Think for a minute about the natural reaction of non-swimmers who are thrown into deep waters.
Can you picture it?
They panic, and thrash violently. They become consumed with the fear of, “What if I go under and can’t come back up?!” Full of adrenaline and to avoid the worst, they claw and pound the water, in a frantic effort to stay afloat.
Eventually, if they don’t get some help, they go under out of sheer exhaustion.
This is also a vivid metaphor for people who feel like they’ve been thrown overboard without a life jacket financially.
Maybe they intentionally “abandoned ship”, leaving a regular source of income to go out on their own in search of another boat, or maybe it happened in a storm. However they got there, they may feel like a non-swimmer, fully exposed to choppy waters, surrounded by mysterious depths, and at risk of drowning in bills and other pressures.
In a situation like that, the natural inclination is to panic, and work too hard frantically trying to stay afloat – ultimately wearing themselves out and sinking into despair.
The truth is, that the principles which keep a new swimmer afloat in the water are the same principles that keep you afloat financially:
1) Take a deep breath,
2) Relax, and
3) Keep your chin up
That’s how you stay afloat in the water, and that’s how you stay afloat financially, too.
Stop for a moment and let the following statement sink in (no pun intended):
Having money does not create peace of mind; it begins with peace of mind.
Before you can learn to swim efficiently, you’ve got to learn how to FLOAT. Not just in swimming, but in your finances, too. I’m convinced that people who enjoy true abundance live abundantly, not because everything always goes their way, but because they have learned how to float and swim in choppy waters without being overcome by exhaustion.
And floating only works when you stay calm. When you are calm and keep you chin up, you float; not just in water, but with finances, too. Staying calm allows your mind to be relaxed enough to notice the inspiration that helps you solve the problem. Don’t cut off the Source of your answers by freaking out!
The cure for fear is not courage, the real cure for fear is knowledge. When you know WHY you can be at peace, it’s easier to feel peace. Choosing peace of mind also keeps you in the path of all the opportunities and resources you’ll need. (Read Hidden Treasures FREE – to find out why this works.) Freak out, and you jump off the path.
Whether you leave a ship by choice or not, finding yourself in the water can be terrifying, especially if you never learned how to swim. But hope and optimism literally and financially make you more buoyant.
Discover the truth of this and you may also discover that swimming peacefully allows you to get where you want to go without a boat at all. (A shout-out to all you entrepreneurs out there!)
So, breathe… relax… keep your chin up… and trust the current to take you to the next boat or port on your journey to financial freedom.
For more on this topic, click here to join me in the life-changing Mindset Fundamentals Ecourse for less than the cost of dinner and a movie!
- The Rare Faith Book – Part 1 - November 20, 2024
- Why your future is no secret - November 13, 2024
- Unwavering Commitment and Focused Intent - November 1, 2024
9 Responses
As one who once spent over three years struggling financially, even when I had an academic understanding of the laws of success, I can add my endorsement to what is being taught here. I used to feel so frenetic about my circumstances. I thought I had to find a boat that would get me to where I thought I wanted to go by “noon tomorrow”. It was not until I settled down and obtained a level of peace and gratitude about my circumstances did they begin to change for the better.
Leslie,
I have spent a lot of time and money keeping other boats afloat. It is time to invest into my own ship building. The economic storms are upon us and this is the time when the captian of the ship really gets to learn how to sail. I am looking forward to honing my skills on my ship in the wrath of the storms.
What I have to say about it is not an answer that can be adequately addressed in a blog post reply.
(Besides, Danielle may not consider my response valid anyway, since according to her, I am one of those working moms.)
Nevertheless, for the record, it is just ONE of the main issues being addressed in the sequel of the Jackrabbit Factor. I've been working on it since last December and finally finished the first draft last week.
Women who face this dilemma will have something new to chew on that may not have ever crossed their minds before. I expect it to be encouraging, enlightening, and a tool for instilling hope.
I regret that it's not done (and available) already. Life required that I first experience a few things personally, before I was going to be qualified to write what it contains. Those experiences happened during the first half of this year.
I simply couldn't have completed it any sooner, and am now more excited than ever to get it out asap. Stay tuned… and thanks for your patience and understanding.
I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on Danielle's comment. I've known several women in that situation.
Thank you Leslie! A reminder to not let the pressures take control and just breathe and stay in the present moment and know that God is with me.
Wonderful! And how nice to know that in heavy “Cs”–chaos, credit crunch, cashloss, crises–we can take that deep breath, make the appropriate Course Correction, and keep moving. thanks for the great reminder, Leslie!
I feel like we’d do better if I were making the income. In fact, I’ve had to go to work to help out and dh is working less and bringing in less than ever and it’s been a very rocky 5 years. How can things improve and leave the mother not working? Many of the LofA stay at home moms end up going to work to make this happen, like you. Thanks.
How Sweet was that! Nice! Thank you..
Leslie, I agree whole-heartedly. I have been free from a job for 3 years now and I have been on a few boats and in the water…but God always covers my family.