What can you do when it seems like all else has failed?
This is a topic very close to my heart, as it is very early in the morning as I sit here in front of my computer trying to figure out my direction in the universe. I have been awake for a couple hours and had a very restless night sleep – all because of the stresses that I am feeling.
Money is really tight. Maybe I didn’t emphasise that enough, it is so tight that we are concerned that there will not be enough to pay the hydro bill this month…
As I sit here, contemplating my next steps, a couple things came to me that I feel are worthy of sharing with the rest of the world…
1) It is time to let go of beliefs that you have been holding on to tightly.
As the planet is going through these ‘challenges’, more and more people are running into difficulty, especially from a financial perspective. For example, yesterday I applied for a truck driver position because a lifetime ago I was licensed to drive truck for doing deliveries. Because of my experiences, I made a commitment to myself that I would never drive professionally again. That belief changed when I did some very simple math and realized that it really looks like it might come down to us losing our house because I was not willing to budge. So, I was able to change my attitude and send in the application. I also called the person who would be doing the hiring and spoke with them for a few minutes. They were happy to accept my resume. All seemed to be looking positive until they called back a few hours later. I was told that I was overqualified for the position. In fact, the exact quote was “your resume and work experience are blowing me away. Why would you want to drive truck?” My first reaction was negative, obviously I was not supposed to get this job. Then, I started thinking again about the phone call. I actually ‘blew someone away’ with my qualifications and experience. Wow, that is really a good thought. Yes, it does not pay the bills, but it does give me something that is more important in this time of stress – and that is HOPE! I do have very good experience and skills, and I have done many great things in my life. Wow again – all this has come from applying for a job that I believed I would never do again… Question to ask yourself: what beliefs are you holding on to that are actually holding you back?
2) Let go of pride and reach out.
What will the neighbours think if we have to put our house up for sale, or worse, if it is foreclosed? Who are we really trying to kid here? Look around – I’m sure that you have seen other houses with those little pieces of paper in the windows and on the door – for those of you who have maybe not thought about it, those are foreclosure notices which means that someone has lost a place to live. Think about that for a minute – someone has lost their house, and my family is in real danger of being in that situation. Who cares what the neighbours think? Who cares what your relatives and friends think? Where does that foolish pride come from anyway, and how does it serve you? Instead, what if you were to reach out to everyone that you know? Ask them for help, opportunities, support, and love. Ask them to pray to their higher power for you. Ask them to send you love. I believe that the planet is round for a reason; there are no corners to go and hide in. We are all in this together, so let’s start acting like it! Those neighbours who you think are judging you because your house is up for sale – they are really thinking “oh my God, what if I’m next?” My belief is that these challenges in the world are happening to remind us that we are a global community, and that is the only way that we will survive – by becoming a true community. And, you never know, someone you know may be looking for a person with exactly your qualifications, but they didn’t know you had them…
3) Help others because that will help you.
Do you know what I really want to do? It is not drive a truck or sit behind a desk – even though those ‘jobs’ will pay some bills. What makes my heart sing is to host an environmental forum and start an organic community garden. Why do I want to do these things? Because it feels right. I get excited thinking about the possibilities: educate others about what we are doing to our home (planet) and what options are available. Also, teaching people how to grow their own food for very low cost and without poisoning themselves and the planet by using dangerous chemicals – what can be more rewarding than that? Notice some of my word choices here: heart sing, feels right, rewarding. All that money from the truck driving position or desk job will just perpetuate the feeling of needing to make money in order to survive – or – I can satisfy my soul. Hmm, satisfy my soul – wow that is a huge statement! Have you ever really examined what makes your heart sing, feel right, or feels rewarding? What would it feel like to have your soul satisfied? All this satisfaction from helping others…
You know, I really want to thank you (yes YOU – the reader). When I started writing this I was really on the edge of depression and I had no idea where this might end up. By sitting here and letting my fingers walk over the keys, I have ended up with not only a good article/blog but also arrived at soul satisfaction. How will I pay the bills this month? I still don’t know, and that fear is still lurking around in the back of my mind – however, it is no longer consuming my mind. I think that I am going to go back to bed and catch whatever sleep my 2 year old daughter will allow before she decides that it is time for the day to start 
My wish for you is that you are able to find your soul satisfaction – and have the courage to embrace it because, really, what else is important? My love to you.
Jeff
