If at first you don't succeed

Many people have heard of the law of attraction, the idea that you are and you become what you think. Are you aware that you create your circumstances based on your beliefs? Do you focus on your potential or on what people tell you isn't possible? Could it be time to change your mind? What could you be doing differently? What are you doing to bring on uplifting conditions for you?

Rules exist and you may feel as though the world is against you. Things may not be going your way. You may initially feel discouraged because you permit yourself to doubt what's possible. Hold up a minute. Recognize what you're doing. Recognize you have the power to turn your life around for the better.

Consider the medical student who had applied for a position in a foregin country. She was very qualified and there was a clear need abroad for her services. She had time constraints by which time she had to begin serving or the arrangement wouldn't be possible. Bureaucratic roadblocks continued to present themselves. Her visa application was repeatedly held up and it looked like she wouldn't be able to go. The period of waiting involved made it easy to give up.

Finally, she received a letter in the mail and phoned the number listed at the end of the document. She explained her situation and was told by the woman at the other end of the line that nothing could be done. The patient, young physician kept her composure and asked to speak with the woman's boss. The physician was told the boss was unavailable, so she got the person's name and contact details. She phoned his secretary and arranged to meet with him.  In person, he was also adamant and inflexible. Still, she remained calm. As per protocol, she asked her lawyer to write a letter and request an appointment to his boss. She was invited to see this boss and was told nothing would be done. She asked to speak with his superior. The man became angry yet, provided the name of the appropriate authority. When the physician saw him, he didn't make a decision right away. He listened to her story and her motivation.  He said he'd get back to her. 

A week went by.  Then, the physician received a phone call from the woman she spoke with initially in foreign affairs. The physician was told exceptions hadn’t been made before, but the required visa was being processed in record time.  The physician smiled to herself and listened. 

Throughout the weeks of turmoil, the physician continued to believe she would be able to go on this journey and help others. She nurtured the promise inside her. She kept thanking the world for giving her the abilities she had. She sensed the answer she hoped for was on the way. She believed it.  She had come to far to give up on herself. She reflected on that process while on the plane to her destination to join the international team from Doctors without Borders.

As it happened, this physician has a friend who gave up on getting the required paperwork for the same trip. He complained about the process, the cost, and described how big his problems were.  He focused on what he wasn't doing, gave up before he started.  He was unable to join the other physician because he didn’t get organized and didn't believe he could.  When she returned from her expeirence abroad, she told her colleague that his best days were ahead of him, and that there was always next year.  She instilled faith in him to try again.