Freedom For A Day: What If You Believed For Just One Day That Everything Would Work Out Perfectly?
By James Goddard
Published October 30, 2009 (Paperback) Intermedia Publishing Group
If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably read – or at least seen – the book and movie The Secret. Real Estate agent Jim Goddard decided to live according to the tenets of The Secret for one day, and write a diary-like book called Freedom For A Day.
Goddard makes a few choices and sticks with them throughout this particular summer day, and discovers this is one of the best days of his life. He decides to take his time and not rush, and he engages with people, treating them kindly. And, he observes the domino effect that has on the people around him, and on his perceptions. All good, but that’s it.
Slow drivers aren’t out blocking his way on this day, because he is driving leisurely and doesn’t care what time he gets to the gym and then to work. His daughter and step-daughter beam with happiness that he took a few extra seconds with them. He counts his interaction once – he took an extra thirty seconds. But that attention reaped rewards. Duh. These are things we all know – the point is to take the time to give of yourself, letting the “time is money” belief drop by the wayside. Focus is key. The power of now. You know it already. The point is doing it.
There was at least major WTF moment in this book. Jim has it in his calendar to create a vision board at 2pm. He decides what kinds of pictures he wants — and he tells his secretary to find those images for him. Like I said, WTF!
Vision Boards work because as you turn the pages of random magazines, certain images will leap off the page, connecting with your subconscious, and you have to have those pictures. No one can do this process for you. Call it magic, or call it your brain’s reticular activating system – you recognize the images that you truly want in your life. Every step of the process counts. Choosing the pictures, gluing them down in a particular array, and connecting with them every day.
I chose this book today because I was open to reminders of how to live, ala The Secret. I felt good for Jim personally, as he opened up places in himself that he had previously shut down. But, even looking beyond the rudimentary writing, the messages were thin.
As I read about Jim’s decision to take his time driving to work, I reflected on my own self-challenge earlier in the day. I hadn’t yet chosen to read Freedom for a Day at that point. I had a 5pm audition downtown. That time of day, it takes between twenty and sixty minutes to get downtown – a total crap shoot. I figured I should leave the house at 4:15p. I got in the shower at 3:55pm. Hello? I questioned myself Self-sabotage? I told myself, No, but stay in the moment, and ride the energy. I gently laid an intention that I arrive at the studio for my audition at 4:50pm. I washed and styled my hair, applied makeup, dressed for the audition, and got out the door. It was a sweet ride in. I parked right in front of the studio. It was 4:47pm.
Holy shit. That was cool. And, here is my moment of gratitude. Wow. Thank you. I love riding the waves.
James Goddard said,
January 30, 2010 @ 1:24 am
Ok you got me on the Vision board: ) Each day I kept saying I was going to and didn’t yet felt it was so important to at least start it, so that is how I snuck it in: ) That was a great pick up, and thanks for your words.
Another funny on the Vision board is I just completed Joyce Schwarz book “The Vision Board” this week, and did one. I am interviewing her next week for wetalkradio my show Slow Down and Achieve.
Jim
Diana Page Jordan said,
January 30, 2010 @ 6:31 am
I like an honest man.
It’s great that you got a Vision Board done. They are amazing. A couple of years ago, I had done a Vision Board that had a passport on it – I laminated the board, and every day I walked past, I would run my hands over the passport. It was almost unconscious. But “out of the blue” just a few days later, one of my clients called and asked if I wanted to go to Barcelona to host and produce a podcast on the business school there. Oh, yeah!
The magic of Vision Boards!