Getting More Out of Life

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"Reality is what's left when you stop thinking about it." -MdB 

The end of 2008 has shown a very big truth in both personal and business endeavours: all earthly success and all material gain are temporary.

What do I mean by this? Well, just have a quick look at the investment market. In my case, all the "gains" I thought I made by investing in my superannuation fund over the last 16 years are pretty much gone. I am back to where I was when I started when it comes to my "return on investment". The stock market itself is back to levels it was at in the 1970's. That's over 30 years ago.

Look at the American housing market. The sky was the limit; right now, there are whole ghost suburbs: brand new homes with no-one in them. This last year only, house prices dropped 18%; some states/cities experienced dropped of more than 45% over the last 3 years.

Look at businesses in Australia: what looked like heaven on earth has now turned into....well, let's say, an interesting challenge. The "always the go" mining industry has caved in (no pun intended). Building company after building company collapses. Employees get laid off left, right, and centre. 

All this looks pretty grim. But is it, really? 

Personally, I see the current situation as an application of one my Knowareness Principles: the Law of Rhythm, which states that life is a continuing movement around a centre line. This will make that everything in our personal and professional life has a "due-date", will come to an end. The stronger we seem to go to one end of the spectrum, the stronger we are "yanked" back to the other end. Liken it like an elastic band: the tighter you pull it, the stronger the rebound. 

There is an upside to this, though, and that's my End-of-Year message for you: what comes down will go back up again! In our universe forces are always balancing out. In that fashion, the "recession" will also have a due-date. It may take a while, but nevertheless, eventually an upturn will come around the corner. The 1930's recession didn't last forever either! 

The Landmarc rule for these situations is this: when times are great, work harder, and use the leverage an upturn gives you. Half the effort will yield you more than double the profit.

When times are not so great, keep working on what's important to you, but also take time to rest and recharge. It's absolutely useless to fight a natural phenomenon (the rhythm of life and business). Ever been really tired, and tried to fight it? You may succeed once or twice, but ultimately you will draw the short straw. The same is true for these times. Resistance is futile. Do what feels good, but stay away from making decisions based on fear and panic. These decisions usually aren't the best ones. 

Your decision making process in both life and business matters will be very much dependent on your AusIDentities Personality Type. Eagles decide on totally different grounds than Wombats do. The feelings Dolphins will use to take action are not the ones Kangaroos feel! 

Once you have a good grip on what your personality preference is, you will be easily able to "re-perceive" the current economic tide, and take action in line with what's naturally best for you. This is congruent with another massive Knowareness Principle I use in my practice: the Law of Surrender. What is best for you arrives 100% more smoothly when you yield to what is going on, instead of resisting it. Most of our major business breakthroughs occur when we "give up", and stop fighting. 

Set a LandMarc: 

Firstly, have the knowareness that all material gains in life and business are fleeting. That realisation can already give you peace. Enjoy what you have when you have it, and allow it to leave when it is time for it to leave. The less we are attached to what it is we think we "have", the less disturbed we will be when it actually leaves. This goes for business success, money, goods, health, and yes, even life itself. 

Secondly, have the knowareness that what came down, will also go back up. Life and business are in a constant state of flow, and "down" is never "down for good". Work on conservation, preservation, and ride the tide. There are multiple tools to allow you to do this. Many I have already discussed in previous Landmarc ezines. 

Thirdly, Discover everything there is to know about your AusIDentities Personality Type. I guarantee you a massive increase in personal peace of mind once you understand why you think what you think, and do what you do. 

Lastly, Re-determine what is REALLY important to you in your life and business ventures. We will always spend most time, money, effort, thought and action into our deepest values. Usually we do that totally unconsciously, but we do it anyway! The more we can work on our values consciously, the more we will feel GOOD, even when times seem to be BAD. 

2008 has been a fascinating year in many respects. Not the easiest one for many (I've had my fair share of critical decisions to make too!), and with a Bang of an ending, economy wise! I am curious about what 2009 has in store for us. 

Remember: what comes down, must go back up. Let that be your motto for the coming year.