02-24-19 Lessons From Children
02-24-19 PUSH ARROW TO BEGIN AUDIO
‘Good morning. Today we will reach for possibilities that are never available to us before. We will lift the lid on restrictive thinking that leads to the false conclusions that we are not worthy of a life style that we see others enjoy. Restrictions are mental conclusions our mind mistakenly decides are our limits. And we accept the limitations as fact. But not anymore. We are standing at the crossroads of a new life, and we just need to choose the other path. The path that leads to our dreams. This will take true dedication, and abiding commitment and steadfast desire to change. So, my question to you, today. Are you ready for a new life with unlimited possibilities’? As the speaker stepped back to wait for a response, the crowd stood up and enthusiastically applauded the speaker. They were saying with applause that they were ready.
This was how Palmer Peters, the world renown Personal Growth guru, began all of his ‘Fly With The Future’ weekend workshops. He always got ovations and a full house committed to his vision of success and happiness. This was a special weekend where guests were encouraged to bring their children. Palmer Peters thought that children would bring a motivation to the adults that would insure the adult’s commitment to his program. Palmer Peters was a master promoter who knew how to fill the seats of his workshops with paying devotees. This was his new idea that kids are the tool to stimulate the adults/parent’s need to succeed. So, they were invited and encouraged to participate.
There were approximately 50 people at the workshop with about 15 children. After Palmer’s introduction he would speak on a topic for about an hour, then ask for audience questions. The first topic was about prosperity. Attracting more money into your life. When question time arrived, the adults formed a line waiting for their turn at the microphone. They had questions about dressing for success and staying open to opportunities. Questions Palmer heard a thousand times and had ready answers. After the last adult finished his question, unnoticed was a little girl who courageously moved to the microphone.
Palmer and the audience were all charmed by the little sweetheart about to speak. In a little voice she asked, ‘if my daddy makes more money will he love my mommy more?’ The room went completely silent. The audience looked for Palmer’s answer. Palmer stumbled, ‘like the old Beatles song said ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, love cannot be purchased it is given freely.’ The little girl looked confused, ‘I think you said money brings happiness, but it doesn’t bring love? How much does happiness cost?’ This would have sounded funny except the little girl was very sincere. Palmer slowly responded, ‘Happiness is something you feel inside when you get something you always wanted. Like a new doll.’ The little girl bravely continued, ‘a new doll won’t make me happy, my daddy loving my mommy will make me happy. How do I buy that?’ Palmer gave a limp answer and called a break for the crowd. At the break the little girl and her crying parents left the workshop for good.
Palmer began the next part of the workshop with a talk on ‘The Successful Mind’. He described the common traits of highly successful people. The mental thought processes, personality traits and work habits that propelled successful people to achieve great abundance. The audience seemed impressed and formed a long line for questions. But the little girl’s experience encouraged other kids to get in line with their questions.
Second in line was a little boy who seemed sad. Palmer commented on his sad face and asked the little one to smile. Instead, the little boy asked, ‘you say that successful people work really hard to be successful?’ He looked at Palmer for an answer. Palmer nodded yes cautiously. ‘Do successful people have families?’ Continued the little boy. Palmer confidently answered ‘oh yes, most of them are married with families.’ The little boy responded, ‘my daddy works really, really hard and we don’t see him too much, and he always tired. If he gets successful, I’m afraid I will never see him again’ And he started to cry. Palmer immediately called another break with a long line still waiting. After the break the little boy’s family and two other families left the workshop.
Palmer was beside himself. Everything was out of his control and he could only continue the workshop as planned. So back to the workshop he began his popular speech on ‘Finding Balance in Prosperity’. He felt this talk was child proof in a sense. How to keep life in balance by participating 100%. Giving every aspect of your life full attention and staying connected to the important elements of successful living. This excited the audience, especially the adults who were affected by the little girl and little boys’ questions. Again, through his talk they felt great about abundant living. They were satisfied from the speech and when it was time for questions only one person stood. It was another little girl. Palmer was reluctant to hear her, but had no choice. ‘Good morning sweetheart, do you have a question for me’ Then the little girl started, ‘I’m pretty good with arithmetic and I’m confused. You say give everything 100%. If you give work 100%, and if you give Family 100%, and you your friends 100%, and you give your body and health 100% and you give your God 100% that is 500%. 500% is not possible. Maybe you mean everything gets 20%. That makes 100%. But you say you need 100% at work to be successful, that leaves 0% for everything else.’
‘So, this is my question’ Palmer stood there feeling like a pig waiting for slaughter. ‘If my Daddy’s wants to have a family, and friends and good health and God and a job, it seems like he has to give up being successful like you want, isn’t that right’? Palmer was out of his element. He was speechless. He could only say ‘everyone has to do what’s best for them.’ After that without Palmer’s direction the audience created their own break and each family huddled together in discussion. When Palmer returned, he found only four people remained. They were the singled ones without children. Palmer turned to his assistant. ‘From now on no children are allowed, it too disruptive.’ The assistant replied ‘tell that to your new assistant, I quit.’ Peace***