I give Love this moment,
I give Love this day.
I give Love my mind,
I give Love my heart,
I give Love my soul.
I surrender to
the greatest good in me,
allowing lesser ideas
and preoccupations
to drop away.
I serve as an
ambassador of Love,
as Love.
I included this short teaching story from Michael Neill in the last blog post and then had several conversations about the concept. So, I decided that I’d like to dive a bit deeper into its richness and brilliance.
Give yourself the gift of five whole minutes to read or re-read this and allow it to soak into your bones.
“Imagine that everyone you speak to is a multi-millionaire, and that if you can just say and do the right things around them, they will share some of their money with you.
When you’ve done that for a few moments or even a few minutes, stop and clear your mind before going on to part two . . .
Now, imagine that you are secretly a multi-millionaire, and when you meet people, you are deciding whether or not to share some of your fortune with them.
When I (Michael) first tried that out for myself, I recognized that in the first instance, they had something I wanted and I became increasingly more needy (and creepy) in my attempts to get it from them.
In the second instance, I was the one with something valuable to give – and in choosing who to offer it to, I was not looking for the most pathetic, hopeless victim in the room. I was looking for the person who would be able and willing to take what I have to offer and create something beautiful with it.”
When I (Ann) was deciding whether or not to offer my “riches” to someone, I became very interested in who they were and what they were up to. I became curious as to whether they could truly receive the value I had to offer.
Instead of feeling needy and creepy because I was trying to get something, I shifted my focus to learning about the other person to see if or how I might be of service to them.
Wow! That feels so much better in my body and in my psyche.
What did you notice shifted for you?
Feel free to post your own experience in the Comments.
I have something precious, unique and valuable to offer. Oh, how I have squandered it. You, too, have something precious, unique and valuable to offer? How have you been squandering it?
No judgment here. Simply observing, reflecting and choosing a new way of being.
More than once I have tried to convince someone to hire me. Or signed on a client who was not going to receive all I have to give. Or stayed in a romantic relationship that frustrated both of us.
Once I even tried to talk Richard Gere into marrying me. Okay, I’m kidding about Richard Gere – really he tried to talk me into marrying him! Anyway, you get the idea . . .
When we work with people one-on-one or in a small group, we can only work with a few fortunate folks. Our time is extremely finite. Even if you chose to work 24/7, you only have those 24 hours each day to offer to someone.
Why wouldn’t we offer those hours only to people we would totally love to have as clients?
Scarcity thinking.
I better try to get anyone who crosses my path. Do you have a pulse? A checkbook? Okay, you’re in!
Wait, I love to work with people who take immediate action. You love to work with people who deliberatively think things through. Yet, I have a couple of deliberative clients who are trying my patience and draining my energy and you have some impulsive go-getter clients who are driving you crazy.
Do you see the easy fix here?
Let’s use this short teaching story from Michael Neill to shift our way of being:
“Imagine that everyone you speak to is a multi-millionaire, and that if you can just say and do the right things around them, they will share some of their money with you. When you’ve done that for a few moments or even a few minutes, stop and clear your mind before going on to part two . . .
Now, imagine that you are secretly a multi-millionaire, and when you meet people, you are deciding whether or not to share some of your fortune with them.
When I first tried that out for myself, I recognized that in the first instance, they had something I wanted and I became increasingly more needy (and creepy) in my attempts to get it from them.
In the second instance, I was the one with something valuable to give – and in choosing who to offer it to, I was not looking for the most pathetic, hopeless victim in the room. I was looking for the person who would be able and willing to take what I have to offer and create something beautiful with it.”
With whom do you most want to share this precious, rare commodity who is you? Now there’s niche marketing working for you! Feel free to post your own story in the Comments.
Recently I noticed that some of what I most deeply desire, I keep moving toward no matter what. And, in other areas of my life where I also truly would love something, I say I would love it, yet my behavior indicates I’ve given up.
In my business, I keep moving toward greater ways to serve and offer more value. No matter what. I constantly invest my time, money and focus in growing myself and in growing my business. If something works well, I leverage it. If something doesn’t work well, I reassess, look for the learning and consciously choose the next leg of my journey.
When I wanted to lose 20 pounds, I started walking regularly and committed to eating less sugar. That didn’t work for me. My perceived sugar deprivation backfired and I ate MORE sugar for awhile. I also didn’t lose any weight. I wasn’t sure what to do next, but I was still committed. Shortly after that I felt inspired to begin practicing Kundalini yoga. Eighteen months later I had lost 23 pounds because I had committed to finding the way that would work for me.
Shortly after I got divorced eight years ago, I realized I wanted to meet and marry my fourth and final husband – my soul mate and beloved life partner. Today, I still have that desire, yet I haven’t invested my time, money or focus and I haven’t done the inner and outer work to bring that desire into reality.
I now see that I hadn’t made the commitment to do whatever it takes to meet my beloved because I hadn’t believed it could happen. I had given up. I hadn’t been willing to give up the short-term gratification relationships that work in a couple of areas for the long-term huge gain of the amazing romantic relationship I sometimes glimpse. In one of the most important aspects of my life, I’d settled for something being better than nothing.
It’s been hard to admit I had given up. The good news about finally admitting it is that I now have the real opportunity to commit to what I desire with my beloved in the same way I did with my business and my weight. So, I am taking the first steps . . .
What about you? In what area of your life is the reality far from what you desire? When you take a deep breath and then tell yourself the truth, do you believe it’s possible? No judgment here, just compassionate reflection.
We all have the opportunity to begin again in this very moment. In what area of your life have you given up? Would you be willing to
courageously begin again?
Feel free to post your own story in the Comments.
I affirm and know
the brilliant Light
that I am.
Shining even under
the dark cloth
I sometimes throw over it.
I am coming to know
in each new moment
that the dark cloth
I have used
to obscure my Light
has outlived its usefulness.
In this moment
I am willing to release
outdated notions
of my own limitations
and step into
the Truth of my Light.
As I more fully experience
the alignment of my being
the enthusiasm of my breath
the excitement of my mind and
the overflowing joy of my heart,
I stand fully in the
Truth of my Light.
Dedicated to my coach, Jeff Patterson
Last week, I called six of my coaching colleagues to ask them if they have a coaching colleague who is actively looking for more clients and who might be interested in taking my new, nine-month Client Enrollment Immersion Program. I didn’t reach any of them directly, so I left lovely, informative, succinct voice mail messages. Or so I thought! After a few days none of them had called me back.
What, they have their own busy lives? I’m not their first priority? Not even in the top ten? Alas . . .
I could’ve taken it personally. I started to go there. But it turns out I didn’t have time! While impatiently waiting for my colleagues to call back, I got three referrals – one from a current client, one from my coach and one from my hard-working website. I no longer had time to take anything personally, as I used my time wisely to talk with these three new precious referrals!
Moral of the story? I need to show up and do my part: call the people I’m inspired to call to fill my program. Then, I need to get out of the way and allow the Universe to deliver the right people. Without the slightest concern as to whether or not they came via the route I thought they should!
Feel free to share your thoughts and insights in the comments . . .
I recently raised my coaching fees. I had been preparing for a few months by getting VERY clear on what would make my coaching services worth the new fee. A steep learning curve, to say the least!
And, I am thrilled by what I have learned. It’s simple, profound and absolutely life-changing.I have a new commitment and confidence that our coaching WILL get my clients to the goals they set when I am willing to ask them the hardest questions. And when they are willing to move through the discomfort of answering the hard questions and then the fear that often accompanies the change as they take new actions based on their answers.
This isn’t always easy work for either of us. But it does bring the change they needed to achieve what they desire.
When someone is considering hiring me as their coach, we need to know before we start working together if I am the best person to ask the hard questions for them. We also need to know if they are actually willing to perceive themselves differently to answer the questions honestly and make the required changes. I’ve been amazed by how quickly it becomes clear if we will or won’t do the tough stuff well together.
These initial conversations fall into two distinct categories.
The people who are ready to receive huge value from coaching often tell me things like:
The people whom I’m not going to be able to help right now say things like:
I love seeing this pattern. I KNOW the people who feel scared and willing will receive huge value from our coaching and will be thrilled with the outcome and investment. I also know that the people who aren’t yet taking full responsibility for themselves, their lives and their businesses, blame many external circumstances on them not being able to achieve what they most desire.
Ah, the joy of hard questions!
Feel free to post your thoughts and insights about asking and answering the hard questions in the Comments. 
I recently heard an interview with Bill Baren, who coaches entrepreneurs, in which he talked about one of his businesses as a kid. He made good money carrying groceries. Apparently where he lived, there was a gap between where the grocery shopping cart could go and where the shoppers’ cars were parked. So, he offered the service of carrying the groceries from the cart to the cars.
In the interview, he talked about paying attention to what his customers each needed specifically and finding out when his best customers shopped, so that he could be there for them. He built a nice business by paying attention to what service and when to service, then charging for that service and then taking the money to the bank! How simple. How often overlooked.
He also talked about how he still does that today. He pays attention to what specific service his clients want and need, he offers that service to them when they need it, and then he puts the money in the bank.
Listening to his interview challenged me to pay even more attention to what services my clients need. I love this clean and clear business model. And I love the direct correlation between offering a valuable service and putting money in the bank. When I offer services that my clients don’t want or need, then those services aren’t valuable. Even if I think they are!
So how about you? Would you like to ask your potential clients what services they are looking for? Would you like to ask your clients what additional services or deepening of services they want? Sure beats guessing! Or worse, thinking we already know – because we know better than our clients and customers!
Feel free to post your findings in the comments.
“Unless a tree has borne blossoms in spring, you will vainly look for fruit on it in autumn.”
– Walter Scott
What in you longs to blossom now? Even though many of us choose to set goals and make resolutions in January, that timing contradicts nature – both human nature and mother nature . . .
As Nature herself knows, attempting new growth in the dead of winter makes for a very short life span! Perhaps explaining the reality of so many new year’s resolutions never taking hold?!
Trees and flowers know better to wait for warmth to blossom. And so we as human have this same blossoming opportunity now – when the air is cool and the sun is warm and we feel hope deep inside our limbs!
So, regardless of what did or didn’t happen with your new year’s resolutions, what longs to blossom in you now? Can you sense more vibrant health inside you? Do you know greater abundance in your business? Are you feeling excited about new love blossoming? Is a new project waiting to blossom? New collaborations? Deeper friendships? New fun and adventure? Spiritual awakening? Travel to new places?
Let’s use this wonderful, fresh, spring energy to give voice and commitment to what longs to blossom from deep within us . . . looking forward to a wonderful autumn harvest because we’re taking the time now to tend the inspiration of new growth . . .
Feel free to post your spring blossoming urges in the comments section . . .
Happy Spring!
What a delightful time to see ourselves anew. I am choosing to use this fresh, spring energy to release another layer of self-doubt and self-defeating habits and see myself through new eyes.
I am also practicing extending these new eyes to others. By consciously choosing the renewal that spring offers, I am – once again – letting go of old judgments and beginning anew. And, being human, I can sometimes “forget.” When I notice myself judging or focusing on the less empowered aspects of myself or someone else, I simply use that noticing as my opportunity to call myself back to a fresh, new moment and a fresh, new choice!
As we see ourselves and others in brighter, more empowering light, we actively choose to live and love more from a God-consciousness, rather than from our own limited human consciousness.
Lovely . . .
What does spring elicit from you?
Feel free to post your spring rituals in the comments section . . .
