It’s been Thanksgiving in the US. One rather enchanting tradition from the early years of the colonisation of that country. The ‘harvest festival’ is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people.
The early colonial years were mainly of the suffering and severe hardship of the pioneers, sometimes only surviving on the generosity and kindness of the native tribes of the Plymouth area.
The native American belief emphasizes harmony with nature, endurance of suffering, respect and non- interference toward others, a strong belief that man is inherently good and should be respected for his decisions. Such values make individuals and families in difficulty very reluctant to seek help.
This philosophy can be found in society today – we have to endure, we do not ask for help, we suffer because it’s the respectable thing to do, admitting you are unable to meet your needs is a weakness.
I grew up in a house where we had little money – it was emphasised that we were a working class family and the implication was that we would always be a working class family. We paid our taxes and the rich didn’t.
When I needed clothes it was made clear that they had to last. It was anxiety inducing because they were 'orders' that did not allow for mistakes, accidents or wear and tear. I was a child so I wanted to play and be active so when I went out I wanted to do what other boys wanted to do, climb trees and play football. I couldn't completely let myself go because I was mindful that I had to be ‘careful’ - I couldn't tear my clothes, wear my soles of my shoes down or get them dirty.
What that also told me was that I shouldn’t take risks – I couldn’t afford to. I now know that risks unfortunately aren't just a part of life, they are absolutely necessary.
Coming out of that mindset I needed to be able to trust, believe that if I did take chances I wouldn’t suffer. To minimise any suffering I thought that perhaps I could prepare myself as much as possible prior to taking those risks, this way it would insure that I could give myself as much security as possible.
One of those ‘security’ elements is the financial side. I had to make sure that I had my finances in a balanced state, that I was earning and spending within my means. I also had to make ‘smart’ decisions such as have a savings account with a ‘prudent reserve’. This would give me a cushion if I needed to change career or move house.
Whether it's successful business owners, sportspeople or soldiers they will all talk about having a shot and taking it, sometimes putting themselves in a risky situation because of that shot. We all will at some point have a decision to make where we will need to come out of our comfort zone to make a change. We don't have to make the fear and insecurity so great, we can plan for it, we can prepare for that big career move or lifestyle choice.
When making the big steps the fear of the unknown can feel unsettling and it can make us feel nauseous.... but it can be lessened.
What changes are you wanting to make? Are you ready to make a plan and prepare for that?
It took me a while to understand and learn these tools to elevate me to this position. You can benefit from this in a much shorter time by working with me. If you are looking at changing your life so that you are able to take risks and become the person you’ve always wanted to be then why not email me to set up a call? We’ll discuss a strategy and put a plan in action to achieve that.
martyn@becomeunstuck.co.uk 07787417717
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