E-couragement: Makes No Sense...Makes Perfect Sense

“The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight.” I Corinthians 3:19

It was December 2008 and I was gazing into my computer. Motionless. Thinking. I was staring at a professional development opportunity from a prominent consultant. As a student of his books and blog, I had never acted upon his previous offerings. This particular program was spot on for me. The take-aways would be relevant and applicable—just what I needed. The good news was that my calendar was clear for this workshop. The bad news… money was tight.

My company had experienced a dismal fourth quarter in 2008. There was no significant business scheduled for first quarter of 2009. In light of these facts, increased spending made no sense. No sense at all was the thought streaming through my mind. Just then, my wife walked by. I asked her advice. Without hesitation she replied, “You should do it. You deserve this. Practice what you preach and invest in yourself.” That’s all it took. I pulled out my credit card and registered for the event, booked round trip airfare to Rhode Island, and secured 3 nights at the hotel. Sorry Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman. Sometimes what seems to make no sense might actually make perfect sense. In February 2009 I completed the workshop inspired with new business relationships and clear action steps which helped my business soar to new heights.

This memory came flooding back to me after a recent coffee chat with a friend and colleague. He’s in a position similar to what I encountered just over two years ago. Perhaps this is a common experience for many—frozen between the thoughts of this makes no sense and this makes perfect sense. If that’s the case, here are some ideas to consider:

• Your intuitive voice is powerful. Trust it. Trust yourself. What are the words you hear deep within your heart? Get quiet. Be still. Pay attention. Listen.
• Bounce your ideas and questions off someone who believes in you, your talents, and dreams. What do they say that resonates with your voice within?
• Support yourself. Invest in yourself. Grow yourself. You deserve it and the world deserves the best from you.
• Take action. Knowing is not power. Application is power. Dance and interact with the Universe—then watch what you create.
• Resist spending too much time around people who are bound by rigid beliefs in lack, limitation, and scarcity.

Kahlil Gibran said, “When we are born, our work is placed within our hearts.” Are you doing the work that has been placed within your heart? Go for it. Let it pull you forward. Resist the urge to be guided by thoughts of this makes no sense and have the courage to flip it around and believe that perhaps this makes perfect sense for you. As a result, you’ll create your own engaging life and work—and that’s worth the risk.

Leave your comments: What action have you taken that at first seemed to “make no sense?”