Recently I was on an airplane headed home after a short vacation. As we barreled down the runway, the airplane suddenly began to slow down and we taxied clear of the runway. There were several minutes where we didn't know what was happening as there was no information coming from the flight deck. As a former pilot, I thought of all the possibilities it could be. My seatmate said, "I wish they'd tell us what happened." To which I replied, "They probably have their hands full. They can take as much time as they need. I've got nowhere else to go but home."
I followed that with a silent prayer, remembering that I'd not said my usual one when I sat down and then my thoughts went to something my mother had said earlier in the day. We had been talking about the fact she'd recently joined her church choir even though she already has a tremendously hectic schedule. When I questioned her about the commitment, she said that she didn't want to meet her maker and have Him ask, "What did you do with all the gifts and talents I gave you?" My mother has a beautiful voice and she did not want to come up short in anyway at the end of her life.
As my airplane taxied back into the line for takeoff, we were only told that they had been cleared for takeoff and something occurred that caused us to stop. Worst case scenario, a midair collision was averted. My mother's words played in my head asking me what haven't I used of the talents, gifts, abilities, and learnings that I've been given. The first thing that came to mind is what I've lived through financially, now on the other side, and how I haven't shared enough of what I know to be true about manifesting abundance to help others get out of their situations. There are so many people struggling right now, my wish is to help as many as I can with what helped me to move from broke and broken to abundant and prosperous, not just in money but in my thoughts and experiencing more joy than I ever imagined in my dark, lonely, poor days.
Here are the first 4 steps I recommend to anyone who is experiencing significant financial trouble and who wants to start turning their situation around:
1. Breathe. Breathing is a choice when you are in debt. You have to be willing to live through the situation you are in. I can remember as if it were yesterday, how shallow my breathing was under the weight of the mortgage and credit card payments that I knew I couldn't pay. I had to choose to breathe. I had to remember to take a deep breath, fill my lungs and be willing to fight for my life, literally.
2. Take stock of the good in your life. I know how tough it is to find anything good when creditors are calling and you're beating up on yourself for the situation you're in. However, if you're reading this you either have internet access or a friend printed it off and gave it to you. There are two pluses right there. Add in you have eyes or audio or fingers if reading by Braille. Take a deep breath, you can breathe. Ask yourself, "in this moment, am I safe?" Let this moment connect you with any good that is in your life and focus on that for now. Feel it, enjoy it, own that there is good right where you are.
3. Take a peak. I know for me, I stopped opening bills when I was over my head in debt. How about you? Have you been paralyzed by the debt that you have? Have you peaked at any bills lately? Set aside 15-30 minutes to go through all of them. Just look. Before opening the bills and letters, think about how you might reward yourself for taking this action. You might light a candle (don't burn the bills though), play soft music, even have a glass (not a bottle) of wine. Make it an experience so that you're nurturing yourself as you go through this exercise. Or, take yourself for a walk or call a friend afterwards and ask them for encouragement (and only encouragement).
4. Start dreaming. Now is the best time for you to start dreaming and feeling what your life will look like after debt. What would it feel like to be all caught up on your bills? What will it feel like when you have them all paid off? How will your life change when you have discretionary income again? If at any time in your life you had more than enough, really get into the feeling of what that felt like. Think of that feeling throughout your day and especially as you drift off to sleep and first awake in the morning. And, if it seems like you've been in debt your whole life, then act as if. Ask yourself the questions above and pretend you know what it will feel like. You'll be surprised how magnetizing our feelings are, so feel wisely.
Just start there for now. Give yourself lots of acknowledgment for the courage it takes to do any one of those steps above.
If you want to learn more about getting out of debt and recreating the life of your dreams, I invite you to receive a FREE special report entitled "10 Tips to Begin to Dream Again" by visiting http://www.missionabundance.com
Kamin Bell, MS, MA, went from extreme debt to living a prosperous life. She is now passionately committed to teaching people how to live their dreams and attract more abundance into their lives.
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