Guest Post: The Secret To Succeeding Before You Even Start

I’ve been reading Leslie’s eZine for a while now and I love her insights and inspiring articles. Below is one I really connected with and asked her if I could share it with you on my blog so here it is. Enjoy!

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The Secret To Succeeding Before You Even Start

by Leslie Cunningham

It felt invigorating to be outside in the crisp Montana air with beautiful blue skies above. What a gorgeous day to be out. I reveled in the anticipation of chopping wood and enjoying the sheer joy of just being alive. Well, that lasted for all of 10 minutes—my surreal joy and bliss, that is. Actually, it took a rapid nosedive into sheer frustration.

I had carefully placed a log upright on the ground. I clasped the splitting maul in my hand and poised it high above my head. Then I swung. Much to my dismay, I was greeted by the dull “thud” of ax meeting earth.

“No big deal, I just need some repositioning and maybe more focus,” I muttered. I made the necessary adjustments, and eagerly raised my maul again. Down it came, making not exactly a piercing smooth “whack,” but more of dull resistant “smack,” as the ax bounced stubbornly off the wood.

What to do when you’re tempted to quit

Okay, so who am I to quit after just a few attempts? I raised my maul once more – determined not to be defeated by something as simple as an inanimate piece of wood. I knew I could prevail; I’d done it last year, after all.

Finally, after several sad attempts I was greeted with a most satisfying, “whack!” Hurray! Triumphant! I had finally succeeded. What had I done differently this time? Well, anyone who has successfully chopped wood, or split boards in karate can probably tell you.

On this swing I had actually anticipated the ax going completely through the wood and being on the other end of the wood as it split in two, instead of hoping it might make it, thinking it might make it, or wishing it would make it.

This simple internal shift resulted in many successful swings. My body began to relax as it adjusted to a natural, easy rhythm. I felt the wind on my face, the smooth ax handle in my hand and the sheer joy of using my body to accomplish a purposeful activity.

How many of us aim for goals and swing our axes high only to miss the mark entirely?

How many of us aim for goals and swing our axes high only to miss the mark entirely and experience only the soft “thud” of the ground? Or, how many of us meet the frustrating resistance of the wood with a most disheartening and unsatisfying “smack?”

Many of us begin the journey of achieving a task or goal with only a half-hearted commitment. We say to ourselves, “I might as well give it a try and just see what happens.” We lack the true intention of succeeding.

We lack the faith. Then we simply shrug our shoulders when things don’t work out, and complain that it was due to external forces beyond our control. Reflect on all that you’ve done, and all that you’ve attempted to do this year.

Which tasks did you complete? Which did you abandon? Which ones are you working on right now? Ask yourself, “What is my intention?” Are you only halfheartedly trying? Or are you really experiencing your ax on the opposite end of the wood, where it has already sailed smoothly down the grain and separated the log in two?

It’s an entirely different feeling to begin a task with the anticipation of completing the task successfully. You can feel it in your bones. This is the energy I encourage you to tap into. There are no “maybes” or “what ifs.” It’s a matter of truly knowing and expecting 110% success. With the ax raised high above your head you’ve already succeeded in your mind and feel the success in the core of your being. It makes all the difference, knowing instead of just hoping.

Live and Love Richly Minute Action Step

Think about a goal or dream that you’ve had a difficult time achieving in your life. Have you been coming mostly from your head? How would it feel if you applied the chopping wood principle above? Feel yourself knowing that you will succeed and having every intention of succeeding. See yourself succeeding past your goal. Feel yourself already on the other end of the wood. Make an effort to tap into this feeling each time you focus on and begin moving towards your goal or dream.

About Leslie Cunningham, CTACC:

Leslie Cunningham, Financial Dating® Founder, Master Money Coach, Radio Talk Show Personality and Published Author, empowers couples to build a healthy and conscious approach to finances.  She provides practical and creative advice on how to get out of debt, get on the same page, build wealth and live a life filled with financial ease, freedom and rich experiences.

She has over 17 years of experience facilitating groups, coaching and developing educational programs.  She is passionate about helping couples “live and love richly” by transforming their financial and lifestyle stress into inspired action to create more money, time and ease. For more information visit her website at www.financialdating.com, call 406-586-5561 or email leslie@financialdating.com

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