The Swell in Front of You

Staying in forward motion, even when things look bleak, does more for helping you succeed than you realize. (And if you’re afraid you’ll fall, at least fall forward.)

I like to think of what happens when you’re standing in a pool of water. It could be slowly evaporating around you, and as long as you stand still, the water shrinks away. It’s kind of like sitting around watching the economy tank. But if you take a step forward, you create a temporary surge right in front of you. And as long as you keep moving, your personal water level will keep rising. But to keep your personal levels up, you’ve got to keep moving your feet.

The economy is like that. There may be a global decline, like the water level in a pool dropping. But what happens in the rest of the pool doesn’t have to matter to you, as long as you get moving and create your own local surge.

So if your finances feel flat, take a step. DO something. MOVE. If the water seems particularly low, lunge forward! Push ahead and watch the water rise. If you move, you can’t help but create a swell; after all, it’s physics!

Move forward, and the resources right in front of you will surge. By law, nature responds to your action according to the law of cause and effect. Doors open, teachers appear, funds gather.

Just be careful not to take a step and spend too much time looking at the ripples flowing away in all the other directions and wondering if they’ll ever return. Stay focused on the swell you create in front of you.

How can you create a swell?

  • Be of service to someone without expectation of repayment, and it creates a swell in that relationship.
  • Read something empowering, and it creates a swell in your outlook on life.
  • Make that phone call, and you gather strength against your fear.
  • Write down that intention with determination, and your faith grows.
  • Invest in yourself, and you create a swell in your confidence that everything is going to work out.

And let me remind you that by the seven laws, what shows up in your life has everything to do with the way you FEEL about your challenges. Taking a step forward always helps you FEEL better, and that feeling can become a catalyst for inviting the unseen help we all depend on to conquer seemingly impossible things.

Every good choice creates a swell, and so it’s your job to just make sure that the swell doesn’t level out again.  To keep your levels elevated, keep on moving.  If you stop, then the swell eventually dissipates, and you’re left looking at a flat, motionless environment once again.

It’s a temptation to stand there and wait for someone else to come along and create a swell… but the power is in YOU.

So get moving, do something!  Even if you’re weary, just take one more step.

As long as you keep moving, your momentum will build, you’ll start to feel a backdraft coming in from behind, and the swell will almost seem to lead the way. Originally published Nov 6, 2009

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Leslie Householder
Latest posts by Leslie Householder (see all)

This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. Nancy

    I’m so glad you put this article in your newsletter today. I’ve read this before a couple times, but when I got halfway through I thought, “How did she know I needed this today?”

    Thanks Leslie! You’re awesome! Keep being inspiring!

  2. Marnie Swedberg

    As always, this is SUCH good advice, Leslie! Thank you for just keeping on keeping on with the GREAT content and counsel. So grateful for what you are doing in the world! Marnie

  3. SIMON G. KARANJA

    food for thought

  4. bukh

    Wonderful. You are an excellent writer.

  5. Denise Webster

    Love this and sure needed it!! Grateful for the insight!! I love the concept of taking one step and looking in front of you. That is doable!! Love ya!

  6. Rick

    Hi Leslie
    It has been quite a while since we have talked. I really enjoyed your article. The Step forward and the resources will appear is so true. When ever someone acts on faith and does something positive to enhance there lives or income there will always be an advantage to success. Have a great day…Rick

  7. sue

    How true (tip 47). I felt stuck recently, going nowhere with my goals. Took the step of getting emotionally invested in my goals, and am moving forward on several fronts. I appreciate your wisdom and encouragement.

  8. Nancy

    Exactly what I needed to hear! I’ve been afraid to act but finally made a phone call that should have happened months ago. Even if nothing comes of it at least I made a step forward and I did something that scared me and I feel proud of myself. Thanks!

  9. Chani

    What beautiful imagery! Last night I was thinking about all the things my husband and I are working on. They are all in the infant stages, lots of work without any immediate reward. This was just what I needed to keep me in the right frame of mind, Thank You!

  10. Marnie

    Thanks, Leslie! Excellent as always. I love how you make it simple and doable! Merry Christmas!! Love, Marnie

  11. Jacqueline L Kelly

    Great image and thanks for the reminder to keep moving!

  12. Jim Brown

    Great piece. Love the comment about at falling forward. Sportcasters talk about that alk the time as to how much yardage a runner gains after being tackled and then falling forward as he (or she) is going to the ground. Sounds like a good book title for you, Falling Forward not to be confused with Failing Forward. Gymbeaux 🙂

  13. Schalk

    Fear tends to cause us to stall, because we think it is safer to do nothing. Imagine taking that approach when a lion charges… or when your child falls into the swimming pool…
    We all know that we will not be so “stupid” to do nothing in the mentioned scenarios. So why is it we act so differently when it comes to other things?

  14. Karin

    Love the images in this post!

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