A couple of weeks ago, I told you I’d gotten hit with the flu and was sicker than I’ve been in at least 30 years.
Many of you sent me kind words of encouragement and well-wishes, and I’m so grateful.
But I’m curious.
What happens in your life when you’re hit by an illness, or need to take care of an emergency?
With the way that most of us practice, if we’re not seeing clients, we’re not getting paid.
So when something unexpected happens and we can’t be in the office to see clients, we lose money.
But years ago, I made a decision that has allowed me to take time off when I need to, rest when my body is feeling overwhelmed, and be there when a friend or family member needs me . . .
. . . all without losing income.
And not only has that decision allowed me to the leeway to take this time off, but it’s also helped me to expand my impact on people all over the world.
It’s amazing to think of where we started compared to where we are now.
Today, NICABM’s webinars bring together thousands of people from countries like Mozambique, China, United Arab Emirates, and the Czech Republic (just to name a few).
Now, I can share my expertise with the people who need it most, even if they can’t come to my office, or a workshop I might be running.
And I want you to be able to do this too.
It’s possible.
You just need to know the steps that can help you format your expertise (the expertise you’ve worked so hard for) in a different way, to expand your impact and increase your influence.
So here’s something that can help you get started.
It could be the first step to changing how your use your expertise to impact the world, and transforming even more lives than you ever thought possible.
So tell me, what is your fallback position should you suddenly be called away for a family emergency? Have you ever said no to a friend in need because you were worried about leaving your work?
Please leave your response in the comments section below.
Dr, Ruth,
Many times I wondered what would happen if I could not go to the office and then because I am asked to travel to speak at conferences, that don’t pay you for your time at the conference. I network but enough of that, this is why I started doing things by video and making documentaries and looking at Webinars, because like you, I want to take time for me and my daughter and mom when they need me.
I am an insurance professional and business consultant who have a lot of knowledge to share. I would like to take that next step to format my expertise to impact the world, and transform lives, make a difference and increase my income level while doing it.
I enjoy your webinars and after listening to them, I am fired up and ready to go. I missed the one you gave today because of a previous engagement. How can i listen to it and please let me know when we can have a private phone call with you or a Skype call.
Have a great day, and i appreciate your webinars.
Ricardo
At 60 (now 62) I returned to finish my undergraduate degree while still working as a desktop publisher for a consulting firm.
My degree will be in Behavioral Health, with a focus on Addiction and Mental Health.
I am very attracted and interested in Mindfulness and am taking Tara’s current on-line class.
Because of the presence of addiction and mental illness in my family of origin I have been attending ACA, Al-Anon, CODA over the past 6 years.
I want to spend my “retirement” years sharing, educating, in prevention, sharing my knowledge, education and experience in as many ways and avenues as I can.
My back-up plan is to “not” retire and to “work” in a different way than I have been for most of my working life.
4/28/2014
I have come to the conclusion that disease: meaning the body is in “dis-ease,” is our body’s last- resort means of letting us know we are directing our life-giving-energies in wrong places. There are usually signals along the way: tiredness, mental confusion, silly mistakes, etc., which we tend to ignore. Finally the body says “Stop!” and takes over by causing an “accident” of various proportions depending on how long and how major is the issue. Too often we put off that which is important to us or our loved ones “just one more minute, hour, day, week, or forever, because we were “…unable to see the tree for the forest.” If we are lucky, the realization comes to us before it is too late, i.e. “Many people die with their music still in them. Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it time runs out.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
Even on replays, I get so much from watching these little clips. You get my mind to be so creative that I know the ideas are there in proliferation, but somehow latent? Does that make sense (autisticly)?
It’s like something is THERE, but it can’t come forward! The primal scream may be missing? Every time, there are a plethora of fresh answers. I cannot get them on paper or into my computer fast enough. It is sort-of a wonderment as to why I find acting on these inspirations THE astronomical feat.
I’m always ready to help my family and friends without worries about my work or anything else.
Ruth, thanks for asking. For more than 35 years, I have taught two of the best kept secrets in medicine to clients, physicians and most anyone who was willing to listen to my passionate words. After the family, I innocently stepped onto the stage of the ’70s scientific relaxation and biofeedback revolution. First, I changed my own life with these simple skills of proper breathing and awareness of excess body tension and proceeded on to a career that has been most rewarding.
It is a mystery to me that we are not taught the simple physics of body management and stress control. My journals for years tell me 65% to 80% of doctors visits are because of stress. In Bruce Lipton’s recent book he quotes 90%. This is outrageous. We have known from the early 20th century work of Edmund Jacobson that we have built into our nervous system the very means of ridding ourselves of this stress and its cumulative affects.
Thanks so much for your stepping forward with your great work and spirit. You are definitely a part of the solution. Respectfully, Marylou Gantner, anxietystresscontrol.com
I am in the process of creating my back-up plan. I’m in private practice as a therapist. I pray, I do affirmations, I believe God/the Source/the Universe will be there for me, and I also believe I need to do my part. I’m educating myself re:technology, marketing, products, writing and publishing, blogging…..Thanks, Ruth for such a wide variety of trainings.
Hi Ruth,
This is a great question. Both my husband & I need a “nestegg” and have saved over the years. We live a humble life. We are still in our “starter home”. We just got a 40 gallon hot water tank – used a 20 gallon for 25 years. We roofed our house when needed and my husband does all our car maintenance. Long story short … we were able to save over the years and yes, we have a good back up plan for sickness and retirement. We have learned to take care of ourselves and not live beyond our means. We still get to travel, ski, river raft, hike and play hard outside. We find if we are outside, we are rarely spending too much money. Now, having said all that.. we have had a blessed life without a curve ball thrown our way. We know all can change in a minute in ways that we never anticipated. For today, all is well. Smiles.
S/p Right CVA cum left hemi.
I appreciate the halcyon past
Focus my awareness on my mind and heart. Let go of all negative thoughts. Rest in the heart. Open up to higher consciousness and/or the possibility that this “rest period” may be a blessing in disguise. In spiritual literature, there are many stories about something bad happening to a person turning out to be a blessing because his temporary confinement kept him out of harms way. Had he not been bedridden he would have been in a situation in which he would have been injured in a plane crash – or worse.
So don’t get involved in negative states of fear. Put your energy in being in the present, caring for your being itself; letting go of negative imaginary scenarios and turn your time out into a retreat for yourself.
Re the above quote”- So.o.o. true, but nevertheless very difficult at times. With new frequencies coming upon the earth many of us are ‘clearing-out’ old wounds from past traumas and difficult childhoods. I am going thru such a one myself and it is hard to remain in the ‘present moment’ The previous messages tells me that others are understanding this dynamic time. THANK YOU! Love Joy peace for our Planet Earth!
Giving my “everything” to my Plan A…total commitment…I (sadly) do not have a backup plan…now
I AM deliberately creating several channels for income
I’m a former CPA now in sales for an extremely dysfunctional firm. Due to some bad decisions I have zero financial cushion or retirement, and can’t afford to take time off because most of my income is commission based. I need to do something different but seem paralyzed by stress and indecision. The irony is that I’ve been a lifelong student of self help lol.
I am currently struggling with figuring out how to take time off to have hand surgery that will require keeping my hand elevated for 2 wks.I have Earned time but do not want to use it all.I have some money aside for unexpected events.
I do need to investigate more at the hospital regarding taking a sick leave.If I do that I will not recieve my full salary.
My inclination is to put the surgery off until I accumulate more earned time.
Hi Ruth…thank you for your lectures and very helpful topics. I would like to offer articles/messages of hope to those who are unemployed or having difficulties at work. I published a book entitled ‘Coping with Sudden Job Loss’ in 2010 and I have subsequently written many articles on various spin-off effects of job loss. Google ‘Cathy Gomez job loss’ …and be encouraged! This work has not yet been monetized but helping people is my joy! Be blessed….
Dear Ruth , Am delighted to have come across your highly idealistic , and empathic work ! It has opened lots of varied avenues , also scientifically proven ! As an artist that believes All is connected , it helps me cope with the so called reality ; so as to answer your last question : No , I have no insurance !
I do not have a back up plan per say. I do trust that when one door closes another opens. The meaning I give this is when I am open to hearing from all the energy that surrounds me, answers are there to help guide my choices. So, when I take time to help a friend or some time off to tend to myself I may loose income at that moment in time, but it always seems to work out. It is kind of like trusting the stock market. There are lots of ups and downs everyday, it is a mystery as to what the influence will be, but in the long run it all seems to work out in a positive direction.
These are important questions, as I am in my fourth weekend of being full-time self-employed. Although I am already over 55 years old, I was able to get in a insurance for sick-leave. That will pay me 80% of my tax-declared income, once I get sick over 30 days in a row. Before that, I have to see for myself 8that is: keep enough savings, to be able to get through). Also I think of asking colleagues to replace me, if I am sick, but it is easier to send the people in emergencies to the emergency clinic.
I usually work off my flues with a lot of sleeping and a flue-medication, that knocks me out. And I view a flue as a healing process: the fever is actually workjing off the bad stuff in the system, if it is not over 40degrees. Otherwise its recommendable to see a doctor.
I would refuse to habve my child vaccinated against measels though, as measel is curable and a usual childhood-sickness. It strenghtes the children to have thiese sicknesses, in my belief.
I could say I have my nurses union but I actually took another job as an assistant for persons with reduced movement ability, needing wheelchairs and help to get off and on air plains. I just trust in God and pay my tithe every month, it has worked out for many years and I believe it will in the future. God has never let me down and I know he takes care of me for ever.:)
it helps me when overwhelmed by the more I see of world conditions to remember that we’re all more alike than different. If I mind my role on stage which is seeking peace eventually we’ll get there.
No back up plan not only for emergency
But for retirement as well
Glad you’re feeling better, I use Aromatherapy when I’m not feeling well.