Has your external environment ever controlled you, disappointed you, or made you feel defeated? Today, I’d like to share with you about the journey of how mine did, and how I reset and refocused to create the results I wanted.
A little over a year ago, I received an email from my publisher, Waterside Productions in California, that my book was fully uploaded and ready for launch.
As I read that confirmation the tears started rolling down my face in a manner I couldn’t quite control. It was the realization that I was about to meet my book “baby” that I invested my heart into and introduce it to the world. I was also filled with anticipation for the detailed plan I had put into place. Planning is a dear love of mine, so with the launch of the book I had a detailed GPS route organized to bring this messaging to the world.
Launch day arrives and I’m humbled by the way the book was supported making it a best seller in both Canada and the US. Reflecting on the day with a humble and grateful heart, I kept thinking of this quote by Paulo Coelho, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” Now I had a feeling of expectancy for the next scheduled items on my plan to be realized – speaking engagements, interviews and bookstore events.
Through all of that, I had no idea that just days after the launch, absolutely everything would change. The pandemic hit and the world seemed to shut down. And with it came the cancellation of absolutely all I had in place.
Was the universe conspiring against me? With each cancellation my heart broke and it felt as though my dream had shattered before my eyes. Every one of my senses told me that my dream was not to be. The world shut down and every single scheduled item on my plan was cancelled with no reopening timeframe in sight.
How could I stand back up after this? How could I keep going when it felt like there was nothing I was going towards? Until I realized there was.
Acknowledging the feeling of my dream being shattered allowed me to recognize that I was letting the outside control me as I focused on everything external that I didn’t have. Then I shifted to everything I did have – my passion, my purpose, my mission and the dream that was nurtured through it all. That was all internal to me and I had absolute control of it.
I had positive change I was responsible to others for! So, I got back up with an amplified belief in what I am meant to do! What did that do to my action? It turbo charged it!
Instead of asking myself negative questions filled with doubt, I started to ask myself questions fueled by my belief in what I could do. If a pandemic did something that I never thought possible and shut down the world, then what could I do that I would have thought was impossible?
With every bookstore closed and consignment contracts with new authors being paused or reversed, I had my internal guidance system set on achieving the impossible – earning a spot in a major retailer with very limited spots for books.
Then, I made one call and it all happened right? No! In fact, that’s the word I kept hearing – no, no, and then some more no’s just for good measure. But instead of the no’s I kept hearing yes – because this time, it was my internal guidance system that I was following. A quote from Arash Vossoughi that I kept hearing in my head when you want something – “If you have to move 16 mountains, then move 17!”
The result? The impossible! My book was picked up for distribution by Costco Canada and then sold out shortly thereafter! In fact, as I write to you, I await the restocking details!
You’ll notice that we didn’t focus on the win in this story – we focused on the process. The reason is that I don’t share this story to impress you. I share it to impress upon you what one small application of mindset can do in your life, business and relationships!
Here are some questions that I continue to ask myself to stay focused on my internal guidance system:
Who is in control of your goal? You, or the outside world?
What do you feel and believe about your goal?
How can you utilize that as fuel and turn it in action today?
Martha Adams
To continue this positive conversation with more Free Resources head to: https://www.marthaadamsmedia.com
“Here you will learn what less than 3% of the population truly understand…MONEY: how to earn it…how to grow it…and how to enjoy it.” Bob Proctor
After a successful career building her independent wealth management practice, Martha Adams has taken her experience out of the boardroom in order to share her proven wealth-building techniques with the world. Martha is a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®), financial educator, international bestselling author and speaker. As the author of Cleopatra’s Riches: How to Earn, Grow, and Enjoy Your Money to Enrich Your Life and international keynote and motivational speaker, Martha is spreading the message of a Positive Financial Conversation and true Financial EmPOWERment™ by combining self-development techniques with real financial knowledge.
