“Everything you need is deep within you. Upon your request, upon your insistence, upon your need and stating that need, stating your intention, it will arise.”—Michele Longo-O’Donnell
Like everyone else on the planet, I learned ages ago that opportunities for pain and suffering are always going to be available and that if I was going to live with intention, it’s best to steer clear.
I’d have never become the author of 17 books, a reporter for People magazine and a world traveler if I’d accepted the onslaught of “negative invitations.”
“That’s not possible,” naysayers always insisted on telling me. “It’s hard to write a book. Even harder to sell it. You’re an unknown from Kansas. You got B’s in your journalism classes, for God’s sake.”
“Talk to the hand,” I’d always say to those voices. “That may be your way of seeing things, but I choose a different reality, a higher path.”
But in 2008, after three years of ever-increasing income, even being in a position to turn down a fourth project for National Geographic, I took the ego’s bait.
By then, a constant stream of bad news dominated the headlines. My profession, journalism and book publishing, was among the hardest hit by the global downturn. Publishers were cutting back their lines, lowering their advances. Many of my colleagues in the newspaper business were suddenly without work.
Again, I normally don’t listen to such nonsense. I much prefer a spiritual reality that proclaims abundance no matter what the circumstances. But by 2009, after little by little letting the dire news seep in, I plucked the aforementioned recession invitation out of the trash. I decided to take just a peek.
The party was in full swing. My agent was repeating the “nothing’s selling” mantra over by the punch bowl. Regular clients were on the corner sofas, moaning about the economy and their need to buy less.
Before I knew what happened, I bunny hopped right into the middle of the celebration. I began singing the “ain’t it awful” blues along with the party’s deejay. I told anybody who’d listen about my hard times.
Before long, I convinced everyone I know that my career as an independent author was over. I even fooled them into believing that, after all these years on my own, I was old, washed up and as yesterday as the History Channel.
I actually reveled in the sympathy.
Then one day, I got out my beat-up copy of Think and Grow Rich. As I read Napoleon Hill’s words about “thoughts being things,” I suddenly got it.
Look how powerful my thoughts and words had been. Look what I’d done to myself. If I can create this disaster with nothing but my thoughts, I can just as easily create the opposite.
When I think back about it now, I’m slightly embarrassed. How could I have fallen so bumpily off the wagon I’d use so successfully for so many years? I know good and well how this stuff works. I know that I create my own reality. I know that listening to dooms-dayers is the most futile exercise in the world.
I wasted no time using Hill’s famous advice.
Within a week, I had two new assignments. A new book contract came next. Rather than live frugally, the advice my friends were freely passing out, I decided to spend the summer overseas, volunteering and letting my newly-recovered faith pay the bills.
That decision to say, “I am prosperous and, of course, I can afford to travel overseas to volunteer” was the beginning of a more fruitful life.
Needless to say, I’ve taken that beautifully-engraved invitation and ripped it to shreds. And don’t bother sending anymore. Because from now on, my RSVP’s to any negativity will say one thing, “Have a good time. But don’t expect to find me there.”
Pam Grout is the author of 17 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and its equally-scintillating sequel, E-Cubed, 9 More Experiments that Prove Mirth, Magic and Merriment is your Full-time Gig.
28 Responses
Of course exactly what I needed today! Thanks Pam!
Beautifully and cleverly written.
Thank you, Pam! It’s easy to lose sight of the truth that we do create our reality…In most cases, more effort isn’t what is needed, instead, we need an infusion of positive energy.
Been there, done that, didn’t want the t-shirt! Now when negativity shows up I feel it in my gut and politely turn away, from my positive path I’ll never stray!
As always, Pam, you’re words and wisdom are spot on. Namaste’
You are my morning dose of ultra inspiration. I cannot help but smile when I read your Words.
Thank you! Thank you!
I am currently facing an upcoming referral doctor visit on Monday to the oncologist for my husband on Monday. I am throwing fear in the ring with poverty and doubt! It has been such an emotional and mental battle…your words today were a great reminder for me!
Thank you Pam!
❤️
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Esther Hicks
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My poor cat stopped eating and was vomiting and had a severe case of diarrhea after I brought a new kitten into the home. She was getting so skinny and I was getting so worried and anxious about it all. That’s when I decided feeling that way was not helping. I believe strongly that I healed her skin condition (after 10 years of fighting it) by changing my thoughts and feelings, so I knew I needed to do the same thing here. After a couple of days of being calmer, hopeful and more relaxed about her condition instead of crying and fretting, she was better. And now several weeks later she is fine. Still doesn’t like the kitten, but I can live with that.
My poor cat stopped eating and was vomiting and had a severe case of diarrhea after I brought a new kitten into the home. She was getting so skinny and I was getting more and more worried and anxious about it all. That’s when I decided feeling that way was not helping. I believe strongly that I healed her skin condition (after 10 years of fighting it) by changing my thoughts and feelings, so I knew I needed to do the same thing here. After a couple of days of being calmer, hopeful and more relaxed about her condition instead of crying and fretting, she was better. And now several weeks later she is fine. Still doesn’t like the kitten, but I can live with that.
I always appreciate your humor + truth + willingness to be positive. “Because from now on, my RSVP’s to any negativity will say one thing, “Have a good time. But don’t expect to find me there.” Thank you!!
CHOOSE PROSPERITY & ALL GOOD YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE & EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIFE…IT IS A CHOICE! BE GRATEFUL!!!
xoxo, R! I AM GRATEFUL that I have you ALL to share this GOOD I receive with you💕
You are my morning dose of my personal confirmation of the reality I choose to live! Thank you for being you and doing such an incredible job of sharing it with me and others!
“.”
Cat
Way to start my day! Thank you, Pam! I love you.
Hey Whirl, this is the way we should all be thinking. Also Daddy got an email from Cassandra’s sister wondering if they had the wrong contact info for you. So you better get back to her ASAP. No more excuses or put offs. Get it done. Put out your prosperity vibes and start reaping the rewards! Love you.M
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Oh Pam! I am bawling as I read this! You always come to my rescue and God has sent me you to clearly keep e on the up and up! If there is ANY ONE MENTOR that catapults me into blessings, it is YOU. In the last three weeks, I have quit my job, spent every day with my children, volunteered at their school and am even trying to learn Common Core Math (haha), played in the pool til 8pm, have a meeting with God every morning at 6am and am just hearing FP tell me to Be Still. To simply BE right now. Because even if the bank account is negative (that is an illusion). I have everything I need. I have my children and we have food and laughs and wouldn’t you know, yesterday, I went to Starbucks and wrote a second book from scratch! 6,232 pages. It still needs work but it was the most I have done in weeks. Today, I CHOSE to fall back in the funk of “This isn’t good enough” but deep down, I know that is not the case! And my Truth is that I am/ we are divinely supported! I mean, the ONE MIRACLE that I can never deny – the ONE THAT TRULY SECURED MY RELATIONSHIP with FP for good, the thought I always revisit when I am riding the downward wave of the human experience, is the FACT THAT I HAVE YOU IN MY LIFE as my MENTOR! Pam, I love you so much. Thank you so much for everything! For being. For expressing. This message helped far more than just Me today but I assure you, you are one of the greatest blessings FP has ever provided me. Your existence is most certainly to raise the awareness and vibes of all of us here but especially me, so that I can continue your legacy in my own translated way!
Very Respectfully,
StevieAnne Petitt
Great Pam. Thanks!! What about romantic love? It’s been 10 years, any advice??
It’s good timing for me to be reading this. I’m trying to raise my vibration around money. It’s also a good reminder that if we get off track, it only takes a decision to get back to the path we want to be on. Thanks! i do love your positivity, too. It always makes me happy to see your posts in my inbox.
Thank you Pam! You have hit the mark once again! It is so fun to see when people get this and it begins to unfold in their lives. I am beginning to learn and am giddy with excitement!
SMILEY is the feeling I get when I see your messages in my inbox. Keep up the good positive vibrations. I am getting it! Lots of work to do still to be able to walk better, but I DROVE my jeep to the Dollar Store on Tuesday last, and walked with my cane, fondly called “Lurch”, yesterday for a 1/4 mile, with my husband at my side. A 1/4 mi. takes me to my mailbox on my country road, and back to my porch, climbing 5 steps to get back to my chair! That’s an accoplishment! THANK YOU!
Love this! Thanks Pam for everything that you do! And I LOVE your E2 & E3 books 🙂 I’m starting a book club this month and we are starting with E2… I can’t wait!!
Great post, Pam. Love your very last comment. Sometimes negative people are like sugar, it takes a lot of effort to avoid them completely! I happen to be reading Think and Grow Rich. Some of the things in the book are blowing my mind! My new mantra is 40s to 50s – Best. Decade. Ever! Love your work, Pam
Pam, you are not only using and working the LOA like a Master Magician, you are in fact also damn good at your profession. This message is really stale news, but we humans seem to need a steady diet of such truths, all the time, from many Messengers it seems. Thanks for the “current” reminder on this day, in this hour!
A timely writing as usual.
Pam, I have distanced myself from certain friends and family because of their continuous negativity. My positivism irritates them. That and the lack of my wanting to be like them.
I look forward to your emails.
~MrsD
The perfect reminder at the perfect time. You rock Pam!! <3
I love this, such a wonderful reminder, that is ABUNDANCE is out there in the Universe and fruitful at that! Thank you Thank you Thank you.
A timely “truth” missive from my sister. I’ve been a photographer for half a century and recently retired from teaching high school children in public schools. With similar downturns in the photojournalism market and well into my senior citizen journey, I began slipping into a negative thought pattern about future work prospects even though I am healthy, talented and equipped to attract all the clients and wealth I need. Thank you so much for the reminder that we create our own “reality” with out perpetual thoughts and words.”