While speaking with an exhibitor at a trade show recently, I noticed that her banner had a spelling error. As she is one of my readers, I asked her politely if she knew about the mistake. She shook her head in disbelief as she looked at the banner with fresh eyes. “Where?” she asked. I pointed out the word and she said laughing, “I can’t believe it. I have been looking at that banner since last July and I have never seen it.”

Now that she knows…we all know EXACTLY what she is going to see IMMEDIATELY every time she looks at the banner. She will see that misspelled word.

Awareness is 99% of the challenge in our lives. Until we are AWARE of what is holding us back, until we are AWARE of what our issues are, or until we are AWARE of what potential lies before us, it’s only natural that we would stay pretty much in the same situation.

Having spent 38 years in a very, very small box because of the religious faith I was associated with, I can relate to this problem extremely well. Every week, for several hours, it was inculcated in me that my faith was right and everyone else was wrong. I was trained to read the newspaper and listen to the radio with the sole purpose of finding the bad news that would support my belief that the ‘end of the world’ was imminent. I was brainwashed that everybody “outside” of my faith was wicked and soon to be destroyed…so they needed to be avoided at all costs. Amazing, I know!

But that is truly what I believed at every level of my being. I found lots of bad, ugly, horrible and wicked things going on in the world. I saw the badness in everyone I met…outside of my own organization. I lived my life with the firm conviction that I was right and everyone else was wrong.

And then I stepped out of the box…I opened the door and I ventured outside into that dark, sordid, wicked world. And WOW – was I in for a surprise! I remember the trepidation with which I attended my first social gathering in the “outside” world. I expected a drunken, immoral revelry. I was shocked to discover that there wasn’t even a bottle of wine at the party and that everybody kept their clothes on! Seriously!

The surprises, the “AHA” moments lasted for several months until I realized fully and completely that I had been duped. My perception of the world was exactly what I had been trained to look for, and consequently it’s exactly what I saw, every time, all the time, for 38 years.

I soon figured out that if I could have been so well trained to look for the bad, to have the conviction that I was right and everyone else was wrong so firmly ingrained in me that I was willing to die for it – and I really mean that - then I could use that same process to train myself to look for the good, the wonderful, and the amazing in the world and in everyone I met.
And so began the personal development journey. I started to become AWARE of the misspellings in my life, the things that weren’t working, the thoughts and actions that weren’t serving me. And I started to change. Has it been easy? Heavens no! I am working through 38 years of solid programming in a way of life and believing. I’d be crazy to think that it would take a week or two or even a year or two. Although I do admit - my impatience in the earlier days was profound, the unravelling of the brainwashing finally began..bit by bit.

More than six years have passed since I opened that door and ventured out of my safe, so-called comfortable box. The most amazing, enlightening, empowering six years of my life…but also the most challenging, humbling and insightful six years.

It’s why I feel so compelled to share, to educate, to empower other women. It’s what inspires me to work long days, dream huge visions and honor a love that is so deep for every one of you that it sees your unlimited potential. A burning so profound in the very essence of my soul that it sometimes “kicks you where you need it”, prods you always, and encourages you constantly to be what you are here to be. I want you to accept your “Assignment” also.

What is that “Assignment”? I don’t know…but you do. You know why you are here and most people are avoiding it, skirting it and running the other direction. Why? Because our “Assignment” is usually bigger than we are thinking. It’s powerful, it’s scary and it’s so incredibly perfect for who you are, and what you truly long for, that you look at it and say, “Oh no, not me, not now, no way.”

As you become AWARE of your potential, you cannot turn away and be in peace. You can run, you can try to put it back in the box and pretend you never saw it, and you can deny it till the day you die. But just like the woman with the misspelled word on the banner who will not be happy until she has the banner replaced…(now that she knows)…neither will you. You will not have true inner peace, deep satisfaction or OUTRAGEOUS SUCCESS until you accept that “Assignment” and just do it.

Yeah, it’s scary. Yup, you will be challenged and yes you will want to pull the blankets over your head some days and say, “not today God.” But you will also find peace at last, success like you have never dreamt and a profound sense of joy that is so overflowing, your face will beam. You will glow from the inside out.
So I’d say it’s worth it. How about you?

I know that today I could never go back to that dark, bleak box where I spent 38 years. Not ever. Despite everything I lost leaving…family, friends, a way of life and my husband…the price was so minute in comparison to what I have gained, that I can only encourage you, prod you, empower you to open the door and step outside of your own limiting box.

There’s an amazing world outside your fears. There is everything you long for at a deep, deep level.

So go for it and know that I am here to support you every step of the way. You can do it. I know that.

With love and light,

Jan

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