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The Right Time to Take Action: How to Attain the Life You Want
A Personal Perspective: Release negativity, create a vision, take action.
Posted August 4, 2022 Reviewed by Lybi Ma
I teach people how to attain the life they want by releasing negative beliefs, creating a vision, setting goals, then taking action. Much of the action you need to take is made up of logical, consistent steps towards your goals and vision.
And sometimes, big, bold action without a prominent safety net is required. In that case, how do you know when that's the right thing to do?
Years ago, right after the attacks of 9/11, our company struggled. Where we'd been fully booked months ahead of time, suddenly, everyone was fearful of traveling and coming to training. I drained my savings and did consulting gigs with multiple individuals and corporations to keep the lights on. We kept afloat into 2002 while watching other seminar and training companies close all around us. I openly admit that I was afraid, anxious, and stressed on a whole new level. It was not a great time for big financial moves.
One day, my real estate agent called. I had a goal to own a home, and she had found a house that fit my criteria. I let her know the situation. Still, as a teacher and coach, I encourage people to take action, especially when the universe hands you a goal you've set. I was teaching this stuff, so I had to practice it. I went to view the house. It was so close to the house I'd envisioned, though it lacked a few things I really wanted. I didn't make an offer.
Seeing that house reminded me of my goal, and I knew I had to take action. Now here I was, living paycheck to paycheck again and owning a company that was still on life support. Yet, I started driving around and looking more and more at houses for sale. And suddenly I found my home. It was as if the house had been built for me.
I called my agent while I was still sitting outside the house and told her how excited I was. Everything on paper and from what I could see on the outside was perfect. My agent said, "You don't want that house."
Wait, what? "Why not?" I asked. "Is it cursed or infested with termites?" She told me that the sellers were unwilling to negotiate. She had put in offers from buyers twice but had never been able to close a deal with the owners. I insisted on seeing the house. When she got me in, my gut reaction was palpable. The place felt like home. I still wanted to do a few things, and yet it was amazing. My first reaction was that it fit energetically, and my next response was that it was perfect based on the criteria I had set.
I told her to make an offer. She told me it was out of my range. I didn't care. It was my house. I took action.
I was so excited and so congruent at the same time. I called my mom and told her. She was so happy for me, yet when I told her how much it cost, she gasped and said, "Oh, Matthew! My first house only cost $5500!" (Don't you love it when people remind you that movie tickets used to be a dime—and that included popcorn.) I quickly said goodbye and ended the conversation.
I called my dad. He was equally discouraging, and he knew more about the difficult situation my company was in. After a few minutes of "Are you really sure, Matt?" I ended the conversation.
I understand my parents' reaction. This was 2002 in Hawai'i. The house was built in the '60s. It hadn't been renovated, and it needed some work on the roof. It was single wall construction (no insulation). To buy it, I had 10 percent to put down and had to get a second mortgage on another 10 percent to get a primary mortgage on the remaining 80 percent—definitely a financial stretch.
I teach people to trust their gut more than their minds. Your gut and heart are almost always right. And mine wanted this house. I bought it. My gut was screaming, "Yes." Plus, I had done my research on the house and the market. When your spirit says "yes," and your mind says "yes," and then your gut says "yes," you go. You take action. I was still nervous. I still had to take a deep breath.
I knew I had cleared any baggage about lack and limitation and fear about the future. When you have baggage, you don't hear your gut; you hear your baggage. Without baggage, my gut was clear. I bought the house. Three years later, I sold that house for nearly twice the amount I purchased it for and used the cash to buy a new place.
Whether it's making a major financial decision or taking the next step in growing a company, or taking on a client, or going for the sale, or whether it's to scold your kid or just hug them, when it comes to the big decisions, check your vision, do your research and then trust your gut.
Mahalo,
Dr. Matt
