Back in the day, if you were watching TV at 3 a.m., you probably saw a Dean Graziosi infomercial about how “You, too, can get rich selling real estate!!”
Today, as a multi-bizzillionaire, Dean teaches others how to create a motivation for success. He was motivated, he says, because he grew up in poverty and longed for nice things.
But when his 14-year-old daughter decided to become better at pitching softball, he knew that would not motivate her.
He said: “My kids haven’t been on a commercial plane in five years. We take a private jet and our house is a very nice one. I knew I had to give her things to motivate her that were different than what motivated me.”
And in three months she went from mediocre to outstanding.
What made the difference? Just this – he didn’t try to re-create his own struggle. Instead, he worked with her desires. He had her envision what it would be like to come off the field victorious with friends congratulating her, to receive offers of scholarships, and to be on a college team based upon her skill. He had her feel what that would be like. And it worked. Isn’t this the same message Jesus is giving us? You don’t have to do it the way I did it. “You are not asked to be crucified.” (OrEd.Tx.6.9) He says.
Instead, “Believe with me.”
What does that look like? Throughout ACIM isn’t He asking us to envision what it would be like for our lives to be peaceful? Isn’t He constantly asking us to feel it and practice it?
And if we did, maybe like Dean’s daughter we’d be able to go from mediocre to outstanding in only three months!