Practice Makes Perfect
Thursday, May 27th, 2010“Tell everyone you know: “My happiness depends on me, so you’re off the hook.” And then demonstrate it. Be happy, no matter what they’re doing. Practice feeling good, no matter what. And before you know it, you will not give anyone else responsibility for the way you feel—and then, you’ll love them all. Because the only reason you don’t love them, is because you’re using them as your excuse to not feel good.” – Abraham Hicks
I love this quote. It is exactly what I had to do to move through the pain, the loss, and the anger that strangled me when my million dollar net worth disappeared. I had to find ways to be happy no matter what! I had to look at what brought me joy and love in the moment. I couldn’t see beyond the day. So I disciplined myself to make each moment a happy one. I can’t say that I was always successful. But with time, and determination, I knew that this was the only way I would be able to survive, and eventually thrive. I had lots of excuses not to feel good. I had worked so hard to get to where I was and in a nano-second it was gone. I was angry with my job, because I couldn’t see a way to recoup my losses. I wanted to cry at the drop of a hat and just give up, when I thought about the future. The pain was excruciating when I let myself think about it. So I learned to discipline myself to think about something else. It wasn’t easy.
Because I what happened, I didn’t love my life, or myself. But what were my choices? I could medicate myself to avoid the pain, or I could find a way to move beyond it. That’s when I decided to skip the pretend to feel good Prozac pills and practiced thinking thoughts that felt good on my own! There were no quick fixes to this problem. I knew that popping pills only masks a problem. I wanted a permanent healing. I wanted to be financially healthy and whole from the inside out. I wanted my self-worth to be valued at billions! I wanted to feel good without a dependancy on anyone but me.
This took practice and dedication. Every great musician, athlete, and artist continues to practice no matter how accomplished they become. When I learned to play the piano, I had to practice the scales for hours so my fingers would be able to hit the right notes. Now, I had to practice thinking thoughts that would hit the good feelings. When I’d wake up and the sun was shining, I thought, “This is great. All this sunshine and I didn’t have to be the one pushing that sun up over the mountains.” I practiced thinking what good things would happen next. I loved my hour walk with my dog, Belle, a Boston Terrier. I’d look up at the cloud formations and feeling the wind on my face and she’d run after rocks that I’d kick along the way. I practiced finding things that would make me laugh out loud. I went to a Vegas show with Rich Little, Impersonator and laughed so loud that he became my new best friend. He just loved being around me and hearing my laugh!
I practiced smiling over the phone when I talked to my friends or customers. I started to enjoy my job more, and my friends began once again to love being around me. I even came up with a funny name for the culprit that didn’t want me to be happy. I called her the NAG…..the neurotic-anxiety-ridden-grinch! I’d yell at her to shut up when she wanted to make me miserable. My voice like my laugh is quite loud. It scared her into submission. When she was quiet, it was easier to do things that felt good.
Practicing being happy and feeling good is what helped me to change my life for GOOD. I remember my Mom telling me “practice makes perfect.” I practiced until my smile became wider and brighter. My laughter became easier and lighter. I practiced with friends, nasty in-laws and grumpy bosses. I’m still practicing. An artist must paint, a dancer dance, a musician play, and I must practice feeling good. It’s what works.
If you want your net worth to increase, begin to practice feeling GOOD, no matter what’s going on around you. You’ll be surprised at the symphony of good feelings you’ll create. True wealth will be the result, a net worth no one can take from you……ever!