Hi All,

I have decided to start a new thread for the sake of simplicity and a fresh start following on what I launched with the previous thread, called "Giving Up". My intent is for this thread to be a place for people who took me up on my invitation to give something up (in the interest of enhancing their success with the ES Course and related Law of Attraction processes) to report what they have observed and experienced over the past week. In the spirit of my comments toward the end of that last thread, my request is that folks keep their posts to reports and dialog regarding those reports.

My commitment was to give up the compulsive monitoring of internet sports, particularly basketball and bicycling. I did that until Sunday, at which point I gave myself full permission to fully "indulge". Curiously, I only spend about 10 minutes doing online with it, and then I was done with it.

Based on my experience of the past week, I am now willing to allow myself one day a week only to do as much sports information hounding as I want. I, hereby, commit to a limiting of my internet sports viewing in this manner for the next 4 weeks.

I did not miss my habit much at all. I reckon the time was ripe to give it up.

My week was, perhaps, the most significant of my adult life (time will tell whether that statement is accurate, or mere hyperbole). Most of what occurred happened on the level of relationships - with my parents, partner, friend, co-workers, acquaintances, and most of all, within myself. To cover the details would require at least an entire chapter of a book (which I may be writing before I know it). Suffice it to say I have never witnessed so much healing on an interpersonal and intra-personal (i.e. inside of me) level in a year, let alone a week. I imagine this may come across as an exaggeration, but I assure you, it is so. I have never witnessed myself so emotionally transparent, relentlessly honest, and verbally skillful in my communications with people. The results have been positively trance shattering, and the level of intimacy I am experiencing with all of the people in my life has been staggering.

Do I think all of this is because I gave up trolling for juicy tidbits of internet news regarding Le Tour de France and the latest personnel changes on the 20 or so teams of the National Basketball Association? No. But, I do think that the decision to do this made room for other possibilities and other energies to come rushing in, and rush in they most certainly did!

The moral of my story is this: If I want to have what want, I have to be willing to stop putting my attention on what I no longer want, even if there was a payoff in keeping alive what I no longer want (Hmmm. Sound familiar?) Said another way - If I want something, I need to make a space for what I want to come to me, and that means something else(a thought, a possession, or a behavior, as examples) must be let go of.

I want to raise my glass to giving up!

Best to all,
Stevers

Good for you, Stevers. I was not following your last thread, so I'm glad you started a new one to catch my attention!

I drag so much stupid burden around with me.
Thanks for inspiring a way to start leaving it behind.

My first "giving up" is a little harder to define--
I spend way too much time at my work,
compared to the benefits I get(I would like to be able to make more than an eked-out living, and have recovery time.)

Other agents are out prospecting for new clients,
while I spend tons of time & energy serving the one or two I have, that come to nothing or little.

I have to give up something here,
to make room for enough clients
to support my business & myself beyond fear & subsistance.

I might be in the wrong business.

I'm a real estate agent. Agents whom I admire, and my past clients, describe me as one of the best they have worked with. All that great stuff--contientious, accountable, informative, not pushy, responsive, integrity, proactive. OK, yay, I'm proud & glad. I ask for referrals. "Please let your friends know how great I am, I'm happy to take care of them just like I cared for you."

But where are the next clients? I need to eat. I need new glasses. I've written 3 contracts and taken 2 listings in the last 5 months. Only one has produced a paycheck.

I see plenty of agents, who do crappy-crappy jobs on behalf of their clients, selling homes and collecting paychecks. AND these agents never seem to be at classes or trainings beyond the minimum to keep the license, and never serve on community projects.

Agents who seem to have the easiest time making new clients
are the ones who have a military spouse,
or are in the PTSA, or soccer moms,
or formally worked in small town grocery stores.

I'm not in that position.
I'm not much of a joiner, no kids in school.
I'm very down to earth,
and I avoid cheap flashy gadgets,
drinking parties, television,
cheesy gas hog cars & trucks.

My former landscaping clients
seem too freaked out by my career change
to buy or sell a home with me.

So, what is it I have to give up?
Can someone else see what I'm not seeing?

Is it my real estate career? (5 years in December.)

Is it the care I take in a transaction,
to protect my clients' investments and net values?

The whole thing has been a new world to me.
Literally, I dug in the dirt for a living
before I switched to Real Estate.
I worked in garden centers and did some landscape design.
I'm a lifetime status Wa State Certified Nursery Professional.
The garden center business is disappearing around here. Besides, it did not pay a living either.

Sometimes I feel that I'm missing a piece of my puzzle,
--or a whole corner! --and if I could get that piece in place,
the rest will follow naturally.

Can some fellow LS patron make
any suggestions on what I need to give up?
I am grateful in advance!

Thanks again Stevers, for posting it fresh.

Stevers - a little hide and seek never hurt anyone... it's important to play while we grow! Seriously, I do understand the "fresh start". In fact, I like your term so much, that is what I am calling my commitment to this releasing experience - a fresh start.

So in case you didn't see my post in the other spot, I had been out of town during your first invitation, but am applying your idea to August. To give up:

1) Believing/claiming that there is not enough time when what I'm really doing is filling my hours with derailers and busy-ness (TV/internet/email/unproductive and escapist-type daydreams). All actions not oriented toward my goals.

2) Self-doubt - I will use Sedona Method, in conjunction with ES, which has helped me in other areas. My normal cycle tends to be:
Goals and Action Plan >>> Good Start >>> Self-Doubt (often sub-conscious so not noticed at first) >>> Magic Derailers Appear allowing for >>> Procrastination >>> in order to focus on Busy-ness (See #1) which really = Self-sabotage >>> disappointment in myself which in turn = more reason to doubt myself in future.

Two days in and this is my first access of internet in those two days. Addressed a bunch of mundane, avoided, but necessary chores this weekend - got them out of the way to lay a foundation for that fresh start. Less TV, more downtime spent outside enjoying the beautiful weather with my husband - good, grounding, quality time. Next step - to reapply myself actively to my ES goals and daily disciplines (started back up today).

Will give more updates after a full week, but already feeling better.

Linda - I had a 180 degree-type career change much like you that didn't (in my case) work out, so I do see some parallels. This may or may not trigger something for you but... started doing something I loved and was good at (became a chef), but it became such a struggle, that I finally gave it up and went back to what I was good at but didnt love (financial analyst type). The main thing I took away from that experience = I definitely "gave myself away", wore myself out, and ultimately didn't prosper. Didnt know it at the time but I attracted the struggle to myself through self-doubt and old patterns of putting everyone/thing before me. A second class citizen in my own life!

Meanwhile, are you doing Effortless Success actively right now? I don't read the posts each day, so may have missed you before. Some of the basics from ES Level I may be worth revisiting...
Another thought - I was inspired to identify what I call my derailers (the give ups) by the contributions of several posters on Stevers' original thread, called "Giving Up". Volume I so to speak.

Have a great week - Colleen

Hi Linda
Have you tried the Sedonna Method? It sounds like it could help you- to release from the outcome, release from the worry about what other agents are doing, release from the financial ping-pong game, etc. In one of the CD's Hale speaks of a shift that occurred for him, while he was in the real estate business- that made a huge change in his financial bottom line.
I'm sure others will offer their suggestions as well- we all support each other in positive changes, as we bump along this path.

Brenda

Hi Brendann - so true, I heartily agree Sedona or something similar would be invaluable. I am 2/3 thru Sedona now, but didn't even think to mention it to Linda - case of not seeing the forest for the trees... thanks for the reminder! I enjoy your posts as they are very inspirational and thought-provoking as well as gentle reminders that it's all about perception and that is our choice. Struggle, joy, whatever - we have the ability to choose and it's all about where we each are as individuals at any given time. I've held on to struggle for a bit too long, it no longer serves me! Again thanks for the reminder - have a great evening - Colleen

Yeah, and no mentioning religions and how they may, or may not relate to the Law Of Attraction because that's not what this thread is all about, and we should all respect that.

Carry on!

Inchiki,

It appears to me that you are attempting to use sarcastic humor to make a point, and I find myself feeling a bit annoyed. I can't help but wonder what other emotion lurks behind this post. Are you having a hard time with the request I've made for less philosophical debate on threads that are original intended to be action-oriented? If so, why not say so directly?

I am a native New Yorker so I certainly understand and have plenty of personal experience with sarcasm. I don't do it anymore, because I have made a commitment to feeling and expressing my feelings to others congruently, and not through a kind of tangential use of humor (which is what I consider sarcasm to be).

I don't own or run this forum. I only made a simple request of people. You are free to either honor it or not. My request of you is that if you have a problem with something I've said, communicate what you are truly feeling about it directly to me, either on this public forum or via private message.

Stevers

Hi Stevers

I only PM people I like, so I'll say this on here:

Remember rule number 6!

Is that direct enough?

Inchiki,

Actually, since you asked - No.

Stevers

Hi Linda,
It sounds as if you are putting a lot of energy into the logical, mental effort of figuring out what to do. The Sedona Method that our friends are recommending is one of various approaches to releasing the anxiety you are experiencing in that effort. One of the early exercises in ES is found on CD 1, Track 3. It offers a meditation in which you receive a symbol relating to the next step you might need to be taking at this time. Once you receive it, it is suggested that you ponder its meaning and ask it what it has to say to you.
On track 6 of that same CD is a life purpose meditation that is also valuable - especially, I think, in the position you describe yourself to be experiencing.
Sometimes we have to give up things, sometimes we have to give up activities. But some of the harder things to give up are thoughts - perspectives and attitudes.
I think you have started to let go of your need to figure out yourself what is next by opening up and asking us on the forum for help. Perhaps 'the universe' has something to offer that you can find by starting with those two ES meditations. Would love to hear about your results.
May you create some personal peace today.
Margaret Ida

I'm sorry, Inchiki -
As I understand it, this forum is about sharing experiences that have been valuable to us in moving forward in a positive direction - and that may be helpful to others who are trying to do so, too. We would welcome any positively oriented contributions you might like to offer on the topic at hand.
In this case, several of us are working on 'giving up' some less productive activities and finding out what comes of it. Do you have something you might be looking at giving up - and for which you would like to use this forum for accountability and support?
May you create some personal peace today.
Margaret Ida
Some shared experiences will be more meaningful to you and some less. When I write, I often speak of things I have learned at church because much of my learning about energetic powers has come from that context. I do so in the spirit of sharing - not proselytizing. If my religious references offend you to the point that you do not find my postings to be helpful, I would invite you to skip to a posting that is more meaningful to you.

Hi Folks,
I don't know if you guessed it, but I was working on that last post from various perspectives and finally decided to go with a 'back on topic' one. Unexpectedly, a paragraph from another effort wound up being included. Maybe it belongs there, after all!

My report on my personal challenge (I am going to 'give up' late nights and make 10pm a target for closing my day and getting to bed) is as follows: I have gotten myself to bed considerably earlier - which is progress. But not as early as 10pm - which gives me something to still work on, I guess.
For those of you who have worked with Holosync, you will know that Bill Harris says he was a great resister. I identify with that very much and have been noticing that I very, very often resist all kinds of ideas and suggestions. (See - I'm noticing it at least!) So I guess I have resisted the full commitment to 10pm - but I did manage to sneak a little bit of change under my internal radar! I think that noticing that I have been affirming my busy-ness and therefore keeping myself busy with 'derailers' is a good example. Today I found myself thinking about 'getting things done' and noticed that I have been doing that!
I guess this week I will give away my 'keeping busy' phrase and practise using a my new one - getting the important things done.
My report on this one is due early next week.
Steve, your reports on 'giving up' and 'asking' are truly inspirational!
I look forward to hearing from the rest of you on your 'giving up' projects.
May you create effortless success in your day.
Margaret Ida

Way to go Margaret Ida!

It sure looks to me that part of this process is that when we affirm/intend a new reality (or in this case give up an old habit) things do sneak under our radar. My experience with the ASKING Paraliminal certainly brought that home for me.

Someone I read or listened to sometime in the last 20 years talked about making a "commitment to unconscious competency". The idea is that you when you let go of old habits, there is room for new (more life affirming) habits to show up - like getting the important things done!

Again, bravo! And congratulations of the progress you DID make with getting to bed earlier!

I'll look forward to your next report.

Stevers

All,

I have been having a strange experience the past four days. I have been finding myself taking MASSIVE action (for me, at least) on many different fronts, going from one thing directly to the next with very little pause for reflection. It's as if as soon as I finish one thing (and sometimes sooner) I immediately have the impulse (or perhaps I should call this intuition?) show up for the next thing to do.

Could this have anything to do with the fact that I have been listening to the ASK Paraliminal every day for the past week, and that my relationship with my Inner Guidance has quickened and deepened? My hunch is, yes (although I am actively working with a lot of other elements at once - quite typical for me).

Anyway, I must confess all this is a bit unsettling. So for week two of the "What are you willing to give up to be successful?" challenge:

I hereby commit to giving up trying to rope in my enthusiastic impulses to take action for the entire week, starting now, to find out what happens.

What this means is I am willing to trust that my impulses and intuitions have their own innate wisdom and that the things that truly need to get will get done. This is quite scary for me, even as it is exhilarating. I add to my commitment that I will do The Feeling Exercise (from Abundance for Life) if I begin to shut down with fear around all of this alarmingly productive yet largely unplanned action.

Let 'er rip!

Stevers

My Mid Week Report on giving UP 'busy-ness'

This has really turned out to be much more than I ever could have imagined. I have gained more clarity, uncovered more dark fears, faced mental & physical challenges, and become 100% more energized than I ever thought possible! I feel like I have evolved more in the past few days, than in the past few years. I think my greatest breakthru is that now I understand both How and WHY I have been limiting myself, how I have created my own frustrations, why things didn't work the way they were 'supposed' to work... and the best part is- I can laugh at all of it. It is all really amusing- the tricks I played on myself!

I have re-discovered & remembered the things that I truly enjoy, and re-connect with my essential self. I have learned to let my intuition speak loud enough to be heard over the noise of my random thoughts. This week, I have experienced intense & immense joy- for extended periods- every day.

Every morning I set the intention to only do things that brought joy to myself & others, and to encounter friendly, happy people everywhere I went. As a result, I've met some great new people, had a lot of fun with my friends, my roses are in full bloom, the gardens are weed free (I love to play in the dirt) and there is a mountain of dog hair under the couch! I found a wonderful person who loves housecleaning- and her love of cleaning allows me the time to experience the things I enjoy.

Giving Up 'busy-ness' has allowed space for all the things I've been working toward to flow into my life. It feels like a door opened, and the sunlight poured into the dark corners where my fears were hiding- and they all melted away like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz.

My next step is to re-evaluate my goals, with this new understanding- and focus this energy and clarity on them. I am sure that the old habits will attempt to re-emerge, but now I see them for what they are- a laughable diversion from my Essential life.

Cheers & Thank You Stevers

Brenda