How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m not a pessimist… I’m a realist? Maybe you said it yourself. Here’s another one. “I don’t deal in fantasy, I deal in reality. “Let me tell you a little secret… there is no such thing as reality; we all live in a fantasy world, a self-created and self-chosen fantasy world, brought about by the world model we have.” they have been sold, like a bill of goods, brought about by our own choices, values, reference points and perceptions, brought about by the DEAL we made with life long ago.
You may be wondering, “What is this deal?” “I don’t remember making a deal.” Well, whether you remember it or not, you made a deal. Some of us made better deals than others. A select few made great deals, most made average deals, and a large number made terrible deals. For the few who made big deals, you don’t need to read the rest of this post, as there is nothing here that you need. The same goes for people who have already broken their deals and demanded a drastically better new deal for themselves, and got it. As for the rest of you, keep reading.
The DEAL I am referring to is directly related to the quality of your life: every aspect of your life, your relationships, your finances, your physical well-being, and your emotional and/or spiritual well-being. When I refer to the select few who did big business, I don’t necessarily mean the rich and famous. There are too many examples of people who “had it all” and proceeded to self-destruct. Some of the most notable names that come to mind are: John Belushi, Freddy Prinze, Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Kobain, River Pheonix… the list is endless. Nor am I referring to the poverty-stricken and those living under what society would describe as tragic circumstances when I speak of those who made terrible deals. There are also numerous examples of people who went through unspeakable tragedies and extremely difficult situations only to come out of the ordeal better, stronger, and happier than ever. The difference between the two is their OFFER.
What is the deal? The DEAL is an agreement we made with life. The DEAL is an acronym for:
DEFINITIONS, ENVIRONMENT, AMBIGUITY and LIMITATIONS
If you’re one of the select few who made big deals with life, you’ll know it. Your life is one of happiness and abundance. You wake up in the morning and can’t wait to start your day. Anyone who comes in contact with you benefits from the exchange. Their relationships are rewarding and supportive for everyone involved. His perspective is one of extreme optimism.
To be specific, the select few who made big deals in life have four things in common, the four clauses of the DEAL.
Definitions:
They do not accept the definitions of other peoples or societies. They define life on their own terms.
Atmosphere:
They do not allow their environment to dictate their development and achievements. They dominate their environment and use it to their advantage.
Ambiguity:
They don’t sleepwalk through life. Your days have purpose, clarity, and meaning.
restrictions:
They do not accept the limitations that life tries to impose on them. Your beliefs empower you and give you unlimited potential.
People who have something less than the life they really want, at some point in their existence, have agreed to accept it. The moment they accepted and internalized all four clauses, the deal was done.
The moment they accepted what other people define as reality, whether it comes from family, friends, glamor magazines, or their need to be accepted and perceived as worthy by someone other than themselves… they began to consider the deal. At the exact moment that they allowed their environment to dictate what they should, should, or could achieve or become…they began to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. The specific time they began to live life as if they were asleep and doing the movements almost as if they were just trying to get it over with…they were reaching for their pen. The day they accepted that their potential was at its maximum, that they were incapable of more, that they were limited in their abilities, intellect, strength, will, imagination or any other resource necessary to achieve their ideal life… they put their name on the line dotted… the deal was done.
Having unconsciously made the deal, the tendency is to spend most of your life trying to honor that deal. Because? Because everyone knows that in life you have to honor the deals you make. In society, there is an extremely negative perception of anyone who enters into a deal only to break it early in the process. There’s nothing we hate more than an athlete who signs a contract…has a good year…then he hopes the team renegotiates his contract for a lot more money. It turns out that I am one of those people who think that contracts must be honored. The difference is this, the athlete knew the ins and outs of the deal before signing it. They were not tricked into it. They had lawyers and agents acting on his behalf. Most importantly, they received something of value in exchange for their signature.
So what’s your DEAL? If your life doesn’t exceed all your expectations of what life should be… break the deal. If you have unfulfilled dreams… break the deal. If you have unused talents… break the deal. If you’re not living your best life… break the deal. If the deal you made doesn’t work for you NOW… BREAK THE DEAL!
