How to sell more

Dear Energy Lady,
I sell for a big company.  They just upped our goals, and for the first time, I'm falling behind.  Any energetic suggestions?

Signed,
Eager to make my numbers

Dear Numbers,
It's hard to tell from your letter what the definition of "falling behind" is.  In other words, were you the #1 salesperson before the goals were raised?  Or were you just a member of the pack, doing the same as everyone else and now they're ahead of you?

Either way, here are a couple of questions that might help unblock you energetically:

--If you've never been top salesperson, have you always wanted to be?  If so, you will need to break through the pattern of believing you're one of the pack.   However, if doing so would somehow make you lose the closeness you felt with the rest of the team, you might be resistant to breaking out ahead of everyone else.  That resistance would make it difficult, or even impossible, for new or bigger opportunities to reach you.

--If you were the top salesperson before but have now fallen behind, then ask yourself two questions:  1) what others are now doing differently that is helping them connect with more clients and/or 2) what has changed in either your own belief and behavior?  These are very left-brained, logical questions, but sometimes energy flow is blocked by something as simple as a few habits that just need to be aligned with the new reality.

Here are some other things that might help:

--Meditation.  Relaxing completely--letting go of thoughts and feelings--can open doors of possibility that you could never even imagine.   So if you have simply been stumped by who you might need to contact, this approach could help enormously. 

--If your thoughts are too wild for meditating, try exercise or doing any other activity that allows you to forget about work for a while.  Again, taking your attention off what isn't happening is a good way to release the blocking energy around it.

--If you want to use your thoughts productively, try visualizing.   Imagine yourself shaking hands with your clients.  See the signed contract in your in-box.  Hear yourself telling your manager about how the deal came about.  Taste a drink or the meal you'll have to celebrate your success.   In other words, bring the experience of success to life in your imagination until it becomes so real to you, you know it instinctively.  That's when you'll likely see it materialize.

--You can also stop making this about you.  If you reach the goal, what will be true in the world?  You didn't say what you sell, but if it helps your clients be safer, save money, save lives, make the world more beautiful or has any other positive purpose, then forget about the numbers and start thinking about the opportunity you're being given to improve life for others.  

--Finally, realize that life gives us situations that allow us to release our deepest fears, which are often that we are inadequate and unlovable.   If this rings true for you in any way, then maybe it's time to let this go.  And if it's not true, see if you can find whatever underlying fear is holding you back at this time.   There likely is something there, or you would have embraced the larger goal with open arms and reached or surpassed it with ease.  It would have excited you with its potential, not intimidated you.

I wish you renewed success!

Love,
EL

Dear Energy Lady,
It seems as if the world is getting more and more filled with hate.  Every time I turn on the news, someone is getting shot or blown up because of their religion or race or just because someone went nuts with a gun in a public place.   It's getting to the point where I'm afraid to go out of the house. 
Do you have any energetic advice for me?

Signed,
Scared

Dear Scared,
It's easy to see why you might think the world is filled with hate, because pain and suffering make people pay attention, and that sells papers and draws advertisers and blog hits.   Also, getting angry and upset make some people feel more powerful and alive, at least temporarily.  In the end, all hate and anger is exhausting, as it is not our true nature.

Here's a little challenge for you:  every time you hear or see something that feels like hate coming alive, look around you and ask, "Where is the love in this moment?"  You might find it in your own heart, but you are just as likely to see something beautiful, kind or extraordinary in other people or the environment. Sometimes, a door will open for you to perform an act of kindness in that moment, even if it's just giving away a smile and having someone return it (have you ever noticed that it's almost impossible not to smile at someone who's smiling at you?).

The other thing you can do is to lessen the amount of time you spend watching and pursuing the news--at least the front pages and headlines.  Newspapers are also filled with lots of happy news about people who are making a positive difference for themselves and others in business, sports, the arts, science, health and more.   The comics are always good for a laugh, too. 

As for your own personal safety, do what you can to be aware of your surroundings and make smart choices.  But if you find your fears growing too large and limiting your choices, you may want to seek professional counseling to help you unknot them.

This said, you can also increase the protective energy around you by 1) setting the intention to be safe;  2) saying--out loud--"I choose safety" whenever you leave the house; and 3) staying present in the moment and making safe choices.    Remember, however, that it is how you feel, not what you say or intend, that determines your life experience, so if you continue to feel challenged emotionally, you might want to look into tapping, The Sedona Method, The Work (by Byron Katie) or meditation to help you let go of the thoughts which are creating the negative feelings you are experiencing.

In the end, remember this:  there is much more love than hate in the world.  The proof is that throughout time, good always wins out in the end, even if it takes decades or  even centuries.    Also, if there was no darkness in the world, it would be impossible for us to both create and appreciate the light.  Just make sure you notice that on balance, good far outweighs evil, and that there is evidence of that everywhere.

Love,
EL