NOTE: For an interesting discussion on the following, listen to our Mentoring For Free Monday afternoon call… Removing YOU from the Equation
Think and Grow Rich – Chapter 7
ORGANIZED PLANNING
“It is no disgrace to be a follower. On the other hand, it is no credit to remain a follower.”
I’ve always been a follower. Never quite forgave my mom for having me first, and then four younger ones who, she reminded me often, were “looking up to” me. I always felt sorry for my classmate, Suzanne Alger, because our school teachers called upon students in alphabetical order, to do anything. When as a teenager I was voted in as president of our youth group, I shrank back and deferred to others whenever I could get away with it. The ONE time, as a young woman, I wanted to take on a leadership role, I was told I wasn’t leadership material. That, of course, only reinforced what I already believed, and I slipped back into anonymity and insignificance.
Things have happened recently to make me realize it’s LONG past time for me to stop seeing myself as a newcomer to Mentoring For Free, and step into the role of leader, at least in my thinking. Assume some posture. Quit battling with resistance. Rise above the doldrums and prevailing sense of defeat. QUIT HOLDING BACK. Quit depending on others to do what I am capable of doing myself. Get clear on what direction I am going in, and focus on getting there.
And THAT calls for pulling my Six Definite, Practical Steps off the shelf, dusting it off, and forming a Definite, Practical Plan for achieving those goals.
And now, on a different note…
Do you think participating in a 30 day mental cleanse is too much bother? Reading a chapter in Think and Grow Rich, writing down your thoughts and “Aha!” moments, and taking part in the calls each week… is it worth it? Do you ever wonder if the mental cleanse really does any good?
Read on.
This past Sunday I did two things that I NEVER do.
I broke my little toe two weeks ago and still can’t get my foot inside a shoe, so I stayed behind while my family went to church, and then to a fellowship with friends at another church an hour away. I was happy as a clam, listening to my favourite Christian music. And then… a surge of emotion prompted me to crank the volume all the way up and listen to a song that’s already louder than most. So loud that the music vibrated through my desk and into my hands. So loud I could not hear my own voice singing along.
A long time ago, someone teased me for singing out loud… and I clammed up. Through the years I’ve been in various choirs and smaller singing groups, but I never sang loud enough for me to hear my own voice. To this day, I love singing, but only if I think no one can hear me. And there are some things I won’t do even when no one is here. Like turning my music up full volume. What if the phone rang and I couldn’t hear it? Or what if someone came to the door and heard my LOUD music??
Understand something here. We live ‘way out in the country, half a mile from the nearest neighbour. It’s unusual to see more than one vehicle per HOUR drive past our place. The chances of anyone coming knocking at my door is remote. Yet it was act of rebellion against my reserved nature to crank that volume up. And you know what? I LOVED IT!!! So much so that I kept the volume up for the next hour and gleefully played every loud, joyful music video I could find!
I shared one of the videos, Home Where I Belong, by BJ Thomas , on my Facebook wall, and commented that it reminded me of my son James.
A friend, with whom I reconnected just recently, knew James when he was 8, but hasn’t been in contact since, and didn’t know James had passed away. He wrote me privately to ask about it, and I directed him to a note I’d posted shortly after James’ death.
And then I read the note myself. Strange how I could stand up in front of 150 people at the funeral and read my Tribute to My Son to all those people without shedding a tear. Strange how I could live through the past 18 months, and not cry. But on Sunday I did. Only a few teensy tears… but that is a breakthrough. To allow those feelings to rise to the surface and express them outwardly, even just a little… is a big step forward for me.
So, is the mental cleanse doing any good? You bet it is!! For a LONG time now I have felt as if I am on the threshold of something great. Today, for the first time, I can actually see myself taking the steps necessary for bringing it into reality.
My heart is full of gratitude to Michael & Linda Dlouhy, and everyone who participates in our mastermind group.
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Inspired by Chapter 7 of Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill, and was originally posted at 30DayCleanse.info If you would like to participate in a discussion on this lesson and a number of others, we would love to have you join with us on the mental cleanse call this Wednesday afternoon or evening. Contact me for the call-in details.
© Willena Flewelling
Success in 10 Steps
Phone 780-349-7163
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Willena,
Your son James is so handsome and strong with a beautiful smile. I feel blessed to be able to see his photo and share with you some of the love you have for him. I have been on the mentoring for free calls and I have read Think and Grow Rich several times. In Alex Mandossian’s Teleseminar Secrets course I was sent an ipod of Alex’s training and also an entire recorded version of Think and Grow Rich. And just this week i gave a copy to one of my clients who is confused about what to do next in a a work situation.
You are certainly on the right track. If you ever feel a desire to connect, I can be here for you.
Warmly,
Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..My Body Knows Where I’m Going … Does Yours?
@Dr. Erica Goodstone, Thank you, Erica. James was a fine young man. Brainstorming the chapters of Think and Grow Rich with the MFF mastermind group has been a tremendous help to me in handling all those emotions in a healthy way. My husband and two teenage sons have been participating for the last year as well. It’s been an interesting journey.
Willena
Willena,
Good for you with your baby steps. You will heal on your terms when you are ready. I am happy to hear the cleanse is helping you. Be proud of yourself and lead when you want to lead. Thank you for sharing
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@Lynda, Thanks Lynda.
Willena, apart from your lesson being brilliant, your Tribute to James is really beautiful, a lot of the credit for him being such a wonderful person has to be down to you and Ian and your love for all your children.
@Sally A Logan, Thank you Sally. You are always such an encouragement to me!
Hi Willena,
Oh my, you’ve really had a lot going on in your life this past year! You know, I think for those of us who tend to stuff our feelings in favor of presenting that calm “under control” exerior to the world – it’s quite normal to experience delayed emotional reactions. Thanks so much for sharing your inspirting story!
Marquita Herald recently posted..One Day in the World
@Marquita Herald, I suspect you’re right, Marquita. I was 7 when I lost my father to leukemia, and I remember having ZERO reaction when my mom told me he was gone. I just went back outside and played very quietly by myself. But I had also lost my grandfather and a childhood friend within the 5 months prior, and my father had been ill for two years. We did not know what he had, but perhaps I had already steeled myself against further loss.
I was a young adult when my stepfather died, and it took me a whole year before the dam burst and I had a good cry.
Thanks for your kind words.
Willena
My condolences on your son. It seems like you know that he is safe now and that there was a plan for him.
Andy Nathan@Social Networking recently posted..In Demand Content: 5 Hints From Rachel McAdams
Thanks Andy. Yes we do, and it helps a lot to know that.
Willena
Hi Willena,
What a beautiful testimony! I’m not too familiar with the 30-day cleanse, but it sounds like it’s doing some wonderful things for you. As for your being able to shed some tears, what you did that Sunday was like a retreat. You spent the day alone with God, and He was able to touch you on an emotional level through the music. He has many ways to reach us with His comfort, and grow us, doesn’t He!
I love that you included a picture of James. He looks like a wholesome, handsome, and fun young man. Thank God this life is not all there is! I look forward to meeting James someday.
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@Pastor Sherry, You’re right, Sherry, that Sunday was kind of like a retreat in the way you said. He knows the key to our hearts, and just what we need for that moment.
It makes heaven ever so much more real when you have a close loved one there. We miss James a lot… but losing him is a great reminder to be sure our other children know how much we love them and appreciate them.
Willena
I get where you are coming from, I too sometimes want to be a follower instead of being the one leading. It just feel nice to not have the constant pressure of being a leader once in a while.
My deepest condolences for your loss, Willena. I’m sure he was a great person. Thank you for sharing with us your story, and I’m glad that the program is helping you out with this.
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He was, Tim. A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think of him often and wish we still had him with us. But I know where he is, and it is a far better place… I wouldn’t really wish him back if I could. He was a great asset to our family. But so are our other 3 sons, and our 3 daughters. It makes us all the more thankful for the everyday blessings we share with them, knowing how fleeting life can be.
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Any type of relationship, whether it is between family members, people we work with, friends, or customers we serve, takes a lot of work to maintain and build upon. And much of the cement that improves our relationships is developing trust, compassion, and acceptance of the other. As well, differences must be taken into account – no two people are alike or have the same interests, and while you will naturally seek commonalities to share, accommodating both differences and compatibilities is essential for long-lasting connection.
Aliza @ BeAnywhere recently posted..New BeAnywhere.com website
Very well said, Aliza. And the more we work on relationships in the way you said, the stronger and better those relationships will be.