Looking Back, All My “Failures” Were “Wins”
There is no question that at this moment in history, we are ALL facing some of the most daunting challenges we have ever faced. Like a slow motion time bomb triggered by a fast motion global pandemic the cracks in the world’s financial, health and food systems are getting wider and more frightening by the day.
While it is possible that things will all go back to “normal” at some point in the coming months… my gut feeling is that we need to take a good long hard look at taking care of each other and using our talents, skills and past experiences to not only survive these uncertain times but to THRIVE.
In the past 3-5 years I’ve been compelled to study money Urban Farming, Regenerative Agriculture, video and audio editing as well as learning to record my songs playing all the instruments. For some reason I’ve never been able to “just do music” or any other single thing. Maybe it’s the ADD, maybe it’s part of some larger plan… regardless, right now I’m feeling called to focus on growing medicinal herbs like Goldenseal (anti bacterial), Elderberry (anti viral), Solomon’s seal (anti-inflammatory). I’m setting up my Dad’s property to raise pastured pork and/or chickens as well as looking at land to lease for sustainably raising grass fed beef and lamb.
One of the best ways to counteract anxiety and doom and gloom fear based thinking is to take persistent continuous ACTION towards what you WANT instead of getting stuck in what you don’t want.
The BIG plan is starting to come together and I took a few minutes last week to share my thoughts and reflections in a short video on all the seeming “disasters” I experienced over the past 45 years as I struggled to find a way to get my music out of my living room and out into the world.
My plan was to make enough money so I could support my family AND record all my songs… In. my mind each song would cost about $1,000 to record properly… multiply that by 500 songs and I had a number in my mind of $500,000!
So I started studying business and trying anything that seemed viable.
Title insurance, Trading Futures, Buying houses for nothing down, Full time Storyteller/Songwriter/Percussionist/kid performer, Hypnotherapy practice, Coaching, Anxiety self help courses… All with some degree of success but NOT what I THOUGHT at the time was success.
Ultimately though, looking back all of those experiences taught me a crucial lesson.
As the “Course In Miracles” says, We do NOT know what is in our best interests!
The spiritual path of present moment awareness and dealing with “REALITY” instead of our FANTASY of what the world is like seems to offer the best solution.
In today’s video you’ll see me walking on the rocks in the middle of the river. The river was almost DRY. That was last week. In today’s reality, after 3 days of rain, the river is flowing full.
My response to all the uncertainty based on my past experiences is to:
1. focus on what I have control over
2. Take immediate and intelligent, persistent action towards creating what I want.
3. Learn, adjust, grow. Apply lessons learned from every outcome.
4. Build community of people who have skills and talents and resources that I don’t have.
5. Offer the results of my work at a fair price to others who value it.
6. Repeat and adjust the plan as necessary.
That’s my plan.
I’d love to hear from you about your plan and how you’re weathering this storm of life.
all the best!
Mark