almost seven years from pen down to published book in my hands. I also had no idea that its achievement, and the impact of the book would change many lives, most profoundly my own. I really wasn’t aware, until the blessing came, that success lay on the other side of relentless struggle, opposition and discouragement.
As I reflect back, many years ago, to when I was that relentless 18-year-old striving for seemingly unattainable re-selection in the senior team, I inadvertently stumbled across a universal principle that has helped me to this day, and, I know will for the rest of my life. It is the principle which states that; everything you want is on the other side of your comfort zone, or, every success or blessing lies on the other side of the point in which giving up seems the best option.
A great friend and colleague of mine, Pastor, author and inspirational speaker, Dr Allan Meyer inspired me to write this blog when I watch a talk he did called; Endurance: A Tool for Life. He referred to one scripture in the bible from James 1:12 which, amongst other things, states; Blessed is the man who endures. Endurance is, as Dr Allan discusses, one of the most important tools we can have in our tool-kit to experience the blessings and successes that life has in store for all of us, if we endure.
Let’s quickly look at a definition of the word ‘endure,’ because it doesn’t sound fun at all. In the Cambridge Dictionary, Endurance is defined as; the ability to keep doing something difficult, unpleasant, or painful for a long time. It doesn’t sound enjoyable, does it? So, why would you or I even consider persisting with something difficult, unpleasant and painful for a long time? I’ll tell you why. Because, on the other side of the difficulty, unpleasantness and pain lies everything you want in life. The only thing I would change in this definition is the word ‘ability’. Honestly, it does not take ability to endure, it simply takes; a vision, a desire, a decision and a willingness. That is something everyone can harness and use to create abundance in their own lives.
With purpose and desire, getting across is easier…
Have you ever heard the saying that; the dog in the fight doesn’t notice the fleas? The dog is far too focussed on its purpose of winning the fight and getting the girl dog, that a few insignificant flea bites don’t even get any attention. But that same dog, lying in the sun, with nothing to do, will spend hours scratching and gnawing the fleas and their bites. It is the same for us. The things that seem painful, actually aren’t that bad when our focus is for a greater purpose, and its achievement is what we desire. We simply do what it takes, without even noticing annoying distractions.
Between August 1983, when I played my first game with St Kilda, and April 1985, when I played my second, I experienced, every week for 20 months; rejection, discouragement, pain, blood, doubting myself and feelings of wanting to give-up. So, what kept me enduring, when all logic would suggest that giving up was the best option? Well, it certainly wasn’t talent, intellect or natural ability. It was a clear vision and a strong desire to get the result. And whilst all the obstacles were annoying, they were never going to stop me because I was focussed on the other side.
Between September 2004, when I started writing Dance Until it Rains, and February 2011, when I held it in my hands, I suffered; the loss of my mother, the struggles to get over the grief, the rejections of more than 50 publishers & literary agents, the doubts in my head and the temptation to throw it in. Again, it was not talent, intellect or natural ability that got the job done, it was endurance fuelled by a burning passion to honour my mother and get her inspiring story out to the world. Every rejection was just another step in the process of finding the publisher I would eventually partner with to make it a reality.
How did Colonel Sanders endure 1009 rejections to sell his recipe for southern fried chicken that launched the KFC empire we know today? It was not talent, intellect or natural ability, but, vision, passion and desire. How did JK Rowling sustain herself and overcome more than 40 rejections from publishers to launch the Harry Potter Franchise that has become a global phenomenon today? It was not talent, intellect or natural ability, but, vision, passion and desire. How did my mother, Sue Jobling, who I wrote about in Dance Until it Rains, survive, thrive and overcome enormous difficulty, pain and uncertainty for fifteen years longer than her initial cancer diagnosis predicted? It was not talent, intellect or natural ability, instead it was her vision, passion and desire.
What do you want? What are you striving for in your life that logic and reasoning suggests is not going to be easy or even possible? How do you want to live your life? Who do you want to become? Do you want an exceptional life? Do you want to make the most of every second, and, never feel the bitter sting of regret? The chances are that, whatever is your desire, it will require endurance. The probability is that you will be faced with many obstacles that will test, deter and discourage even the strongest and most talented people. Those without a clear vision and a strong desire will fall prey to the ‘it’s all too hard’ trap.
I can tell you, from my many personal experiences, that enduring through, when giving up seems the best option, will release more joy, blessings and successes on the other side than you can possibly imagine. Make no mistake, you are designed to endure, you are meant to fight & struggle, and, you are created to conquer. However, be warned, if you let false thoughts, that you aren’t good enough, enter your mind, or, you aren’t clear on what you want, you will not make it through to the other side. You are good enough, so endure and enjoy the success that lies on the other side of adversity.
Have you ever seen a dog chasing its tail? I’m sure you have. The more important question is; have you ever seen a dog catch it and then be satisfied? My little dog, Joia, will run around and around trying to catch her tail until she literally loses her balance, through dizziness, and falls over. It’s funny for me to watch, but I’m sure frustrating for her as it is never a successful or satisfying pursuit. This is something to consider as we chase things in our life. While we’re talking about domesticated dogs, what about food? They are always sniffing, searching and fossicking for it. They always seem to be chasing it, when at least once, or twice, every day, they receive a beautiful bowl of food. No chase required!
It seems that the futile chasing of certain things is a regular pursuit for many people, yet we do it all the time. Why? Because, what is actually required to achieve success, happiness, health and abundance is not that logical based on how we, as a society, have been conditioned. What many people fail to realise or understand is that receiving an abundance of food, money, love, success, recognition, health or whatever else we, as humans, desire is less about the chase and more about an energy, a faith and a mindset.
How do I know? Simple, I have been chasing success for much of my life, only to experience loss, loneliness and devastation. I chased recognition as a professional footballer, only to be publicly and humiliatingly sacked. I chased the ultimate body as a symbol of success and validation, only to find myself more alone than ever. I chased business and financial success in two businesses, working 7 days per week, only to find myself in almost $100,000 debt. So, I have chased and chased for much of my life, thinking that working harder was the answer, only to be proven horribly wrong time and time again.
I think the most frustrating thing for me, when I was in the midst of many a futile chase, was watching people around me who weren’t working anywhere near as hard as me, but, experiencing the results in life that I was chasing. I didn’t know what I didn’t know, and I couldn’t work it out. In my own head, I just needed to work even harder… wrong! I am grateful that I have learned and now know what I didn’t know, and, can share it with you to help you avoid my mistakes. I learned three very important things; firstly, you can’t outwork low or no expectancy, secondly, you need to move from a place of desperation to one of inspiration, and thirdly, you need to have faith that, if you believe and follow the first two tips, you will receive exactly what you want.
Pass it up, and, expect to receive…
As I was writing my latest book. The Wellness Puzzle, I knew I wanted to have seven pieces of the puzzle. The number seven is significant in many ways, and has meaning; in ancient times, in most religions, in its magical properties, in matching our memory capacity, in fitting with our attention span, and in the fact that it seems to be the most popular number. As I started writing the book, I did have seven pieces, but one of them didn’t seem right and I knew something significant was missing. I knew it was missing, because it had been missing from my own life for so many years. That piece is faith.
In my life, the more I strived and chased things the further away from what I was chasing I seemed. Have you ever had a picnic at the beach? Have you ever been approached by seagulls hungry for your scraps? I’m sure you’ve experienced both of those things. Next time you are there, try this; get some bread, chase the seagull and try and place the bread in its mouth. What will happen? The more you chase the seagull, the faster it will fly away from you. When you place the bread on the ground, what can you expect? Yes, that the birds will come and eat the bread. No need to stress, no need to chase, you just need to lay the crumbs and the rest is predictable, right?
I can tell you exactly when things started changing in my life. It was when I stopped chasing and started expecting to receive. This doesn’t mean you stop working, trying, persisting and enduring. It means you do it without desperation, without negative thoughts, without fear of failure and without doubt. It means you act, though inspiration and with the expectation that what you want will be delivered to you. Every day now, I pray to God, and I pass up all of the things I can no longer chase, and I thank him for delivering to me the results I want. Then, most importantly, I have total trust and faith that he will deliver, and, I will receive.
It works! The things that are now flowing into my life are unexplainable, based on how little chasing I am now doing. Money, opportunities, referrals, connections, resolutions, healings and solutions are coming. Not always in the time frame I want, but that is part of the faith component, which is trusting that it will be received, even if not exactly when I want it. I hope this making sense, and, I want to make sure you understand what I’m saying. I’m not suggesting you need to have a Christian faith, although, based on the amazing things that have happened in my life, I would encourage it. I’m talking about letting go of your desperate chase for a better life, and simply start expecting that, with the right thoughts, intentions, expectations and effort, you will receive it.
I was talking to one of the wonderful people, I have the privilege of working with, about this the other day. In fact, it was that conversation which inspired this blog. She is an incredible lady, who is doing amazing things, but just not getting the results she deserves. She works, she gives, she serves, she helps, and she chases, but she was not receiving what she deserved to be getting in life. It was then I said to her, it’s time to stop chasing and start receiving. As a result, she created an affirmation for herself, and she shared with me another great saying; ‘Let Go, Let God!’ I’m looking forward to my next conversation with her, to hear all about what she’s been receiving.
As always, this blog is a gift for you, if you are open and ready to receive it. For too long we have been taught to; chase our dreams, chase a better life, chase more money, chase work, chase clients, and chase anything we want. Well, my friend, chasing will leave you dizzy and exhausted, just the dog chasing its tail. Please take notice of this message. You are good enough, you deserve abundance, you are already doing the work, so why not just start expecting that you will receive everything, and I mean everything, you desire. Make a decision today that you will; STOP CHASING AND START RECEIVING!
