I’ve been in the business of helping others achieve their highest and best most of my life, it’s my life’s mission and it permeates everything that I do or say; it is who I am. I am so thankful that I was raised in an environment at a time when everything was questioned and I was given carte blanche for personal freedom and expression… and I reveled in it.
Momma always told me I could be or do anything I want (as long as I didn’t terrorize my younger brother or burn the house down).
Early on, I knew that I was a more sensitive, loving and caring person and I preferred the company of others who shared and contrasted my personal views, keeping an open mind, maintaining a certain set of beliefs while allowing others to share their views without ridicule and encouraging them to continue to share their ideas with all who can hear them. (Even at an early age, I knew that it would be a waste of time to share ideas with someone who could not understand what you were trying to say.)
Later in life, people referred to me as a “manifestor” for my ability to make any idea or passion come to life. People think that I am a fearless and masterful creator, when in reality, I am just like anyone else – maybe more inhibited, self-conscious and/or frightened – but refuse to let anything get in between me and my desires. So, I find the wherewithal to man-up and do what I have to do to make a thought (or dream) a reality.
People are drawn to me in search of their “reason for being” on this planet, like I would know the answer. Truth is, if you’re like me (and you are), you are accomplishing your life’s mission every day, though you may not realize it. All you have to do is to look back at your life and review (amongst other things):
• What kinds of people are attracted to me?
• What kinds of assistance do I offer others?
• What activities have brought me the greatest sense of pleasure?
• What do I love to dream or fantasize about?
This will give you an idea about what your purpose is (you can’t help but do it, even if suppressed).
In this moment it is occurring to you that you are not completely in-tune with your specific calling, certainly you could do better, and you can. You have all the skills necessary to perform at a higher level of effectiveness as you were born with the ability to be your highest and best.
You may be feeling the social twinge related to the idea, “but I have bills to pay…” Not a problem; nobody’s asking you to quit the life that you’ve built for yourself ‘til now. This is not the time for reckless abandon. But it is the time to start performing your divine function (I refer to it as my ministry) at a higher level, moonlighting part-time, and you will notice something amazing to begin to take place.
The things that you thought were only far away, distant dreams, without the possibility of being realized for you, will begin to appear, first as possibilities, then as you continue to do your work… will become more and more attracted to your current circumstance.
Then before you know it, your dream (the first of many) has come true as you realize the you can be or do anything you want. This is true self-empowerment, becoming the creator you were meant to be. After a while people will begin to call you a manifestor, and you can help others to do likewise.
Becoming your highest and best… Making all your dreams come true… Will prove to others that they can do the same… even better. That’s a gift only you can give.
Lightning strikes the earth 100 times every second. In the same way, potential moments of mass impact strike our lives; like lightning, we never know when or where it will strike.
Will you be ready when lightning strikes?
I have been coaching about lightning preparedness since (edited) for a long time. Not the electrical discharges from above so much as the sudden impact of life-changing opportunity that we as planetary participants are infrequently but abruptly struck by without notice.
These lightning strikes come, generally, in two varieties; tragedy and potential good fortune. My life has been struck by both, and I’ll bet yours has, too. And chances are we will be struck again. Will we be ready?
Andy Warhol was not far off by asserting that everyone would have their 15 minutes of fame, exactly what happens when one is struck by the media lightning strike.
In terms of good fortune, if your desire is to use the lightning strike to your advantage, you must be prepared to jump and bounce the exposure to a higher level, thereby increasing the sudden impact. This enables you to convert the strike into a wave that can be ridden for a longer duration.
If you have your ducks in a row (or stacked correctly) when lightning strikes… you will have your duck feathers everywhere!
(Oh, that was bad, Masters: Bad Masters!)
Whatever your ducks represent, they are different for every person.
I work with a lot of authors, so let’s use them as an example. At the very least, an author – or potential author – must have a written book proposal for their latest book idea(s). It is not enough to have it all in your head; you must have your book proposal in written (printed and electronic) form and have the ability to access it within minutes (if not seconds).
So, when lightning strikes…
BREAKING NEWS
“I’m Rikki Number with KNOW News, live on the scene where the Space Needle was struck by lightning and has collapsed into its footprint…”
The reporter, with book proposal in hand continues, “Author, Jane Dough, whose upcoming book ‘My Last Romance in Seattle’ is soon to be released, witnessed the tragedy. Miss Dough, please tell us what you saw…”
“Well, I was on my way to meet with the artist who is working on the cover art for my latest book and I saw this bright flash of light that lit up the whole sky, and the earth shook, like a bomb went off…”
No one can know when or where lightning will strike, but if you are always in a state of preparedness, you can bounce the impact of the briefest moment to your benefit.
Without, the book proposal in hand, Jane Dough would have just been another generic passerby. Being an author increases her credibility in front of the news cameras, and because she was my client, she already had her-name-dot-com (Masters’ Branding 101) heated up and ready for the impact (potentially crashing the server from all the instantaneous heavy traffic).
This little piece of prose fiction is just to inspire your imagination. You know, beyond the shadow of doubt, that it happens every day – especially if you watch the news with any regularity – and this is just one idea.
You can probably think of examples (likely not as exaggerated as my example) that have happened to you, or someone you know.
These kinds of lightning strikes happen far more often than the electrical discharges from our atmosphere.
Ask yourself: Am I Ready?
If not, you best begin preparation today. Isn’t NOW the best time to get ‘er done? Do it now.
Granted, most of the time, we do our best to go with the flow but invariably while on our journey (any journey; whether of love, life, or other pursuits) we find ourselves in a bit of a quandary. Drama, some unforeseen circumstance, tragedy or challenge has reared its ugly head; and there we are in the eye of the storm.
What are you going to do?
Based on time and circumstance, you options vary but in most cases – when reviewing my options – I will consider taking a more difficult approach to managing a dilemma, only IF… I can anticipate a better outcome or achieve growth through the more challenging solution for dealing with a problem.
Sometimes, I will take a more ambitious path to resolution, if I foresee more potential positive results and/or significant improvement in the quality of life for others.
Fortunately, I have had the opportunity (as have many of my contemporaries) to face difficult challenges – head on – and successfully survived the ordeal with enough integrity to grow personally and professionally; and having survived the ordeal has resulted in continued blessing and support for others and the community at large.
When facing a desperate situation, rise to the challenge and embrace the change that leads to growth.
Many of my clients and friends have found themselves face-to-face with the most challenging of circumstance. It is no accident, when they encounter potentially disastrous peril that they have a small team of core individuals whom they can consult prior to engaging in battle.
Based on your base personality type, you will either have a natural inclination to lean toward an aggressive approach or a passive approach to problem-solving. The wise world walker consults with his mastermind team to evaluate possible outcomes before engaging in battle to determine what would be the best tactics to use to achieve the greatest results.
Just like real-life combat, one cannot prognosticate the exact outcome(s) of a particular strategy, but you can – especially with the third-party perspectives of trusted individuals – formulate an effective game plan supporting your goals and values.
My personality leans toward the passive (while some of my contemporaries are always locked and loaded running into any situation with guns blazing), but when confronting a desperate situation, I will man-up and self-sacrificially suit-up in full regalia to protect my family, loved-ones and in some cases, the world at large.
To some, they are truly surprised when they witness the focusing of my attention and resources on a particular battlefront, though they (witnesses, or my opponent) did not realize that I possess, “a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career*,” that can be extremely effective on the battlefield. On the other hand, others may only have known me for my skills in battle.
My personal armory – and my friends’ armories – is not known by all; yours also should be kept private, acquiring and utilizing each weapon judiciously as it is needed either for challenges that you face, or on the behalf of others that may need your assistance in the future.
And each desperate situation that you face, gives you more confidence in the face of fear, the more you engage in courageous confrontations with strength and honor.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m not good enough.” or even worse, “You’re not good enough.”?
It never ceases to amaze me that people are so inclined to accept the idea that they are unworthy or unable to do the thing that they are compelled to desire due to previous programming and mob mentality.
Why would someone want you not to achieve your highest and best?
This is one of the components of what I refer to as, “The Biggest Conspiracy,” which includes a method for society to control a growing population with the ability to herd and manipulate them with as little effort expended.
One way to do this is to conceive of and promote a culture and system(s) of belief in order to have the members of your society to be easily manipulated en masse. If you’re setting up this culture and, let’s assume that you are one of the more wealthy individuals in your society; as such, you may like to control the individuals who maintain a certain degree of wealth within your society.
In this way, you can create two divisions within your society, which could be referred to as leaders-and-followers, royalty-and-worker-bees, rich-and-poor, etc… and if you would like to be considered a progressive or “free” society, create a system to support the poor folks who might aspire to be not-so-poor folks.
Create colleges and universities to create (and control) the income-earning ability of the individuals within your society, and by all means, lead them to believe that if an individual does not have the proper advanced schooling, they are not qualified to aspire to anything beyond a mediocre working wage or position within your society.
To make this system even more effective, create information sharing components or media that will allow you to communicate messages to your society with as little delay as possible. Having control of the media (which should be wielded by slight-of-hand; certainly you would not want your subjects to actually think that you were controlling it) will allow you to quickly manipulate the mindset of the society as a whole.
I could go on for hours – and I don’t mean to over-simplify – but you must know that these illusionary tactics don’t really work because there’s something inside of you (even the smallest, most sincere whisper) that is telling you, “This is not right.”
That inner voice is telling you the truth. You are a child of God (interpret that anyway that you want) living on a planet full of resources and you – Yes You – are the most valuable resource of all. You came to this planet with a specific purpose and message to share.
And the truth is, you would not have had the thought that a thing could be possible for you, if it wasn’t. In fact, I believe that if you were given a thought of a possible future for you, it is actually a clear vision of the future, if only you could remove whatever stands between where you are in this moment and the vision that you have been given.
Enter the sociological programming and self-doubt, “I’m not educated,” worthy, don’t come from a rich family; don’t have political connections, blah, blah, blah…
You already have everything you will ever need to get you from where you are to where you want to be; if you will only embrace it and take action on it.
Isn’t it time you considered opting out of the herd?
Think about it… as you read these words, you know that it is true; there is a better life out there waiting for you.
Isn’t it time that you started thinking about how you would like to be known or remembered for? What would you like people to say about you after you’re gone?
Now is the time to start establishing yourself as the person you’d like to be known as.
You’re a wise world walker and as such, you have the ability to see and perceive things unencumbered by the social restrictions that confine other earthlings with limiting beliefs.
The first step in establishing the person that you would like to become is to take stock of where you are currently. Evaluate how you see yourself, how others think about you, and if possible, try to get honest third-party perceptions about the kind of person you are.
Having an objective opinion about one’s self is the first step of wisdom.
I’m a list person, so I would suggest getting a piece of paper and start jotting down what other people’s opinions of you are as well as how you think others might perceive you objectively.
We tend to see ourselves from within and consider the person who we are to be the most intimate and trusted person we know. We know our thoughts, motivations and inner feelings. So, we know how deeply we feel about certain people, circumstances and topics but no one outside ourselves knows how we feel.
Decide which inner feelings you’d like to have recognized for by your family, peers, coworkers, community and possibly the world at large.
So, here’s the next list: Who I Want to be known as?
Go ahead; go crazy. This is your life. The impression you leave on others is all that remains of your life’s journey.
It might help to relax and imagine what you might like to hear people saying about you at your funeral (avoiding the morbidity of the idea). You need not go as far as writing your own eulogy, though some people like doing this as part of the process.
This is not a one-time affair. The wise world walker is constantly evaluating his or her life, being aware of where they are in their journey and intentionally putting their sights on other destinations to engage with.
As a matter of fact, as I write these words, I too, am reflecting deeply… and have just uncovered something that brought me to tears. Though too intimate to share publicly, the basis of it is simply:
I have sincere, deep feelings about something.
The public (exterior) sense of others might have no idea about how passionately I feel about this thing.
If I ask myself, “Would I like to be remembered for how I feel?” or, “Would I like the world to know how I feel?” and the answer is, “Yes.” Then I have a great deal of work to do.
It is not always comfortable work – and in most cases it is not – but thank God you have the wherewithal to realize the separation that exists between
where the perception of you lies
and
what you would like to have known about you.
Your challenge – if you decide to accept it – is to think of ways that your true, authentic self can be seen by others and start taking action.
Who are you?
Let people know who you are.
I want to know you for everything that you would like to be remembered for.
I work with a wide variety of clients with just as varied philosophies and levels of personal and professional acumen. In my attempts to reach out to them – to help make their lives more efficient and/or effective – invariably we encounter obstacles along the way.
In every case, there are at least two options involving making a decision to attempt to deal with the problem or circumstance. It is my preference to evaluate the situation from as many perspectives as possible before taking action (if time and circumstance allows), weighing the available data and deciding to take the action that offers the least resistance.
If life was a raft, you’d make it so much farther downstream in less time, by letting the current do most of the work.
If one approaches his or her life as a river rafting trip and thinks of the raft as representing one’s life or business, then you are more able to disassociated yourself from the circumstance enough to more successfully navigate the journey and allowing the flow of the water carry you to your destination.
In the same way that we use conservation to protect valuable resources and reduce waste, we need to approach problem-solving, navigating our business and lives by expending the least amount of effort to gain the greatest reward or impact. You want to conserve your strength for what might lay ahead, only using the necessary resources to get you from here to there.
Yet, the river’s flow and the terrain surprises you with what may be lying around the next bend (especially if you haven’t navigated a river trip, like the one you are currently taking).
Some, if not most, of your river rafting trip will not be torrential and you will be able to drift along enjoying your scenic oneness with all that is.
I am blessed to be invited to join others on their river rafting journey and it is my life’s ministry to offer my perspective to others to help maximize their efforts along the way.
Whether the trip is a personal, professional or spiritual one, my calling is to help others achieve their highest and best. This journey – whatever shape or form it takes – requires effort and resources to get from here to there; thoughtful conservation of energy and resources involved the management of your cache to increase the effectiveness of your time spent in the flow.
Find ways to go with the flow. Ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my efforts and resources at this time?”
You may find (if you’re able to remove yourself from the anxiety of the current perceived situation or crisis) that in some cases, little or no action may be necessary, because even though it looks like you’re hurdling straight for that rock… the flow of the river’s current will guide you around it.
Sometimes your choice to go to the left of the rock – or the right of the rock – can directly impact what lies ahead. The rock may represent anything, a life challenge, business opportunity, marketing approach or financial decision. Using a T Chart or having a co-pilot can be extremely effective.
A wise person uses the technological resources available to best navigate the journey. Although this approach may be offensive to the purist, I would embrace having lookouts with binoculars connected to me via a wireless headset to assist in navigation, if possible. (Just sayin’.)
In any case, be open and willing to take no action, if necessary and enjoy the thrill of the ride.
You may know me by my work at Olympia Life Coach, or you might have taken any of my many classes or been trained and certified as a Life Coach by me, and if you have, you’ve heard me refer to the “truth matrix” at one time or another.
Having a grasp of the truth continuum can be extremely valuable in the way you interact with your life coaching clientele. In this business, you never know who is going to walk in your door and what condition they might be in.
Remembering that you’re in the business of helping someone do the best they can with what they have is of primary importance. You are not here to educate, train, or convince anyone of anything. Other experts in various modalities are called to ministries which persuade people to do or think in certain ways, but the life coach is there to support the client, period.
Clients may be predisposed to any concept of life or belief system. It is not the coach’s job to change what anyone believes, only to accept clients for who they are, believing whatever it is they might believe, without judgment or ridicule.
We do present clients with challenges, and a plethora of “what ifs” in an attempt to encourage clients to look at things from different perspectives, but their reality is solely their own, and we encourage them to make their own decisions supporting them all the way (unless it comes to a point where it becomes a conflict of interest, then you can refer them to another coach).
This is where the idea of the truth continuum comes in handy, as the truth continuum assumes that whatever the client thinks, or says is somewhere inside the truth continuum, even if it sounds contradictory to anything you might believe as being true.
The truth continuum honors the right of any client to believe anything they want and enables you to support them 100% in whatever they long to accomplish in their life without judgment or criticism.
Of course, all life coaches are not created equal, and no two are the same. You are encouraged to specialize in particular areas of expertise. For instance, there was a time when I specialized in drug and alcohol addictions. Since those early days, I have moved on to other areas of expertise.
When someone approaches me, who desires coaching regarding alcohol or drug addictions today, I refer them to another Olympia Life Coach who specializes in that particular area.
I stay focused on the vibration of the areas of coaching which resonate with me at the time.
Certainly, if I am working with a client who encounters a bridge which must be crossed to better approach the goals and ideals which he or she is working on, I can reach into my cache of previous specializations if we can keep moving ahead without any loss of momentum. If it requires a more long-term commitment, again, I am likely to refer my client to another coach specializing in that area.
My client is welcome to either maintain the work with both coaches, each working in their area(s) of expertise, or alternatively to return following the other work which may cause conflict with their primary focus.
This is the beauty of working with many other coaches, counselors, and consultants in my practice at Olympia Life Coach.
If you’re interested in joining the team at OLC, contact me and I will see what we can do.
A little about me, I’ve been counseling and consulting since the late seventies/early eighties. Occasionally, in the course of my coaching, I would encounter a client that had to mitigate the damages in their life due to the influence of a third-party individual, a “bad person.”
From my perspective, there were no such thing as bad people, just lost souls wandering aimlessly through life with little regard for others; and so, the advice that I gave to individuals in those days was very different than I might suggest now.
What I learned, was that there are people who are devoid of particular mental, emotional and spiritual components that compromise their humanity when integrating with other persons, we call these people psychopaths, sociopaths and the recent, more political correctly referred to as being on the Antisocial Personality Disorder spectrum.
That said, there are thousands of variables and no two psychopaths are identical, but they do share many similar characteristics.
So, how can you tell if you’re dealing with a psychopath? Here are some common signs that would indicate that you might be dealing with a psychopath in your life:
1. CHARISMATIC
Psychopaths are charismatic and are able to attract supporters easily.
They are wonderful speakers who are able to engage their audience and can easily engage the emotions and attention of those fortunate enough to be in their presence.
They exaggerate stories skewing the truth for their self-serving benefit and will go as far as to lie and place themselves in someone else’s story and claiming it is their own.
2. SMART
Psychopaths are intellectual. They have a gift of having incredibly sharp wit and intelligence enabling them to masquerade as highly-educated as they bob and weave socially in live situations.
This also makes them excellent con artists able to conceive, plan and execute elaborate schemes, while staying one step ahead of the authorities.
3. NO FEELINGS
Psychopaths have no feelings. They do not grieve, are incapable of feeling guilt, shame or remorse, empowering them to easily victimize anyone. They will enthusiastically engage in anything that bolsters their position at someone else’s expense.
They do not love. They are incapable of giving or receiving love, but terribly acute at acting as though they are madly “in love,” if it will help them achieve a desired result.
They are great actors/performers giving them the ability to create any perception of themselves that will achieve for them their desired result.
Even though they can appear to have emotions and use them as tools to manipulate their victims, let there be no doubt, they have no real feelings whatsoever.
4. IMPULSIVE
Psychopaths are impulsive, often acting or speaking without thinking through potential consequences of their words or actions, and are more likely to spontaneously take risks.
They are free of repercussion since they see themselves as above the law or the constraints of the social norm. No social filters, consequences or guilt.
5. WINNERS
Psychopaths never lose. They will dominate anyone who gets in their way, will viciously defend their position, often by telling lies and spinning wild tales in an effort to discredit anyone with the inclination to disagree with them.
If you are naïve enough to challenge them, be aware that they will wield their powers of persuasion to make you look like a fool for questioning them. Which presumes that they believe themselves to be:
6. NEVER WRONG
Psychopaths are always right. They never apologize; do not feel remorse for hurting others and are incapable of feeling guilt.
If asked to apologize, a psychopath will often strike out and attack their victim, rather than admit they may have made a mistake or misstep.
Now ask yourself, is the person you’re dealing with a psychopath?
Are they charismatic, smart, have no feelings, impulsive, always the winner and never wrong?
Chances are, you’re face-to-face with a psychopath.
You’re probably saying to yourself, “I knew it. I knew there was something wrong with that person…” You are realizing that you should rely more on your intuition that may have been warning you when you first met this person that something was not quite right. If only we learn to listen more to our gut, we would live happier, safe and secure lives, free from those who seek to exploit us.
If nothing else, that is the lesson to be learned from encountering a psychopath, is to trust your instincts and to not let yourself be taken advantage of by a cunning predator.
I would not, now, be an expert in the field of psychopathy had I not had my own first-hand experience with an evil psychopath that opened my eyes to the realities of the disorder. And now I have deep regret for all the folks that I was ill-equipped to be compassionate enough to reach out to them appropriately.
In this way, I may have attracted this psychopathic presence in my own life to benefit those whom it is my calling to assist along their life’s journey.
So, we’ve established that you have found yourself to be the unfortunate victim – or mark – of a psychopath, sociopath or someone amidst the antisocial personality disorder spectrum…
What Can You Do About It?
How to Deal With a Psychopath
1. NO CONTACT
The very first thing to do is to create as much separation as you can as soon as possible between yourself and the psychopath.
You need to distance yourself physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually and in any other way possible from the psychopath and cease any and all communication with him or her, period.
Any further communication or contact after correctly identifying a psychopath will only lead to more risk or potential loss to you and yours.
Be aware that as you distance yourself, the psychopath will try to cling to you or play on your emotions in order to further victimize you. Do not fall for their manipulation or pity ploys from this point forward. They will try to appeal to your feeling but keep in mind they have no feelings and no regard for yours, except as a method to further victimize you.
You must cut them off. No contact, means no contact. Though this may not be possible, if you work or live with the psychopath; but that will be an issue to be handled specifically and independently of the scope of this primary message.
2. GET HELP
Next, you will need a strong support system. You should seek out a professional, a counselor or therapist, with experience in dealing with psychopaths. Note that early in my practice, even though individuals sought me out for assistance, I was ill-equipped to offer them the support that they needed at the time.
How can someone understand what you are going through if they do not understand what you are going through… because – and I am as guilty of this as anyone – “things can’t really be all that bad.” But they are, and they can be very bad, and they can get worse if you do not take the appropriate actions.
Seek out a specialist, or at least someone with experience dealing with victims of psychopaths.
3. BE QUIET
Do not talk to your friends about the psychopath. You might think this is a good time to reach out to those in your circle of friends that you can depend on for support, but chances are (if the psychopath has done his or her homework) they have already gotten to them in advance.
If your friends have not been compromised by the psychopath, there is a good chance that they will be, and be forewarned very few people can compete with the ability to manipulate the minds of the unsuspecting, like the psychopath.
Keep things quiet. Do not confront your psychopath, engage in a battle of wits, challenge or attempt an intervention with your psychopath. This will only open you up for further potential pain, suffering, and potential loss.
They psychopath has the uncanny ability to turn anything that you say against you. Don’t give them the opportunity.
4. STAY STRONG
Stay the course. If the psychopath has counter-attacks you, don’t respond.
If you communicate anything to this person it should only be silence. Be steadfast and unshakeable, solid as a rock.
He or she must realize that you cannot be manipulated or be bullied into making any kind of response, no matter what they do or say.
Keep a good posture, positive outlook, smile and be confident (even if you don’t feel like it) at all times.
Any indication of weakness will be seen as an opportunity either to insert themselves or launch another attack.
5. DOCUMENTATION
Document everything. Keep hard copies of everything you can to document any interaction or statements made by your psychopath and keep it at a secure location.
Watch what you say. Act as if every word you speak is being recorded, and may be read to a jury in the future word-for-word, twisting your words and spun out of context in an effort to make you look like a lunatic.
Maybe someday the people who once trusted you will see the truth, but even so, if your psychopath was a masterful one, they will still wonder about you, even after the true colors of the psychopath are made known.
So, don’t hold onto the false hope of one day being vilified of all the illicit accusations that were made against you. In most cases the effects are permanent, though may fade over time. Maybe, in the afterlife…
6. FORGIVE YOURSELF
Most of all, forgive yourself. You were not the perpetrator, here, you were the victim. And as a victim, you may have found yourself invulnerable or compromising situations, and you may feel like the fool. But you were not the fool. Anyone could be victimized by the proficient psychopath and it happens every day in all walks of life and levels of society.
You could not have seen this coming… but now that you are aware, you are less likely to become a victim again… and maybe you can help others to see the signs – or at least be aware – that there are evil people out there, the virtual wolves in sheep’s clothing, who seek to destroy the lives of others without remorse.
Thank you for joining me for this message. It is my hope that this information will help to save you and other from further potential pain, suffering or loss at the hands of the psychopath. Pass this information on to others who may be potential victims.
Raised in an Oregon commune surrounded by hippies helped to mold the character that I would become as an adult, facing a myriad of challenges that would result in disaster as I developed as a human being. Regardless of my set-backs, many core values remained intact as I pressed-on to achieve my personal goals.
Being raised in a rock-and-roll, free-love, pro-high environment helped to mold the person whom I’d become. Even though I’d spent my formative years in this, “hippie,” environment, I made my decision early in life, that I would be the author of my own life story, so I set out to make my life my own.
I decided early, that the free-love-philosophy was not for me. I had seen first-hand the psychological trauma that came along with this, so-called, “free love,” and discovered that it was not quite as free as its proponents had claimed. So, realizing I was on the monogamy spectrum, I decided to save myself for that elusive, “one true love.”
I had (and still have) a huge heart-component and desire to share monogamously and wholeheartedly with that one special person, who would have the capacity to love me in the same way.
Another influence that I rebelled against was the lack of work ethic that dominated the surroundings of my early rearing years. I thought to myself, “This is not the way that I want to live, nor is it the way that I want my family to live.” I didn’t want my kids to be raised in a lifestyle that was little more than a modern-day, homegrown gypsy.
Drugs were prevalent early in my life, and I admit that I did experiment with different varieties of natural and chemical mood enhancers… enough to realize that my two favorites were Marijuana and LSD. It wasn’t until I actually fell in love and began to start a family with my first, “true love,” that I looked around at all my friends who were actively engaged in utilizing my drugs of choice, and concluded that their lifestyles were incompatible to the lifestyle that I desired to give my new family. So, to better facilitate achieving my goals for our family, I left them behind.
Throughout my adulthood (and even in my youth) I struggled with maintaining a normal body weight. It didn’t take me long, as I started to apply for work in available job markets, to figure out that I got the best job offers, and made better money, when I applied for jobs while I was at a lower body weight. That led to my yo-yo dieting affair that gave way to my, “serial dieting,” (the compulsion to go from one diet to another in an effort to maintain a healthy body weight).
My first wife, I concluded, did love me in much the same way that I loved her, I believed the words that she spoke, we exchanged vows in marriage and started a family. It didn’t take long for me to realize that she was not able to keep the vows, but I attempted to hold the relationship together, with all my might, in an effort to preserve our family unit… to no avail.
When our marriage counselor intimated to me that, “Your only option for saving this marriage, is to open your relationship.” (For those of you who don’t know, “to open your relationship,” means to have an, “open relationship,” which means that you both agree to stay together, sleep together, and agree to have sex with alternate partners, periodically). In total opposition to what I signed-on for.
Being true to my love-component, I engaged in many activities including counseling others, drug and alcohol counseling, christian ministry, song-writing, and traditional businesses that I would conduct, ususally in conjunction with working a regular day-job. Because of my love-component, my strictest condition would be engaging only in activities that offered win-win alternatives. Some businesses are successful because they prey on the ignorance of others – this was in opposition to my personal ethics. Interestingly enough, my business ventures were normally short-lived due to changes in the business culture or economic environment.
Early business ventures included a musicians’ artist agency, energy-saving business, recording studio, independent record label, independent music review journal, video stores, professional photo labs, the hospitality industry (hotel), and author. By evaluating my peers, I knew that owning your own successful business yielded the greatest possibilities for achieving one’s familial and financial goals.
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Later in life, people referred to me as a “manifestor” for my ability to make any idea or passion come to life. People think that I am a fearless and masterful creator, when in reality, I am just like anyone else – maybe more inhibited, self-conscious and/or frightened – but refuse to let anything get in between me and my desires. So, I find the wherewithal to man-up and do what I have to do to make a thought (or dream) a reality.
