Suffering - The REAL Secret to Success

by R. Preston Ely
preston@learntowholesale.com

"The truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt" - Thomas Merton

What do you think about suffering? Do you avoid it? Or rather do you embrace it as a way of life? Your answer will tell me a whole lot about you. For one thing, I will be able to predict with certainty whether you are common or uncommon. An every day Joe or a world class champion destined to leave his or her mark on history.

Have you seen the new movie Evan Almighty? Ya gotta see it. It's hilarious. There is a line in there that is so profound. God (Morgan Freedman) is talking to Evan's wife and he says this:

"Do you think when you pray for patience, God gives you patience? Or does He rather give you opportunities to be patient [suffering]? When you pray for wisdom does He give you wisdom? Or does He rather give opportunities to gain wisdom [a.k.a. More Suffering]?"

I'm paraphrasing because I can't totally remember the scene on account of I can't really remember anydarnthing that happened over 17 minutes ago, but you get the point: We gain virtue (which leads to success) - through pain.

Now this is relatively common knowledge, but do you know what is not common? What is not common is the person who, knowing the price, prays for patience and wisdom anyways. It is the uncommon person who embraces pain and suffering as a way of life. Nothing urks me more than a pastor trying to be funny saying "I stopped praying for those things a long time ago." I just think to myself, "sissy."
Bring The Pain

I recently did a radio interview where I was asked to share with the audience the #1 reason for my success. It could only be one thing. This week's Vitamin For The Mind is simply a summary of my reply. You can hear the audio at www.prestonely.com.

"Well, if I have to narrow it down to just one thing then my answer is going to be short and boring for everyone. The answer would be simply "God." Get to know Him and everything else will fall into place. But if I can answer with two things then I think I can give you what you're looking for.

Two things -

1. Attitude - I do everything possible to keep it positive.

...and this second thing is probably even more important, and I'll focus on this for the time being...

2. My willingness to suffer on my neverending quest for TRUTH.

You see, I want to know what's REALLY going on here in this game we call life. Why am I here? What is required of me? What is right? What is wrong? Unlike a lot of people out there, I refuse to live in denial. I absolutely will not knowingly put up defense mechanisms to protect myself from what I know to be true about myself and the world that we live in - no matter how much pain this causes me. And believe me - it causes me a lot of pain. But it's important to note that everyone will pay this price in pain either now or later regardless of whether they live in the truth or not.

Paying now is the way of the champion. The way of the true warrior.

In every area of my life I am always asking myself, "what is the truth?" Contrary to modern thought there is only one truth. If you believe 1+1 is 2, and I believe 1+1 is 3, and the janitor over here believes 1+1 is 19, well guess what - the janitor and I are living a lie. We are in a delusion. 1+1 = 3 is not just "my personal truth." It is in fact "my personal absurd departure from reality." And this applies to both subjective and objective issues as well as spiritual and physical.

How does this apply to success in life?

Every important aspect of your personal life - your spiritual, emotional, financial, physical, and relational life - each one of these things requires a SACRIFICE in order to achieve wholeness, or, as you put it, "success." And this sacrifice is so immediately painful that the majority of people choose to lie to themselves in as many different ways as is humanly possible (and we are possible of quite a bit) in order to avoid this. However, the consequence is (A) We begin to live out of sync with reality; a delusion. And (B)We eventually begin to suffer at an even greater pain threshold than if we had gotten the suffering out of the way right up front.

Well these things are not an option for me because as I explained up front I am fully committed to the truth. I want what is REAL for myself. And so I am compelled to do the necessary things that truth requires of me - which always leads first to suffering and eventually to success. There is no latter without the former. Not ever. Want a nice tan? Go suffer in the sun. Want a nice body? Go suffer in the gym. Want a nice marriage? Go suffer...forever. LOL

This is extremely important to embrace because every worthy endeavor in your life is going to require a testing period. A new relationship, a new career, a new real estate wholesaling business with Preston as your coach (hint hint), a new diet, a new exercise program - whatever. To get any of these things off the ground will require you to go through hell. At least that is what it will feel like. 97% of people quit during this period. Their commitment to the truth is weaker than their commitment to feel good at all cost.

So here is my success secret - I CHOOSE TO SUFFER NOW. Not later."

© 2007 R. Preston Ely (Don't steal my stuff) All rights reserved
Real Estate Coach/Rock Star/Assassin R. Preston Ely publishes the critically acclaimed bi-monthly ezine The Flip Factor. If you're ready to jump-start your life, quit your job, make a bajillion dollars, and have more fun and freedom, get your FREE 7 Day Mini-Course NOW at www.learntowholesale.com!

Charlotte Real Estate Market is Awesome!

BY MICAH GADDY 

It is a Wonderful Time to be active in the real estate market in Charlotte! 

I am so tired of hearing that the "Sky is Falling" in the real estate industry.  I am not saying that we do not have some serious issues that must be addressed.  All I am hear to say is that, "Every Challenge Presents Opportunities."  Now that the Mortgage Industry has had its wake up call, it is time for the public to be empowered to overcome every obstacle that has been presented. 

Some of the problems we face are due to following reasons:

1. Unscrupulous real estate agents that sold houses to their clients they knew they could not afford just to boost their own bottom line 
2. Mortgage companies and banks approved people for more than what they truly could afford
3. Appraisers established market values to homes that were higher than the actual value of the comps to satisfy the contract sales price and keep the lenders happy
4. Inexperienced investors flipped houses "As Seen on TV" that instead flopped and left the lenders and the public high and dry
5. Predatory lenders sold Adjustable Rate Mortgage Products whose rates multiplied consumer mortgage payments faster than Gremlins
6. Corporate layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, and wrongsourcing

The Good News is this is our opportunity to educate the consumers and help to right the wrongs in our industry. 

We can provide ethical consultation to consumers to help them make wise choices regarding their home purchase and investment. 

We can encourage new investors to buy and hold as they build up their knowledge of the best investments methods in our specific markets. 

We can build strong relationships with lenders that will not sell our customers products that will ultimately leave them unable to afford the homes we sold them. 

We can build strong businesses and provide jobs to people in our community that will help grow and maintain our economy. 

Furthermore, the Charlotte Real Estate market is one of only 5 Real Estate Markets where prices are still on the rise. 

Please feel free to read the article by Vinnee Tong entitled, "U.S. Home Prices Falling - but not here." http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/292000.html