(But That Doesn’t Make Them Right!)

Setbacks pave the way for Comebacks

Anonymous

Forgive us, Friends, for we have blog-sinned. It has been some time since we last posted.

Sorry ‘bout that.

No disrespect intended, but if it’s all the same to you we’re going to take a pass on the whole Acts of Contrition and Hail Mary’s thing, and just get back to it!

But before we do, here’s the lowdown on WHY ‘The Big Gap’.

A few months back we sought out an ‘expert’s’ feedback (‘Danger Will Robinson!’) on our brand spanking new web site, podcast/blog and expansion plans, with the intention of going from ‘Hey, not bad.’ to ‘Wow!’

Growth and improved service are, after all, good things in our books.

But 90 minutes in and, as far as said expert was concerned, we were beyond help. In fact, he went so far as to advise we consider ‘getting outta Dodge’ all together cause he was predicting we’d soon be going down in a flaming ball of shame.

Yup: that was a banner day…

But you know, the crazy-making curve ball he threw our way did a couple of really exceptional things for us, as difficult things will do if you do what the most successfully Callings-directed among us do.

HARVEST them.

What Exactly Is Harvesting?

Harvesting, we learned (after hours of interviews with dozens of the successful) is a two part process.

First, these folks decide to harvest good things from ‘bad’ situations - to repeatedly find the seed of potential in any and all ‘negative’ situations. In short, they choose to always turn problems or adversity into opportunity.

And then they live that decision - no matter what.

Over time (and with practice) the process of Harvesting becomes habitual for them, so much so that they actually start to play and have fun with it.

Which makes rising to the challenge a sort of ‘Professor Plum in the Library with the Candlestick’ mystery to be solved (depending on the magnitude of the situation, but more on that in a minute).

And the process of resolving mystery’s draws them in, firing up their desire, curiosity and passion, focusing their energy and attention, and putting their strengths and unique brand of creativity to work on developing their one-of-a-kind response or solution.

Along the way they report enjoying a special kind of satisfaction and enjoyment, long BEFORE an answer is found or a final result created.

Which means that the idea of delayed personal gratification kind of goes out the window for them cause these people find the process itself gratifying.

All of which builds the foundation for Harvesting Part Two: Part One builds the muscle and resilience necessary for the more advanced form many of us are in awe of.

‘Do you know why we fall down, Bruce? So we can learn how to get up.’

from Batman Begins

The second part of Harvesting involves the desire and capacity to convert loss or trauma into a source of life-giving energy, meaning and inspiration.

Doing Something Different With What They Feel

Just like the rest of us, these folks feel unhappy emotions deeply. Just like us they aren’t particularly fond of those feelings. But what’s different is they don’t turn away from, mute or soften them (much). Instead - and as healing allows – they move through what they feel while choosing to use their experience for good, to transform it into something that uplifts, inspires and shifts them into the next evolution of their life.

This intention, applied even when the chips are really down, makes them into both-sides-of-the-coin meaning-makers with a softly experience-tempered wisdom that very often paves the way to a new calling or sense of mission.

Christopher Reeve’s a great example of a Harvester.

So’s Terry Fox.

Or Helen Keller.

It’s said that fortune favours the bold. Far as we can tell there’s no bolder thing than taking what hurts most and choosing to use it as a force for good in the world.

Our research has shown time and again that harvesting is among the most essential habits that makes the successfully callings-led successful – and able to remain consistently true to themselves and their life’s purpose and vocation no matter what happens or changes in their life.

As for us, we have to admit we had a little help lifting our sagging spirits after our ‘expert’ encounter, besides our own choice to be loyal to our vision and make good out of bad.

Just weeks after that crazy phone call, this woman named Oprah and a leprechaun-like guy called Eckhart Tolle drew 100’s of thousands of people from around the world to a life-purpose webinar…

And Mr. Expert said it couldn’t be done

****

Want to join the ranks of those who successfully HARVEST?

Put some of these True Callings questions to work for you (and please - if you’re grieving a loss of some kind, be kind and take your time):

1. How is this situation a YES to a larger sense of purpose?

2. How might this be working for me, not against me?

3. How might this situation be preparing me - drawing out the capacities, traits or characteristics I’m going to need to answer my next calling?