Be Your Own Wingman

Driving up to Providence, Rhode Island last week to visit family, the conversation, not surprisingly turned to my latest wingman practice.
Equally unsurprising was the slight ‘eye roll’ from my wife. 

“I have a perfect practice for us to do on our journey”, I said.

The eye roll became an eye twitch.  If only I could read ‘tells’ like this at the poker table.

She stayed true to form though, sweetly, lovingly asking what type of practice it was, and where had I heard of it.

“From the book “E Squared”, the author, Pam Grout, comes from a science background.
The premise of this practice is that what shows up in our lives is a direct reflection of our thoughts and emotions.”

“Really, how does it work?” she replied with interest, or she had figured out her ‘tell’.

“It’s simple.  We pick an unusual color car to look for, and see how many of them we see”. 

“Ok, what color should we pick”?

We both said, “lime green”, at the exact same time.  Me, because my wife loves the color, and I was excited to have her try out this new experiment with me.
Her, because how many lime green cars do you really see, and it would keep me quiet and focused on driving.

Different goals, same game.

I kept the conversation alive, “How many lime green cars would you have to see, for you to believe?”

“You mean to believe we can set our intention and have the universe bring it to us?” “I don’t know, have to be more then a few. 
Are you saying to sort of believe, or to know without a shadow of a doubt”?
“Let’s just say 6.”

So began our quest to see lime green cars, and with it, perhaps a better understanding of our universe. 

It started out slowly, I’d point one out, maybe 2 or 3 by the time we arrived.
Next day, as we explored Newport, I pointed out 2 or 3 more.  

Since then, and it’s been about a week, it’s reached the point, where everywhere I am I see them. 

To the point where…

… Driving with my brother-in-law, the medical school dean, who doesn’t usually participate in these sort of things, and he actually turned the car around to point one out to us.

… Driving on Route I-76, the Schuylkill Expressway.  Turns out their new state safety patrol trucks are lime green, and I had one on both sides of me. 

… When the producer of my ‘Condition Your Mind to be Positive’ live stream radio show asked me the title of this week’s show, and I told him “Lime Green Cars”, he stated there was one on our commercial running right then. “Of course there is”, I answered. 

And my favorite…  My wife came home the other day and exclaimed, “We have to pick another color, there are just too many lime green cars”.

Which brings me back to the hypothesis of the experiment, if I decide to look for something (lime green cars), will I find it.

I certainly have just proved it for myself.

What now?
Now I start looking for things I want.  You can too.

Today’s practice:  Lime Green Cars:  Pick something unusual, it can be purple feathers, blue butterflies or even lime green cars.  Prove to yourself that what you look for, you find. 

Enjoy the find,
Michael

Imagine you are trying to be healthier.
And your wife and daughter have gone gluten free.
And you’re from Philly, which means you love a good cheesesteak.
And a good hoagie.
And you grew up loving them.

Marie’s Sandwich Bar in Haddonfield NJ

And you tried gluten free. If only in support of those you love.
And you started feeling better.
And your skin stopped itching.

And then you get together with friends, and have some pretty good sandwiches.
And then there’s a dinner party…
And you forget about gluten free for the next six months.
And your skin starts itching again.

And you decide maybe you should try it again.

And you know they’ve figured out Gluten Free sweets. Many are awesome.
And you also know they haven’t figured out the bread.
Cause it always falls apart.

And so, you know you must “fuhgedaboudit”, about cheesesteaks and hoagies.
And you can’t ever imagine that.
Not just not eating sandwiches, but ‘Philly’ sandwiches. On rolls.
The kind you would eat with your brother on so many different occasions.

So you decide to make it into a wingman practice.
Imagining being Gluten Free, not actually doing it, imagining it.
If only for one minute.

And then you decide to actually do it.
And you’re eating a lot of beans, greens and rice.
And you’re lucky… because you love beans, greens and rice.

Almost as much as a cheesesteak, but much healthier.
And you’re doing pretty well.

And you still really miss a good sandwich.
Cause you’re a ‘sandwich’ kinda guy. From Philly.

And your daughter starts telling you about this place.
Taffet’s bakery, in South Philly.  http://www.taffets.com
And they bake great Gluten Free bread and rolls.
Up till now, that would be an oxymoron (sort of).

And the good vibes keep coming.
Cause there’s a sandwich shop right near you, that uses Taffet’s rolls.
Right in Haddonfield. Walking distance even.
And they make a really good sandwich.
Marie’s Sandwich Bar, in the courtyard in Haddonfield.  http://mariessandwichbar.com

And imagine you dropped your spouse off right near there.
Around lunchtime.
And you tried it.
And you were in heaven, if only for one minute.

And the roll was good. Really good.
And it held up.
And while it’s not quite a regular roll.
You were in heaven… if only for one minute.

If you can imagine that, you can imagine where I ate lunch on Saturday.

And maybe you can imagine your own unimaginable. Just takes a little practice.

Give it a try, if only for a minute.

Today’s practice. Think about something you want to change.
Close your eyes and imagine it for one minute.

Here’s to imagining a great July 4th weekend,
Michael

“Either define the moment, or the moment will define you.”  
                                                             Walt Whitman

Missing the moment… or learning the lesson.

I had an opportunity for a powerful moment last week.
Got a ‘B’. Should of gotten an ‘A+’. 

I missed the moment.
Looking back, I should of done so much more. I can’t get it out of my mind.
I’m ‘shoulding’ all over myself.
It was a great moment.
I missed it.

Been thinking about it all morning.
Focusing on it so much I start cursing myself.
It’s killing me.

An object in motion stays in motion. And my motion ‘ain’t’ good.

Fortunately (unfortunately), I’ve had this feeling before.
I’ve ‘learned ‘ this lesson before.
Different situation, same sucky feeling.

Used to ask, “why?” Would say (mostly sarcastically),
“Thank you God, thank you for this lesson once again.”

Now I say, “Thank you for this lesson, I’ll learn it well”.

And I think about the lesson.

What am I to learn? Is there something I could of done better?

And then I play my game, ‘Find the Positives’.
It’s great I was able to have the opportunity.
I learned a valuable lesson.
I’m now better prepared.
I’ll do much better next time.
Thank you for this lesson.
I’m much clearer now.
If I attracted this opportunity, I can attract more of them.
I’m getting so much better at this.
I’m so glad I learned this lesson now.
What a great learning experience.
I can do this.
I was made for this.
I’ve got this.
This could be the best thing that ever happens to me.
Did you ‘miss the moment’ recently.
Are you having a problem letting it go?

It could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Try today’s practice, “Find the Positives”.

Take 60 seconds and come up with as many positives as you can think of in your situation. Watch it change your energy.

And have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend,

Michael

P.S. Don’t forget next Thursday’s Wingman Workout.
It’s a great way to kick off your best summer ever.
Wingman Workout

When: Thursday, May 29th, 7:00-8:30 pm

Where: NJBalance Wellness Center
43 S. Main Street
Medford, NJ 08055

Cost: $20

Register: Phone: 609-975-8378
Email: njbalancewellness@gmail.com
Please include your name & phone #.