On this week’s leadership call, Michael Dlouhy was talking about vehicle accidents and T-boning and not listening to the sixth sense while driving, and instead of staying with the valuable lesson in what he was saying, I found my thoughts crossing the line into thinking “if only” my son James had done something different that fateful night, we might still have him with us.
I caught myself almost instantaneously. “Stop it! NO going there!” And at that moment, Michael said, “And then your baby turns 12 years old and you wonder where the years went!”
We had a wonderful weekend of celebration as a family. Saturday the whole family gathered at our oldest daughter’s home. The next day, which was Nathaniel’s actual birthday, our youngest daughter treated us to dinner. So of course, Michael’s reminder of my baby turning 12 put me right back into our “perfect weekend” and immediately dispelled any remaining not-so-good feelings I’d been feeling in the moments prior.
It’s not the first time Michael has picked up on strong vibrations from me during a call. How does he DO that?
It’s because he lives in the now.
Mr. Hill says the principle of the sixth sense can be assimilated, understood, and applied only after we have mastered the other twelve principles. And the best way to do that is to do what Michael tells us over and over… Learn to Live in the NOW.
The sixth sense is something I cannot put on or take off at will. But I CAN consciously choose to living in the present moment. It takes practice. But at any moment I can say, “STOP IT!!!!” to the chatter and the rush, and simply cherish the moment… BE where I AM, and do the thing that is immediately before me, with no regard whatever to anything else that needed to be done yesterday or needs to be done an hour from now.
Have you ever been to a doctor who rushes into the examining room, asks you a few brisk questions, then rushes out again? He’s fulfilled his “duty” by spending the prescribed x-number-of-minutes with you, and no more. You are left wondering if he heard a word you said, or how on earth you can trust his advice to you.
Contrast that doctor with the one who comes in, and maybe spends the same amount of time with you, but he makes you feel as if you are his only patient. He’s right there with you… all in… listening with both ears. You know you can trust what he says, because for that brief moment in time, he had shut out all thoughts of the patients he had already seen that day, and the ones still to come.
Living in the NOW means remembering and using what I have learned in previous chapters. If I am not doing that, I need to stop and ask myself, Why not?
Is it because I am still living in the past, bound by past failures, listening to the voices that belong in the past?
Or am I living in fear of what MIGHT happen in the future?
Living in the NOW means seeing with great clarity each new lesson learned, and how to apply it to life as it is TODAY.
We fool ourselves when we assume that just because we have studied a principle, we have internalized it. The truth is, we can be so busy going on to the next chapter that we have no time to put into practice what we learned in the previous one. And without actually doing what we’ve learned, all of our studying is worthless. The real blessing and growth comes from ACTING on the truth, and not just knowing it.
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This lesson plan was inspired by Chapter 14 of Think and Grow Rich,
by Napoleon Hill, and was originally posted at 30DayCleanse.info
If you would like to participate in a discussion of several lesson
plans like this one, we would love to have you join with us on the
mental cleanse call every Wednesday afternoon or evening.
Contact me and I’ll be happy to give you the call-in details.
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© Willena Flewelling
Success in 10 Steps
Phone 780-349-7163
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Willena,
Wow, what a great post! Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I really appreciate how you incorporate each Mental Cleanse lesson into your blog posts. So creative.
I have had a keen Sixth Sense since childhood and until recently have from time to time held it quiet. Now I am learning how to listen to this powerful voice and honor the words whispered. You pointed out that living in the now helps us honor this Sixth Sense. Lesson learned in my heart and in my head, one more reason for me to live in the now.
I look forward to more quality from you.
Blessings-
Terrific Tonya Heathco
National Seizure Disorders Foundation
Thank you, Tonya, my Terrific friend!
Living in the Now is really the only way I can quiet those other thoughts so I can actually hear and recognize my sixth sense.
Excellent article Willena. I wish I could say I’ve been guilty of jumping ahead assuming I’ve “got it” … when I didn’t really, but I do try to internalize things. Otherwise, I’m a confirmed believer in 6th sense and the power of intuition – I’ve seen to many examples up close and personal to know it’s very real. Thanks for the inspiration!
Marty, sometimes I’m guilty of the opposite… denying that I “get” it because I don’t get ALL of it, and continue in my old way, when all I had to do was act on what I did get. More and more I understand the “peeling of the onion” concept. Just because I didn’t get the whole thing the first time doesn’t mean I haven’t grown.
Internalizing is so important, isn’t it!
That’s why it’s so helpful to me to re-read books. The person I was when I read it the first time is totally different to the person I am now.
Being present….. I aspire to be present.
Namaste,
Debbie
You are so right, Debbie. I like re-reading books too, for the same reason. I have to tell you, though… this is one book I am so thankful to be reading with a mastermind group. It brings the whole thing to life for me, and makes it easier to understand and apply what I read in other books.
It is amazing how many times in life people just pick up on your thoughts after a while, so you are able to interact more effectively on a whole new level. My wife and I sometimes can almost read each other’s mind we have known each other for so long.
I know what you mean, Andy. It’s been that way for Ian and me, for most of our 29 year marriage. It’s awesome when that happens. It adds a whole new dimension to the relationship!
I must say that living in the NOW is a whole lot less stressful than living all over the place. Your Dr. example is great, however I know that I have many other situations in my life where the other person isn’t in the NOW, cause for a great conversation. Someday I will have more of a 6th sense, and be more in the now. It certainly is a great life experiencing how it all flows. Great post!
Holly, Living in the NOW is something I am only just learning. It’s one of those areas where I wish I could grow faster, but that’s not the way it works. I have to remind myself continually to be “here”, wherever that is, and make the most of the moment. I forget WAY more than I remember… but I am getting there.
That is why I try to focus at the situation given to me in the “now” rather than looking ahead to the future. It gives me more security because I am not overwhelmed by the situation and in the end, I find the results better. Thanks for sharing, Willena!
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I agree with you Tim, because we must focus in our present not in the pass, our present is our future in the pass.
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And with this six sense they will get that when they always thinking very hard and so very stress..
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