“Melodee, this is Connie from your gynecologist’s office and I wanted to give you the results from our report. Your blood work is excellent. Your vitamin D, vitamin B, iron, cholesterol levels are all great. Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it, because it’s working. We’re just waiting on the report about your urine, but so far everything looks impressive.”
I received that call 3 days before New Year’s Eve and I was delighted, because last year at this time it was the exact opposite. I had low levels in at least two categories. On top of that my doctor had even offered to prescribe me an anxiety medication (I don’t recall the name) to help with it. I thanked her, but passed as my thought is unless it’s detrimental, I’ll find something natural over a chemical.
Did it get better immediately after? Not exactly. But I digress…
“I’m going to read a book about money every single month. It’ll be from a positive, abundant (not restrictive) perspective and on audio–since I drive alot, I don’t want to give myself any reason or excuse not to follow through. Would you like to join me?” I asked a dear friend 4 months after I had been to the doctor in December. (Note: I’ve created a ritual where I have my annual exam during the most wonderful time of the year. Kinda odd, but whatever.)
You see, I had been making changes in my own life. I had hired a life coach, joined a mastermind, and positive changes were happening in my life. It also made me start an evaluation, an inventory of sorts of everyone in my inner circle. I had a realization that I did not like the quality of our conversations. It takes two people to have a conversation and it wasn’t just her, it was me too. But I had come to a breaking point, I was done. No more bitching about circumstances outside of my control. At the same time, I didn’t want to cut her off and label her “toxic” (as it’s popular to do in millennial culture) because to me that was dumb. I’m not passive aggressive and besides, she had always been loyal, kind, and genuine despite our consistent complaining.
So I asked her a question and depending on her answer would determine whether we’d remain close or draw apart.
“I’m going to read a book about money every single month. It’ll be from a positive energy, abundant (not restrictive) perspective and on audio–since I drive alot, I don’t want to give myself any reason or excuse not to follow through. Would you like to join me?”
Her response was an exuberant, “Omg! Yes!!! I’m in!!!! Let’s do it!”
We were both elated. We were both committed.
On April 23, 2019, I asked a question on Facebook, “what’s the best book you’ve ever read on money? (I’m making a list.)” The humans that I’m connected with on Facebook are the most positive, kind, helpful and generous bunch on the web and they shared a plethora of different books.
I also did some research on my own; checked in with my gut, God, and made a list.
We started listening to the audio book as we drove (we’re both in sales and drive to customer’s homes to sell a product) throughout the week. We’d chat about it 1x a week at a designated day and time for 30 minutes to an 1 hour. We’d discuss how we implemented the actions that the author suggested, doubts that came up, wins we had, etc.
(Perhaps I’ll share the money book list if that’s of interest to you in another post with my review of each book and how it positively impacted my life, money, and body.)
At the time of this writing, we’ve read and applied 12 of the 13 books in only 9 months. We have one more book to go. Suffice it to say, our conversations have changed. We discuss our net worth, credit score, investments, sales, savings, water intake, sleep quality, workout routine, beauty regimen, and other topics that are in alignment with our goals and desires. No more complaining, bitching, or ranting. We’ve had a 360 degree internal makeover and it’s reflected externally as in the case with my positive results from my doctor and my friend having a 5 figure income month.
And no, it wasn’t because of a special holiday, or birthday.
It’s because of a transformation that began when I was working with my life coach in her program. As a result of that transformation, irritation started to arise and I began an evaluation of conversations in my environment, asked a question, which led to a decision… and it’s the conglomeration of those tiny decisions is the present that I have today.
How does this apply to you?
You too, can experienced a change in your life and you don’t have to wait for a special day, year, number or word.
Start by getting support for one area of your life. I highly recommend a life coach. Then, apply the techniques and tools from the coach. You’ll naturally become aware of what no longer serves you anymore, start asking better questions, and by default make better decisions. And it’s the cumulative actions of each seemingly small decision that’ll make up your present circumstances. Not over exaggerated resolutions with zero substance.
And while I love the spirit, and positive energy of the New Year, you don’t have to wait for a new year, another birthday, or any special event. The fact that you’re breathing is special enough.
