One of the keys to success is consistency. It is not only important to be purposeful about moving toward what you want with your life and implementing the plan to make it happen, but it is equally important to be consistent about the seemingly simple steps necessary to re-design your self. These steps include writing your goals, visualizing your outcome, experiencing the outcome in your mind's eye, claiming your destiny, and living according to universal laws.
What happens when you start and then stop implementing the aforementioned steps necessary to positively change your life? If you are doing what is necessary, and doing it consistently, then at some point you will reach what I call the "edge." Everyone doesn't get to this particular "edge." This is the edge" you come to when you have positioned yourself for grand success and in every decision you make, there is a tingle in the back of your neck. This "edge" is the one you come to when your life is about to take a turn for the GREATEST , and you know it.
Once at this "edge" you basically have three options. You can fall, dive, or jump. There is a thin line between the three. Though thin, that line is incredibly distinctive. Keep in mind that a dive is a jump, but a jump is definitely not a dive. And a fall is neither a dive nor a jump. A fall happens when you get to the edge and totally loose control; so much so that you don't even realize you are at the edge. A fall is grounded in fear (no pun intended). Fear is a powerful motivator; and/or fear can also be powerfully stifling.
I have been to this "edge" and faced my fears many times in my life. I have been there financially, socially, professionally, spiritually, in the way I think, and with how/what I eat (to name a few). Each time I get to the edge I am able to talk my way through it. By consciously showing up to the "edge," I have learned how to choose to dive. But there have been times when I have fallen. Many times. Keep in mind that without the falls, you may never learn to dive; so falling isn't necessarily bad, as long as you learn from it.
Over the next couple of weeks, right here on searchwarp.com , I will explore these three options that exist at the "edge." I only ask that when you get the articles, you share them with others, after you have internalized the lessons.
In this article, we'll define the three choices of diving, falling, or jumping. When you dive, it is premeditated, beautiful, breathtaking, and complete with executed form. When one dives, one usually knows exactly where one will land. The vision of the destination is crystal clear in the mind's eye. The belief in the vision is strong, as is the confidence in that vision becoming a reality. All of this and more will get the diver closer to his/her destination with precision.
The positive exercises, activities, management of internal conversation, meditation, proper eating, and thinking healthy thoughts all become vital to the diver, leading up to and during the dive. Once the diver leaves the "edge" - expertise, faith and belief take over and are what will determine form, execution, and reaching the desired destination.
A follow up question: What happens if, in the middle of the dive you loose focus and belief in your ability? This is when all of the exercises, activities, readings and other activities become important and here is how. The practice of managing the internal dialog, visioning, and directing one's total being toward one's goals can become habitual and will become unconscious if done over time. This is where that information becomes vital, as it is part of the foundation from which the dive was made.
Recently, I was presented with an opportunity to get involved with direct sales. Well, after investigating the company, speaking in detail to the person who "brought me in" to this particular business opportunity, I decided to get involved.
The products were fantastic. I still use them. It was actually during the use of the products that I realized why I had sought the opportunity to begin with. I had gotten to the "edge," lost confidence and belief in my own products/services, and chose to take a detour. It was an $8000 detour. Yes, that is eight thousand dollars. Money I could have invested in my own dreams. Once I realized the "why," the next step was to refocus my energy back on my dreams. Now, the company is great. The products are fantastic. And the person who introduced me to the opportunity is a wonderful person (and he is a millionaire).
I learned a lot on that journey. That is one of the times I got to the "edge," and jumped.
When you fall, you pretty much go straight down, tumbling to a place lower than that from which you came. When one jumps, one is unsure about the landing, afraid of the fall, and could very well hit rocks and debris on the way down. The vision may be known, even articulated, but it is not clear in the minds eye. There is little belief in the vision and wavering confidence that it will become a reality.
When you make a decision to jump off the "edge" (as I did), you have also lost control. But it is different from falling. A person will jump only when they have lost faith and belief momentarily in their dream/vision. When that happens right at the edge, it usually results in not having the confidence to go through with the premeditated dive. It would be like deciding at the very last second, to do something different than what you have planned to do; except you don't have a plan for this last second change. Because you have no plan, and because it is at the last moment, you end up jumping with no form, no plan, no clear vision, and no recourse.
The "edge" is a great place to be, especially when one chooses to dive. Diving is what will take you "over the edge" in style, grace, and dignity.
Next week, we will focus in more detail on diving.
Darren L. Johnson is an international speaker, organization development (OD) consultant, and author of the book titled Letting Go of Stuff: Powerful Secrets To Simplify Your Life.
Of his recent accomplishments: in 2008 he founded National Letting Go of Stuff Day and in 2007 he founded the Global Business and Organization Development Foundation. He has over 20 years of combined managing, consulting, coaching, training, and speaking experience. A graduate of American University’s Masters of Science in Organization Development & Behavior program, Darren has been an independent organization development consultant since 1994. His client list includes City of Franklin, TN, Rotary International, Thomas Nelson Publishing, and the National Minority AIDS Council in Washington DC.
Learn more about Darren and sign up to receive his other articles and info at www.LettingGoOfStuff.com. Follow him on twitter at LettingGoPro.
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» left by EV from Chicago, IL (113 days 19 hours ago.)
This article was absolutely beautiful and right on time! I believe I would fit most of my experience with manifesting goals in the "Jump" category. Not quite falling; not gracefully diving, either. Reading your article has helped me to put some major life decisions in perspective. Thank you so much for sharing! I have forwarded it on to friends and family already!
Hi Darren, welcome to Searchwarp! Just this article alone shows what an asset you are to this community and the internet. Great tips and well written. l look forward to learning the art of diving :-) Blessings to you! Teresa
I've found all your articles - as you suggested - and am reading with real interest. It is impossible to go through life without frequently coming to the edge, isn't it? If we don't choose to go beyond, dive or jump, then the edge we keep coming to is the same one and we never improve our technique or change - or feel better about ourselves either. The challenge of new edges will come with past experience, technique and strength. I like the adage: 'There is nothing to fear but fear itself.' How true that is. Unfortunately, besieged by fear, standing at the edge, it can be hard to remember to breathe let alone remember worthwhile adages! True whether the edge was chosen or chose us! I liken your advice here to when I was a dancer. Rehearsals involved learning the steps, putting them together, and then putting them into the physical part of my brain and body so that by the time first night came around, the dance and movements were already inculcated and I was free to express the story and the music. It's like anything in life: practice, practice, practice. A lecturer I had in college used to say: 'A marathon runner doesn't go out and just run a marathon. He takes a long and regular time to train.' He was using the analogy to teach playwrights that they must write and rewrite regularly, continually, to finally develop something that would one day be ready to be produced.
Anyway, I look forward to any more articles you put up. I'm impressed with the way you write as well as the content. I'm sure you'll find yourself popular here.
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