Are You Looking for Prosperity in All the Wrong Places?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Molly Gordon, Shaboom , http://www.shaboominc.com

Have you ever had a friend who always seemed to date the wrong people? It happens when we confuse values and standards. If we aren't paying attention, our standards -- for looks or prestige, for example -- may be keeping us from seeing the person who fits our values.

When your standards don't match your values or vision, the harder you look for what you want, the in all the wrong places.

The same thing can happen in your relationship with money. You start out with good intentions, only to find yourself operating according to standards that don't fit. Maybe you try too hard, or maybe you don't try hard enough. Either way, you end up feeling bad about yourself and your relationship with money.

If you get down on yourself or try to muscle your belief system or behavior into line, it just gets worse. The financial conflict gets turned inward, and now you are at war with yourself. With friends like this, who needs enemies? As long as you argue with, resent, or reject your current experience, it keeps biting you.

When you finally stop fighting what is, things change. The thing is, you're exhausted and you have messes to clean up. (War is like that.) It's enough to make a person crazy.

Thankfully, we can get to acceptance before losing heart. Find out how you can bring healing acceptance into your financial life, in The Four Pillars of Acceptance below.

But first, a shameless plug for a program that can radically improve your relationship to money.

Introducing: Authentic Wealth, Getting into Right Relationship with Money
http://authenticpromotion.com/authenticwealth.html

Money problems are rarely about money. Money is simply not that hard to understand, get, and manage. If you don't believe me, look at some of the folks who have a lot.

Money problems are the outward symptoms of inner conflict. When we are at war with some part of ourselves, we are unable to ask for, receive, or create the wealth we want. And even when we have what we need, we feel chronically insecure.

If you are ready to change your relationship with money, retreat details are here. If that resonates, send in an application (it's short) and I will phone you to answer any questions you have and make sure this is the right thing at the right time. (The last thing you need is to spend money on the wrong program!)

As I write, six places in the retreat are already spoken for, and more may be gone by the time you read this. So please, if you are not happy in your relationship with money, act now. Apply here.

And now, back to today's feature.

The Four Pillars of Acceptance
Acceptance is the foundation for all creative action. Acceptance is finding the "you are here" place on the map so you can move toward your goal. There's simply no way to move forward if you don't start from where you are.

The first pillar of acceptance is humility.
Humility and its close relative humor exert a homeopathic influence: a dose of humility and humor averts humiliation. It's a whole lot easier to accept where you are with this pillar in place.

The second pillar of acceptance is wonder.
Wonder endows the capacity to receive support from unexpected sources. When you accept what is with a sense of wonder, it is much easier to surrender control – which you don't have anyway – and invite synchronicity, serendipity, and happy accident.

The third pillar of acceptance is willingness.
Each time you set aside your own script in favor of reality and summon the willingness to cooperate with what is, rather than fight it, you are storing up energy, building momentum. With the pillar of willingness in place, acceptance shifts your orientation from resignation and resentment to what is possible.

The fourth pillar of acceptance is desire.
Ah, desire! When you tune into your deepest and truest desires and allow yourself to experience your longing while accepting current reality, you complete a circuit. Your acceptance is now the firm foundation from which you can move forward.

Gratitude Practice with the Four Pillars
Gratitude can pave the way to acceptance like nothing else can. Take a full, easy breath as you name things for which you are grateful under each pillar. Ask your body to show you what it feels like to experience that gratitude. Savor the experience.

Humility: Name three things you are grateful for that you did not earn or get for yourself. (Examples: health, children, nature.)

Wonder: Name three things you are grateful for that you do not control. (Examples: electricity, art, the color blue.)

Willingness: Name three personal traits you are grateful for. (Examples: sense of humor, ambition, loyalty.)

Desire: Name three things you have wanted that have come to you. (Examples: a spouse, a garden, season tickets to the theater.)

Drop me a line and let me know what you discover as you practice acceptance through gratitude and the four pillars. Send your reflections to letters@authenticpromotion.com . If you prefer that I not quote you, just say so.

Pay it forward: Please feel free to pass it on or to reprint this article on your Web site or in your own e-zine. All I ask is that you forward the newsletter in its entirety and/or that you include the following paragraph and copyright line with live link if you reprint the article.

This article originally appeared in the Authentic Promotion e-zine and is reprinted with permission from the author. Molly Gordon is president of Shaboom Inc., a coaching and training company that delivers hope, help, and hilarity to Accidental Entrepreneurs so that they can build a business that fits just-right. For more information, visit http://www.shaboominc.com. Copyright 2007, Shaboom Inc. All rights reserved

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