How Rude I Was (Or Was I?)

Oops

Prosperity is built on faith. It requires thinking truth in spite of appearances and making decisions based on the images of one’s dreams, over and above the state of perceived reality. The truth is that there is only abundance in this world. However, perceptions often get in the way of individuals being able to see that truth.

Let me share an experience to illustrate:

One Saturday night my husband and I returned home late from an event. As usual, we each went to our desks to check email one last time before hitting the sack. Coincidentally, his office was directly below mine, so sometimes I just stomped on the floor if I needed him to call me (see, outbound calls from my desk took extra long to connect, and it was just faster to stomp). On the other hand, when he needed to get a hold of me, he just called my desk phone (because his outbound calls connected quickly as they should).

Well, that night I was extra tired and went to sleep long before he was done. At midnight or so, I heard my office phone ring. I knew Trevan was still up, and he obviously thought I was still in my office, too. So as not to keep him waiting and wondering, I jumped up, ran into my office, picked up the phone before it could go to voice mail, and immediately said, “I’m not still up…”

There was silence on the phone and then a click.

It was at that point that I realized the person on the other end was not Trevan, but some innocent caller trying to get some help from ThoughtsAlive.com. I had answered my business line at midnight in a terribly unprofessional way, and probably made the person on the other line feel confused, embarrassed and horrible.

Even worse, it was some unknown person of a different culture who called from a country on the other side of the planet, according to the country code on my caller ID.

I have since tried to call back to apologize and explain, but have yet been unsuccessful: getting a failed connection, or busy signal. So part of the reason for this article is to say how sorry I am for being rude, in case the caller has opportunity to read this message.

As I went back to sleep, I couldn’t help but put myself in the person’s shoes and wonder how they must have felt. It can be so intimidating to call someone you’ve never met, even when the person answers politely with a very sunny, “Hello!”

(Case in point: I remember being a newlywed, nervous to call even the utility company, because I was afraid I’d stammer, forget why I was calling and maybe mess something up… who knows what I could have messed up, but those were still my fears…)

So here was someone who pays good money to make a long distance international call, who calls for a reason, perhaps to get some help with an order or something, and I answer with “I’m not still up…”!

How rude.

Well, isn’t it interesting that “appearances” did not accurately represent the “truth?”

Let’s analyze the “truth” vs “appearances” here.

Fact: the phone rings

My Assumption: Trevan is calling me from downstairs

Fact: I pick up the phone and say, “I’m not still up.”

Client’s Assumption: I am speaking to the client, expressing annoyance about the late night phone call

My Assumption: I was speaking to Trevan, hurriedly explaining why I hadn’t picked up sooner

Fact: client hangs up

Result: a mess of misunderstandings, and possibly hurt feelings

Lesson: Appearances aren’t always what they seem to be.

I would have been happy to speak with a reader at midnight had I known it was a reader who called. The truth: I was (in my mind) speaking to someone else; the appearance: I was annoyed.

So if someone seems rude or unhelpful, you have a choice to assume that they aren’t frustrated with you at all. If they truly are, then you can find out for sure (or get the whole truth) by picturing them as if they are actually reacting to some other concern on their mind, assuming the best, and then inviting additional communication. From this experience I have fresh determination to exert greater effort to respond rather than react when appearances do not seem to be in my favor.

Even if you cannot imagine the truth being anything other than how it appears, release the strain by letting go and trusting that God can and will make something good out of whatever appears to you to be so bad. Then do not retreat. Press on, believing.

When you begin to assume that everything works out for the best for YOU, you’ll respond to apparent setbacks with optimism and understanding, thus yielding more positive results and accelerated progress.

The same principle applies to prosperity.

Spend more energy on actions based on the positive results you expect to attain, rather than on reactions to the perceived state of lack you find may yourself in right now. It’s just a perception.

You might be thinking “Yeah, well the bank says I’m broke…”

I’m here to tell you that you are richer than you realize. When you can see what I see, you’ll understand what I mean, and start to behave differently too, and when you do, everything changes. It all begins with believing more strongly in what you cannot see: in something that is NOT supported by physical evidence. That’s faith; and faith can move mountains.

If you find what I’m describing to be difficult to do, then all you lack is knowledge about how this process towards increased prosperity really works. When you understand the process, fear, confusion, and uncertainty dissipates and faith prevails.

Let me help you step-by-step to overcome FEAR once and for all, and live with confidence that you can conquer all that life throws your way. Don’t put it off any longer. Take that step and experience the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for.

Click here to find out what the Mindset Mastery Program can do for you right now.

Originally posted January 23, 2008

Leslie Householder
Latest posts by Leslie Householder (see all)

This Post Has 5 Comments

  1. amber

    You answered a question heavy on my mind since yesterday. I read from Dr. Wayne Dyer that connectors aren't likely to even make requests from their source because it gives power to what is missing. They don't feel a sensation of being separate from what they want in their life. That really confused me, but now I understand that I'm not seeking something that's missing, I'm seeking something that is already there, something that right now I can't see. A completely different spin. Awesome!
    Amber

  2. Joy

    It is so nice to hear someone putting God first! Thank you for your wonderful stories and bringing the Lord right along with us. Blessings.

  3. Shantel

    Oh Leslie…….You don't EVEN know how close this hits home! This has been my whole day! I'm definitely getting the MESSAGE! Thank-you!

  4. liz

    Thanks for such an insightful story. It helps put everything into perspective.

  5. liz

    What a wonderful blog entry! Thank you for sharing such an insightful story.

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