The news reports say we are still in a recession. Some experts say it is not true, based on textbook definitions of a recession. Some people say to invest now; others say hold on to everything you have. One report shows the housing market in a slump; another says it is all based on negative views of the media.
Who are we to believe or listen to at this point?
Learning what is “real”
My Kumu (teacher) of Huna would say, “Enough already with the negative speculation, let’s take some action.” Huna is a modern label for an older system of empowerment and flexibility for the mind/body/spirit. Growing up with my lineage of Huna, I was taught that while there is a real world, there is also our perception of the real world.
What does this mean? First, thinking that everything outside you is a projection of the thoughts and emotions inside is a powerful tool in gaining control over your reality. I have taught thousands this very concept, and some of my students have gone on to teach the masses these same thoughts. Unfortunately, it is still not fully understood, and it needs to be to harness the mana (energy or power) we each posses.
Facts vs. Fiction
Let’s look at this concept of the current economic times and compare it to perceptions. Are gas prices high? Is the stock market up and down like a roller coaster? Are people unsure of what to do? The answer to all could be yes. And this is where it gets interesting.
Gas prices are high, and the stock market is up and down. This is a description of reality and not up for discussion in the realm of projections. In other words, it is something that we all need to deal with and discover what we each need to do about it. However, the third question above (are people unsure of what to do?) has to do with perceptions and projections.
This is where the power of this concept comes from – in the reaction you have to your environment. This area, how you feel or think about what is occurring, will have a direct relationship to your results.
Perception is Projection
Please allow me to simplify the idea that perception is projection first. We have all woken up in a bad mood (e.g. angry). On those days, do things look and sound different than the days when we wake up in a good mood (e.g. happy)? The answer for most people I meet is yes!
So if you are afraid to do something, do your chances of achieving a result increase or decrease? They decrease because fear is a negative emotion that can prevent us from taking action, and this is especially problematic when it is in an area we want to improve.
Trusting Your Gut
Seven years ago, my fiancé (now wife and mother of my beautiful daughter) and I had no money in our savings, no money in our checking, well over the average in credit card debt, and a desire to achieve the level of prosperity that I teach people. We borrowed money against the only thing we had (a 401k) and put a 10% down payment on a house against almost everyone’s advice.
People said the economy is bad; the housing market is going to crash; save your money; don’t spend it, and many other things that sound a lot like what is going on now. I simply responded with a long-term goal of financial stability. And after doing all the research and crunching the numbers, I found a house that was perfect for us.
Even the real estate agent said don’t do it; the house is too much; it will come down, and we should wait. Well, my gut said go, and I did. Now the house just sold for almost 3 times what we paid for it. Along the way, we have reinvested our money and now own a bunch of houses. We have financial freedom.
There will always be people that view the world as going in the “wrong” direction, and what I have seen is that most successful and prosperous individuals have made money no matter what is going on around them.
3 Universal Qualities for Success
I have been very fortunate, through my investments, to meet people who have control over more money than I could describe. All of them have a few qualities that I believe are universal for successful people.
- First, successful people research the facts about a context. They learn everything they can and discover what a great decision looks, sounds, and feels like.
- Next, they take that information and look at the current market. They make sure that the information is appropriate for what is occurring.
- Finally, because they have already done the thinking, they take action based on their instincts and gut reactions.
Applying Success to all Areas
In Huna, I was taught that in ancient times the person that could trust the gut was considered to be more intelligent than the person who could reason things out. How does that apply to now? Well, it is very simple. Take relationships, for example. When you first get together with someone, you learn everything you can about them. What types of food do they like; where do they like to go, and what do they like to do. Then, at some point we begin to trust our gut and make decisions based on what we already know.
My wife likes certain things, and she does not like other things. If I am at the store and I see a wonderful gift that I could get for her, I don’t question what she likes. I see it and know she will like it, and I get it for her. Well, people who are financially successful take a similar approach to financial decisions.
I have read books that say successful people make decisions fast and are slow to change them. (Unsuccessful people do the opposite; they make decisions very slow and are very quick to change them.) To clarify, once a successful person has gathered all the information they need (for example about the real estate market), they make decisions very fast because they trust the instincts they have based on the information they have already researched.
Are you Ready to Decide?
I am a firm believer in making Huna SMART™ decisions (an approach to decision making that I teach). And I also believe that once all the information has been gathered, it is time to take action and trust the gut with the path to achieving our goals.
Realize that we all create our reality based on our reactions to the environment. If the economy looks scary, it will be more frightening. I agree that just changing a view does not change the economy. However, if you know what to do, you can be successful in any economic time. And, some of the most successful people made a lot of money during “bad” times. So if it is possible for them, it must be possible for anyone!
Mahalo,
Matt James
