Gratitude And Stepping Out Of My Comfort Zone, Online Gratitude Journal #12
September 5, 2008 by akemi
Are you rejecting happiness to stay in your comfort zone?
It’s a strange concept when you first hear it. What idiots want to reject happiness? Are you kidding? You want as much happiness, as much abundance, as much love, as ever possible, right? (Photo by Mr. Greenjeans)
That last phrase is the key: “as ever possible” Who decides how much is possible? YOU, yourself, because you create your own life. If you think only such and such amount of happiness is possible for you, then you are unconsciously rejecting the rest of it. And this keeps you comfortably where you are.
How I freaked out with the massive flow of happiness and abundance
Strange thing happened to me this Tuesday. As you know, I have a business called Akashic Record Reading (if you didn’t know, please check it out before I raise the rate). It’s a new business, and it’s starting to get some attention. Like Hunter Nuttall did a two part interview with me this week. Now, on Tuesday, first workday of the week in the US after the Labor Day, I received enough orders to fill my schedule for the next 10 days. And they don’t seem to be related to Hunter’s interview. I received some more orders since that are related to the interview, but the ones that came on Tuesday seemed to just came my way out of the blue, through Google.
You know how I felt?
1st order: Wow, I have an order today. Nice!
2nd order: Another order. My lucky day!
3rd order: This is so cool! I must be in the flow!!
(skipping the middle part)
2nd last order: . . . (I freaked out. I was panting to write email confirmations. So I decided to take a break and went out.)
(Upon coming home and checking my PC) Another order!!
It was scary. Really. It takes a lot to receive the massive gift from the Universe. I knew about the concept I explained in the beginning, so I knew I need to stay open to welcome even more energy flow rather than closing down and going back to my cozy little low level, but really, for a few moments, it felt it would have been easier to go back.
Similar issue happens when I receive compliments. One compliment makes me happy. Two, nice. Three, um . . . Four, I’d feel like I want to run away and hide under the blanket. It feels tooooo good to be true. It’s takes guts to take that seems tooooo good to be true.
Gratitude! Gratitude let me overcome these discomfort. Thank you.
(Now you know how you can train me in this “Stepping out of my comfort zone”? Shower little Akemi with praises in the comments . . .)
New posting schedule and tagline
This Gratitude Friday series will be a bi-weekly feature going forward. Not that I don’t have enough gratitude, but because there is a growing backlog of other articles I want to write. In addition to the growing backlog of my real job orders. So please pardon me.
Also, I’m testing new tagline. One of the things Men with Pens pointed out in their Drive-by critique was “Yes to Me? What, yes to me or yes to you, Akemi?” It is ambiguous, but at the same time, some readers say it intrigues curiosity. So the tagline needs to define the scope of this blog and settle this ambiguity.
So far, I came up with these ideas:
Yes to Me - Self Actualization in Entrepreneurship & Life
Yes to Me - Inside Out Approach to Entrepreneurial Life
What do yo think? I know my readers are very intelligent, so pitch in your idea! Thank you.
My Law of Attraction Dream Money Project, Week 11, $102,400
Aaaaagh, it’s now six digit! Again, this much of abundance makes me . . . makes me . . . not uncomfortable ^_^ I’m past my fear that lots of money might make me unapproachable, might attract bad people, and all other might’s . . . working . . .
I’m learning to open up to the flow and this is a cause for celebration! And it seems the more I celebrate, the more goodies come my way, so let’s make a big bash and share the goodies with lots of people.
I want to hold a lunch reception at my local art museum. And I will make it a free day at the museum for all. I always thought art is for everyone. If you can afford to buy the painting you like, that is great. But even if you are not, you can go to the museum and enjoy the best. Portland Museum is very nice, but it charges a pretty good fee to enter, the kind of money some people might hesitate to spend casually. So for this day, it’s on me. Come and enjoy.
I don’t know the financial details of that museum, but I guess $102,400 is plenty to do this. If there are changes, let’s upgrade the foods for reception. How about all organic, locally-grown feast?
Blessings to you all, enjoy the weekend!
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Akemi, I am so afraid of constant love, so afraid of having all that my heart desires, so deeply afraid of being happy beyond belief. What am I to do?
Snuggled inside my comfort zone, happy as a clam, I remain oblivious to all that life has to offer, oblivious to all the good that others can do. What am I to do?
I cringe when I get too much praise, wince when someone sends me one kind word too many, recoil in horror when strangers insist on getting close. What am I do?
I’m proud to be skeptical, I feel so very safe when I’m cynical, so very hard to please when I’m swimming in my pessimism and fatalism. What am I to do?
Why, be grateful, of course!
Hey, I’d love to meet you in the Portland museum some day, now that I know how to coax you out of your comfort zone. This is dangerous knowledge, Akemi.
Christopher
Sorry to hear about your massive flow of happiness, Akemi. If this continues to be a problem, I will be offering a “piss you off” service to counteract the effects.
Even though “yes to me” can be ambiguous, I immediately thought me, the reader. If the tagline was “yes to you,” I’d find that confusing. Maybe some people are the opposite. I find it intriguing though. I like the self actualization one, because inside out approach makes me think of blood and guts.
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..14 Life Lessons From Scarface
Hi Akemi-san,
6-digit is quite a thing to get used to, huh?
My wife and I just started a very similar exercise where we write ourselves check everyday, of increasing amounts. We immediately felt our discomfort with spending money! It’s a good exercise for loosening up our mind set, if nothing else.
ari
Ari Koinumas last blog post..Setbacks: Growth Is Not a Linear Curve
Hi Akemi - this is brilliant news. And you deserve this success because of the wonderful service you provide. I hope it will keep flowing in. I know I still have to interview you. I hadn’t forgotten, I’m just not good at thinking up great questions - and I don’t know how I will compete with Hunter’s ones.
Men With Pens are so cheeky. I like your blog title and I think the second tagline - the inside out one, sounds best.
The day at the museum sounds wonderful for your gratitude money. I think you could probably take a lot of people there for that amount.
Cath Lawsons last blog post..10 Stockmarket Investment Tips For Beginners
Chris,
Or, let me ply open the clam.
And by the time I see you, my comfort zone will have expanded so much that you really need to bring in a LOT to throw me out of that zone
Hunter,
I will remember your service offer. I’m so lucky to have friends like yourself who would help me by all means.
That is how many people say about “Yes to Me” I actually did some survey before I launched this blog, and most people said they immediately thought of self-assurance. Hmm, maybe James is making this too complicated.
Koinuma-san,
Yes! This exercise works, and you never know how it works until you actually do it. Good for you and your wife.
Cath,
Thank you. I’m sure your interview will be uniquely yours.
Now, the vote is split among the two taglines . . .
Have you found the techniques useful though.
So much has been said about it but I will be keen to see how many ordinary folks hsve actually succeeded using these apparently simple techniques.
Akemi, your taglines are interesting, but for me, I like being told what to do by those in the know. I would (respectfully) suggest the following:
Yes to Me
Realize yourself through entrepreneurship, or
Yes to Me
Realize yourself through an entrepreneurial life
Or some such.
You’re a smart cookie, Akemi, but rather than coaxing you with a lot of praise, I would merely praise you in just the right way at the right time
Christopher
Congrats, Akemi, on the orders flowing in, and on your acceptance of the good things coming your way!
Out of the two taglines you mentioned, I prefer the “self-actualisation” one. My own interpretation of “Yes to me” was along the lines of a website offering resources that would help me give myself permission (or allow) to be the best me I can be, to be authentically me.
Mags | Woo-Woo Wisdoms last blog post..Flow And Buying A House
Hi Crystalloids,
It is working for me, an ordinary folk. And it worked for Jen, too. She is ahead of me and an millionaire already
Chris,
Thank you for your input for my tagline!
There is another idea (by someone, and I’m not disclosing who it is because it may affect the vote)
Yes to Me — Looking Within to Lead Without
Mags,
Thank you.
Taglines are tricky. I guess this is why some marketers make good money with this. I’m sure many people bought iPod for their tagline of “1000 songs in your pocket”
Akemi, you are so welcome.
Yes to Me - Looking Within to Lead Without. Hey, this is even better than my suggestions! I’d seriously consider using this one!
Lots of love,
Christopher
Hi Akemi,
Congrats on your success! I know exactly what you mean about freaking out with the massive flow … I’m just recovering from mine. It’s amazing how this work that we do is getting traction in different ways and in different markets.
Actually, I like “yes to me” with the open end. That way, I could apply “me” in many ways - business, life, love, abundance, weirdness … anything. But that’s just me and I do recognize that others may appreciate a little more to the tease.
Irene,
Oh, is that why I haven’t seen new posts on your blog recently? It hurts, doesn’t it ^_^
Chris and everyone,
I came up with yet another idea and testing it:
Yes to Me — Nurturing the Entrepreneurial Spirit Within
Irene, Yes to Me. I like it. I like it a lot!
Akemi, I’m in the mood for some punch here:
Yes to Me — Lift the Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Yes to Me — Raise the Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Yes to Me — Juice the Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Yes to Me — Charge the Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Yes to Me — Arouse the Entrepreneurial Spirit!
Yes to Me — Awaken the Entrepreneurial Spirit
Hmm, yes, I like that last one!
Christopher
Ooooo, cool, it sounds like you’re getting progressively more comfortable with asking, allowing, and permitting abundance to come into your life. You even forewarned readers that you’ll be raising your rates! Yes to you!
Next, you’ll need to start thinking about how you can handle all the work (raising rates is certainly one good way to steady the flow - at least initially). Will you start mentoring/training apprentices as well? Ah, the power of thinking abundantly.
Thank you for sharing your experiences so adeptly.
Millionaire Mommy Next Doors last blog post..Fannie Falls Down and Freddie Comes Tumbling After. How Can We Pick Up The Pieces?
Chris,
I like the “awakening”, but there is already a book “Awakening the Entrepreneur Within” by Michael Gerber. I think he may have taken cue from Anthony Robins’ “Awakening the Giant Within” . . .
Jen,
Thanks!
Handling all the work is really a challenge. I know this, and this is why I’m not marketing too aggressively right now. For a pretty long while, I think I want to keep this pace — slow and steady growth — until I have really solid client base who are my fans.
Then, I have a few ideas how to service them ongoing with very small expense for them. I might also do product sales, but of course, the product must be something that really benefits my clients.
Hey Congrats!! I’m been following your dream money project week off and on and am happy to come back today to know that you’ve done a great job. Keep it up. I hope to make it to your museum one day!
Evelyn Lims last blog post..My Abundance Mind Movie
Evelyn,
Thank you.
My museum — my very own — hmm, that sounds like a great idea when I have just a little more of the dream money. Thanks for the idea.
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