For almost a year I held phone masterminds (at no pay to me) with a client. It was a win-win because we supported each other in our quest to be the best – or so I thought.
We “Nevillized” our goals.
We “What If Upped” our intentions.
We “remembered” our successes.
It was thrilling, energizing, exhilarating and wonderful.
But one day I told my client that I received another standing ovation at a recent talk. I was sharing my success with someone who I thought would be inspired by it.
He was silent.
I later learned he felt sick.
When I explored why, he said my success made him ill.
“How much is enough?” he asked.
Think about this…
As long as we talked about an imaginary success, it was fine. But when I reported an actual success, it wasn’t fine.
What’s the difference?
In my experience, it’s often safe to imagine what you want but not safe to actually manifest it. Obviously, there’s a deservingness issue there.
When success is out of arm’s reach, it’s fair to fantasy having it; but grasp it and now it’s real.
Do you accept it or push it away?
It depends on your comfort level with success.
And how much is enough, anyway?
At what point is success “too much”?
Who says a certain level of success is acceptable but more isn’t?
I’ve been saying for decades that you can have virtually whatever you want as long as you don’t need it. If you need something, there’s never enough. If you’re satisfied with this moment and just welcome more, than “enough” isn’t even an issue. You just enjoy life. You accept more because it’s joyful to do so.
And looking at this issue even deeper, doesn’t concern over “too much” reveal a belief in scarcity?
Leave Scarcity Thinking Behind
As I explained in my bestselling audio program The Abundance Paradigm, your perception creates your reality. You can look at life and see scarcity or abundance. It depends on your mindset.
Someone who thinks it’s possible to have “too much” success is coming from the scarcity mindset. That’s fine if that’s what you choose. Most of us don’t consciously choose it, though. And once you realize you have a choice, why would you choose scarcity over abundance?
How good can you stand it, anyway?
My client who confronted me about “How much is enough?” when I mentioned my standing ovation, was pulling back from his own potential success. Self-sabotage stopped him. He hit his comfort zone of deservingness.
Decades ago I was taught to be inspired by someone’s success, not jealous of it.
When I was broke and struggling, I learned to see someone driving the nice car or living in the nice house and feel proud of them and inspired by them. It made a huge difference in how I felt about myself, and released energy that I could use to build my own dreams. Today my success is real.
The lesson here is to go for your inspired dreams without reservation or explanation, surround yourself with supportive people who truly want your success as much as you do, and enjoy your adventure forward as every moment is the miracle you seek.
Steve Jobs said —
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs
There’s no such thing as a ceiling on good, happiness, deservingness or “enough.”
Unless you think there is.
What do you think?
How much do you deserve?
How much is enough for you?
Ao Akua,
PS – I am loving the bubbly music of singer Jem (Jemma Griffiths). Here’s her video for her song It’s Amazing (on her latest CD, Down To Earth), which is a great reminder of all that you can do in your life. Life is amazing. You are amazing. Enjoy.
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56 Comments
How does one become lucky enough to receive mastermind phone calls with you for free?
Possibly he’s trapped by Marlon Brando’s quotation saying that “too much success can ruin you as surely as too much failure”.
It took me a minute to grasp the concept of “too much” as relating to scarcity, but of course it does. “Too much” is the polar opposite of “too little”. One would have to believe in the possibility/existence of “too little” to even be able to see the condition of “too much”. Thanks for yet another mind-blower to ponder. 🙂
On another note, have you considered posting samples of your music from Blue Healer? I’ve found that when I can get a taste, it makes me hungry for more. (Congrats on your first musical release!)
Eventually I’ll do that. Thank you for the tip. 🙂
“And looking at this issue even deeper, doesn’t concern over “too much” reveal a belief in scarcity?”
No, Joe, it reveals a concern with obsession. I think maybe that’s why your friend felt sick. Perhaps he considered the lengths you will go to in order to have this thing you call “success” and he realized what an unhealthy business it can be. What does being a success mean, in your terms? I’m supposed to weigh my worth and assess my spiritual path by the car I drive?
Have you considered that your friend’s quite visceral reaction had nothing to do with scarcity thinking or “deservingness” issues, or some weakness, problem thinking, or flaw in him but was actually a genuine response to what he was seeing and hearing?
“I’ve been saying for decades that you can have virtually whatever you want as long as you don’t need it. If you need something, there’s never enough.”
This is a meaningless word game. As long as you don’t need something, the universe will give it to you? But if you actually need it, the universe gets all locked up and stumbles over the fact that you just said: I “need”? Where is the love in this view? What kind of universe is that, and why would I want to spend my energy trying to anticipate its tricks? We need food and water to survive. It can’t be helped; that is the way of it. Is the universe going to get all huffy because I said that?
I can always count on you to give an interesting counter thought. 🙂 “Obsession” wasn’t even mentioned in the post, or ever in an entire year by my friend/client. And “need” doesn’t refer to the basic survival elements, but to the add-ons our personality says we need to be happy. You might re-read the post with an open mind and heart and see what there is to learn about yourself. All the best.
Okay, Joe, take the word “obsession” out of it and let’s go back to the exact words your friend used. He said your success made him ill. He asked, “How much is enough?” You’re saying that “need” refers to add-ons that our personality tells us we need to be happy. As long as we don’t actually need such things to be happy, we can have all we want of them – if we’re manifestation adepts, of course. How is the display of you with your cars in numerous photographs not an add-on? So…the cars aren’t what you need to be happy? Here is what you said in one of your recent e-mails with the subject line: What’s In Your Driveway? “Some people learn the kindergarten level basics of manifesting and use it to attract a parking place.That’s nice, but wouldn’t you rather manifest an actual car to park in the parking place?”
So…this ability to manifest is what makes you happy? While acknowledging that the parking place manifestation is at a kindergarten level, you also go on to say, “That’s nice.” Is it? Is that “nice”? How did the universe arrange it? Did it cut someone else off in traffic? Is the spiritual path a competition? You talk about the problem being in perceptions of scarcity instead of realizing abundance in our lives. But squabbling over parking places is about scarcity and competition and about “spiritually” one upping someone else.
Again, if you need anything to be happy, whether a car or manifestation skills, you are missing the point. Detachment and following the Divine is what I teach, which is the real secret to spiritual awareness. Please read some of my earlier blog posts, my books and articles, and listen to my audios. My book, The Awakening Course, might be of real value, as well.
What is puzzling to me about this story is how the client (which is apparently a better description than “friend”) could have been in communication with you for a year without being aware that it is your style, Joe, to frequently promote yourself and share your triumphs and accolades. And I am also assuming that since this was a client, he had paid you for other products and/or services (maybe even a Rolls-Royce ride?), and that the Mastermind phone calls were a bonus. So from a purely capitalistic perspective, this was not wasted effort for you, even though emotionally it may have been disappointing.
My sense is that the client was just becoming increasingly uncomfortable with your style, and that phone call was the last straw. When the client asked, “How much is enough?” maybe he was really asking *himself* how much longer he was willing to stuff his conflicted feelings. I suspect there’s more to this story than is being told here. It sounds as if this is a relationship that worked for a while but it’s time for the client to move on, but it would seem that it was truly an “awakening” experience for him. In that sense, Joe, you gave him a gift, though it may not have been the one you intended.
Very well said, Connie, and probably correct.
Hello Connie, I didn’t expect to see you around here 🙂
LOL, Jonathan. I occasionally show up here. And I didn’t expect to see you around here after that commentary you published last year about Miracles Coaching. That was pretty eye-opening.
There’s nothing wrong with money or success. But one could get addicted in a negative way to standing ovations–in other words, other people’s approval. I don’t know if that’s the case with you. Also, I wasn’t there and don’t know the particulars of what transpired between you and this guy, but maybe that’s was what your friend was having a reaction to. Don’t know enough to make any definite statement about this, but I do know a lot of people who are otherwise good and powerful leaders, sometimes fall into the needing folks approval trap. Just thought I’d throw it out to you.
Since the ovation comment was once in an entire year, I wouldn’t say that was the trigger, but any addiction needs looked at. Thanks for the comment.
This is soooo true. I’ve had this many times in the past, talking with a friend supporting each other, but as soon as some of it becomes real, I realize the support apparently was limited to mind games.
I guess as soon as there’s evidence, it fires up a sense of competition. At least in the people I’ve attracted around me. In fact, it got so bad I’ve shied away from masterminds altogether lately. Which is not a great solution, so obviously I have some clearing to do around this.
By the way, I really appreciate you writing about these tricky issues from time to time. Helps come to terms with similar issues in my own life, and I imagine to some degree for you too.
I think I might be gifting the Abundance Paradigm to someone. 😉
Thank you. It means a lot to me.
Nothing is ‘too much’ Joe!
I love all your writings. Especially, The Attractor Factor and Hypnotic Marketing. thanks for the post.
Best…
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Thanks for the eye-opener, Joe. I am 26 and I just realized one of my biggest barriers to creating true abundance – I’ve always wanted to be “angel-like” in other people’s eyes. And subconsciously I have been afraid to have more than others, thinking “I might offend people around me by having more”, and would always see someone get to some point and then catch up with them… 🙂 makes me smile at myself
Thank you so much for all you are doing.
By the way, is the Blue Healer available for download (not a physical CD)? (cause I’m from Ukraine)
Thank you for your warm comment. I’ll make the Blue Healer tracks available for download soon.
You should be glad when people envy you, because in this way your success is only increasing.
Sorry, Mr. Vitale, but the more you go on about insisting that acquiring constantly greater possessions, wealth, and accolades, the more obvious it becomes that you truly are addicted. Having read your writings about your young life, it is quite easy to see how you came to such neediness. It is clear that you either fail to see the neediness in your behaviours, or the reinforcement you glean from those behaviours is so intoxicating that you simply refuse to see. Judging by your descriptions of your earlier studies (which I will assume represented honest forays into your own spirituality), I find it near-impossible to accept that you have misinterpreted the teachings of history’s sages, all of whom eschewed material possessions beyond their actual need, and counseled their followers to do the same.
I can understand how seductive must be the cycle in which you find yourself; where you are so strongly encouraged in your neverending quest for more wealth, more motorcars, more grand titles, and more accolades. There are quite obviously many people so hungry for such tokens that they will unquestioningly rejoice in your self-pronouncements of greatness, likely in the hope that some shall by some magic of association or osmosis befall them, as well. It must be near-impossible to look beyond the drug of praise, and to perceive it for the drug that it is… Perhaps even more seductive than the motorcars and ” multimillion dollar estates.”
Dub me a hater if you so choose, but in truth, I may well be your truest friend, because I am unwilling to join the throng that feeds you ever stronger doses, caring not where they might take you.
Namaste
I’m pretty sure all the great spiritual teachers advised “do not judge.” If you don’t believe me, see Romans 2:1. Or just review the following:
New International Version (©1984)
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
New Living Translation (©2007)
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
English Standard Version (©2001)
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
International Standard Version (©2008)
Therefore, you have no excuse-every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things.
GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things.
King James Bible
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
American King James Version
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.
American Standard Version
Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.
Bible in Basic English
So you have no reason, whoever you are, for judging: for in judging another you are judging yourself, for you do the same things.
Douay-Rheims Bible
WHEREFORE thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou dost the same things which thou judgest.
Darby Bible Translation
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one who judgest, for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
English Revised Version
Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.
Webster’s Bible Translation
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whoever thou art, that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest, doest the same things.
Weymouth New Testament
You are therefore without excuse, O man, whoever you are who sit in judgement upon others. For when you pass judgement on your fellow man, you condemn yourself; for you who sit in judgement upon others are guilty of the same misdeeds;
World English Bible
Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
Young’s Literal Translation
Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man — every one who is judging — for in that in which thou dost judge the other, thyself thou dost condemn, for the same things thou dost practise who art judging,
Dear Joe, there is a vast difference between judging someone and using our Divinely-given good judgment, a difference you seem to overlook (or avoid, perhaps?). It is our imperative as sentient and spiritual beings to use that Divinely-given judgment to distinguish that which is truth from that which is a distraction. I do not judge you as a person, but I do sense the pain behind the folly, and wish only to see that pain eased and the folly put to rest, for yourself as well as for any who would follow you. The behaviours in which you engage not only fail to truly ease your pain from which they spring, they further serve to inspire others to mimick those behaviours, in the hopes that the joy you so consciously attempt to project might find its way into their lives.
As to your quoted verses, I must commend you on a highly adequate job of googling, but alas, you seem to have missed the point of my comment altogether.
“Divinely-given good judgment” is a clever way to sneak in judging. Reread my post.
Condescension duly noted, albeit misdirected. I understood your post quite well. Perhaps your own cognitive dissonance is getting in your way? Once again, you missed the point, Joe, and I’m beginning to wonder whether it might be intentional. Or would you have people suspend their ability to discern fact from fiction, truth from illusion? Perhaps doing so would prove beneficial to your own income stream, but not so much for the evolvement of your followers or yourself. Look inward, rather than rush to defend. You might be surprised with the results.
Got your point, just don’t agree with it. Hopefully you’ll get mine.
Actually Joe, I think you have either misunderstood that verse or willingly taken it out of context. See this article I wrote a while back that happens to address that issue.
http://inthelimelight.net/2011/03/25/the-ungodliness-of-the-godly/
Thank you. I was simply quoting, not interpreting. I appreciate the clarity.
Joe, I must commend you on taking the time to respond to comments on this post. It’s been a while since I frequented your blog for reasons which may be somewhat obvious by reading my other recent comments, but the primary reason was that it was not interactive, there were many comments, but no conversation.
I know you were simply quoting, but we must be careful how we quote, if we want our meaning to be clear; this particular passage of the Bible being little more than a handy example. I am the last person to put any stock in what the Bible has to say, being that it is but a collection of opinions put together by mere mortals, some of which are rather insightful and even beautiful, and some that are entirely worthless or even dangerous. However in this case I linked you to my article to point out that should we place some stock in the “word of god”, it is clear that he did not expect us not to judge, but rather not to do it from a place of hypocrisy.
hahaha, this is hilarious! love all the versions 🙂
Dear Joe, don’t worry. Be grateful for this lesson, tap on it and move on. I know it’s easier said than done,- but I know you’ll manage.
You are such an inspiring person that you should have billion times more success so that more folks can learn from you. I am still learning and I am grateful for your books, audios and these wonderful posts here.
You are amazing!
Thank you, Eva. You made my day. 🙂
And please remember to share all of your success here with us so that we can be proud of ourselves too 🙂 All of us are co-creators after all.
Seriously though: I LOVE reading success stories
Joe,
“The Universe itself is not enough!”
That’s the profound yet horrible truth that only those who succeed bigtime-like you & me- get to realize.
By “success”, I mean never having to think about enough: Money, sex & companionship, material goods, and spiritual advancement.
I’ve made millions in real estate and it’s not enough. I remember one day sitting by my pool in the Hollywood Hills, golden sunset, with a young, beautiful actress reading a script next to me. And I thought, “Now what do I do?”
I’ve had relationships with some of the most beautiful, actress-model types, and it’s not enough. I remember dating one of the most gorgeous young actresses in Hollywood (I was twice her age!), whom millions of guys lusted after. Lunching with her one afternoon on the patio of The Ivy, as the paps clicked away at her furiously behind the fence. I tried to savor my Cobb salad, she talked about an agent at another table. I looked in her eyes as she smiled, and I thought: ” Now what do we do?”
Even my spiritual practice isn’t enough, though I keep at it.
As I get older, and I worry about my health, all the goodies that the Universe provides me in abundance just aren’t enough.
Yet, I know that I can’t get enough of them!
That’s the crazy part. All these goodies aren’t enough for me, yet I STILL want more!
Only those who have truly succeeded know the void.
And only those who have truly succeeded know how to avoid the void.
Thing is, unless you’re a “Joe Vitale” or any of the several million successful people in this country, you just have no true sense of the horror that only successful people know:
“The Universe itself is not enough!”
This utterly terrifying insight motivates Joe & me to never acknowledge “Enough is enough”.
From the outside, we seem to have a materialistic lifestyle, devoid of heart and soul. But going deeper, when you’ve enjoyed the best that the Universe has to offer, and it’s still not enough, what to do?
You keep on going, trying to reach that mirage called “enough”, doing your utmost to avoid the void, hoping to enjoy one more day.
And where is “love” in all of this?
Love is never having to ask ” How much is enough?”
This sounds sad, and is not what I feel at all. I am cleaning on this for you.
Linda,
Acquiring material possessions is NOT bad! You can have a lot of material success and still be Divine. If material possessions are not good, then why would they be here in the first place?
It’s simple. They are here to enhance our lives. Of course, many people get lost in material possessions that they lose sight of what’s important but Joe is teaching us to be aware of what’s really important to us and also achieve material possessions in order to inspire other people that they can achieve anything they want in life so that they can do more good to others.
As an illustration, let’s say Bob was broke and homeless. He accepted that he could never be one of those wealthy people and lives a life of quiet regret. He’s emitting a negative energy which then affects how he interacts with people. Then suddenly he read a law of attraction book that changed his way of seeing the world. He became aware that it’s not too late to change his life for the better.
So he applied the principles consistently then after 6 months, he was already making a substantial amount of money to feed and shelter himself. Another 6 months passed by and he already has a car. He really feels grateful for all the blessings he received. Now he’s emitting a strong, positive energy.
He realizes that he wants to give back, so he started teaching other people how to succeed in life. Now he’s sharing that powerful, positive energy which revitalizes and motivates his students that they can achieve what they want.
So overall, it’s all about generating positive energy and infecting other people with that same energy. And when several people emit positive energy, they will do more good in this world.
Isn’t that what most of the religion in this world preach? To do good and inspire other people to live a good life? Well, what Joe is doing right now is the same as Bob in my story.
There is nothing wrong with gaining material possessions because it’s part of enjoying and celebrating ourselves in this miracle called “Life.”
I hope you get my point, Linda. Thanks. 🙂
All those that are against Joe’s teachings have the choice to move on and give others who might better appreciate what Joe’s many gifts are, to enjoy it.
I love reading and listenign to all Joe’s recordings and videos. You are truly an inspiration to us all. You are honest and sincere. So if you are the best, forget about the “rest”.
In admiration
Thank you. 🙂
Hi Joe
Thank you for another great post. “Too much” doesnt exist cos there are always something more to achieve.
And if we need something we show the lack. This is the simplest way to get more lack. The only way to have what we want is to be greatful and show abundance, now 🙂
Thank you for beeing with us, Joe
Ewa
Thank you, Ewa.
Hi Joe.
My name is Tony, I live in Sweden and I just turned 16. Like 2-3 weeks ago I applied and auditioned for “The Sweidish Idol”. But before that I sent some videos of me singing to the Idol-crew, and if they liked it, they would let me skip the whole line of thousands of people and meet the “before-the-real-judges-judges” without standing in the line for several hours.
And yes, I got the call. But the funny thing is that the day before they called me, I watched “The Secret” and I had already watched it like 1000 times… but I thaught why not try and act out the whole audition… So I put on the clothes I was going to wear, took my guitar, stood infront of a mirror and did the whole thing as if I was already infront of the real judges. And as you guys said in the movie, I FELT like I was already doing it. And as I said, the next day they called me.
Some time later I auditioned for the “pre-judges” and I passed, pretty easy. And the next day I was going to meet the REAL TV-judges. But like the last time, I visualized how the audition should be before I went to bed, and sure enough the next day I went in, did my thing, and I passed and I’m going to the final auditions in the capital city of Sweden.
I’m not saying I passed because of “wishfull thinking” but because I wanted it so much and because of that I worked hard for it… And it helped alot.
I had a friend over at my place like a year ago. I showed him the movie “The Secret” and after just 15 minutes, he said “What kind of American bullshit is this?”… This guy also auditioned, but he did not pass… But the funny thing is, this “friend” of mine, when he realized that I had passed and he did not, he changed. From beeing supportive and sharing this thing with me, he started beeing mean, and said he could not believe how I could pass and he did not etc… And he is not the first one to make this kind of change.
I’m the type of guy who looks up to people I like. Like Justin Timberlake. If he can do it, why can’t I? That’s how I think.
My “friend” on the other hand, always looks lower instead of up. He always said how hard it is to become a successfull artist… And for him it will always be hard, but for me, not so much 😉
All I wanted to say is that you are completly right. There are no bounderies for dreams, it’s all about what you think is enough, and then ofcorse you have to work for it!! But if you really want it, deep inside, it will be fun working for it to happen…
THANK you so much for this amazing blog and for beeing in The Secret!!
Before I stop writing, could I just ask you 2 questions, please!!
1) I have always wondered why is it so easy for me to believe in this thing? My friend simply can’t believe in it. I can tell him all about it, show him examples etc… and he will still not believe. Why do you think it is so? What do you think the reason for this is? I know there might not be a concret answer, but still, what do you think? It’s an intresting and probably hard question, but I would appriciate it alot if you answered. Thanks.
2) Can you give me a tip or 2, fore this final audition. What exersizes should I do? How should I think?… Please help me with this one!!
Hi Tony. Thanks for sharing the story and your success. As for your friend, he may have deservingness issues or beliefs about money or success. I don’t know. As for you, I suggest you imagine what it would feel like right after the audition. Be sure to let go of any detachment and enjoy the process. Good luck to you.
Alfonso,
While I appreciate the sentiment behind your little fairy tale, it really has no bearing upon the fact that the constant quest for more money, more motorcars, more grandiose self-proclaimed titles, and more accolades points not to a spirit-driven quest, but rather to an empty place in one’s soul that they are so desperately striving to fill. Were that hole ever to be filled, one would know the true meaning of “enough.” However, so long as the hole remains, there is nothing external that can possibly fill it.
Joe has gone so far as to proclaim that Jesus and Buddha were wealthy, and that the pursuit of ever greater wealth is integral to their teachings. As a divinity student and voracious reader, I have yet to find anywhere in either master’s teachings where they encouraged their followers to strive for material wealth. Rather, they counsel seekers to gather unto themselves those things they actually need, and to share whatever they have gathered that is beyond their need.
Jesus even deigned to rage against the “money changers” outside the temple, who were selling amulets, trinkets, and other material things, claiming that purchasing such items would facilitate the customer’s entry into “the Kingdom.” I suggest that if the moral of the story doesn’t sound quite familiar in the current discussion, it is because someone is in quite a state of denial.
Buddha, on the other hand, had to escape his life of abundance to see the suffering that desire (in particular, the desire for material wealth) caused. Contrary to what Mr. Vitale (and a few books, typically devoid of any supporting evidence beyond their own conjecture) has claimed, the “wealth” of the masters was within; their possessions consisted of the clothes on their backs and the makings for their next meal. They trusted that their needs would be met, so long as they followed their proper paths. The only “achievements” the Masters pursued were to seek truth and to allow that truth to manifest in their thoughts, words, and actions.
I challenge you (or Mr. Vitale, for that matter) to ask yourself – and to answer truthfully – whether you can actually conceive of Christ or Buddha holding a workshop, for which they charged hundreds or thousands of dollars. Or whether they would tell their followers that their spiritual unfoldment would increase, if they were only to take an expensive ride in an expensive motorcar with an adept salesman. Or, for that matter, whether either of the Masters would actually even own (or lease) such an expensive motorcar.
As always, I feel a deep compassion for the wounded souls that are so driven to seek their comfort in external things, for I know that no amount of praise or fortune can heal those wounds, and no amount off self-praise will ever ring true to those wounded souls. Despite Mr. Vitale’s repeated assertions, I do not condemn him; I merely challenge teachings that have no basis in fact, and – at least according to the Masters’ own words – serve only to distract seekers from their quest for truth and joy.
Linda,
I feel that I understand what you’re saying. I also don’t know why Jesus or Buddha would cast away material possessions but what I do understand is even though we are following Joe’s teachings to achieve material wealth, we are still applying the principles left by Buddha and Jesus…. and it works! It makes me feel good when I’m able to provide for my family and help other people. It’s bliss. Is it approval-seeking? Nah, don’t think so. It’s because I’m just applying what Jesus said that it’s better to give than to receive.
It’s a combination of being spiritual and acquiring material possessions. I don’t know how to explain the feeling but it just works. I can do more good with more money. But that doesn’t mean that if I don’t have money, I can’t do anything good. That’s just wrong.
To end my explanation, as they say “Balance is everything.”
Thanks.
Как же научиться так интересно и правильно создать свой сайт? С уважением Светлана.
Greetings Joe. I wish you all the heart, great human happiness, and success of the brains you already have. I’d like to have such a site, but it do not know. Long walk to your site, all very much. Thank you. Yours Svetlana.
About being against Joe’s teachings: I don’t think that is what it is at all. I for one am very much for Joe’s teachings. I have read many of his books, and at one point considered myself to be quite a fan.
What troubles me is not what Joe teaches, but that he does not always practice what he preaches. When abundance becomes plain old fashioned greed, we have a problem.
For instance the method used to sell his Miracles Coaching is quite disgusting in my book, and not at all “spiritual” but good a good a old fashioned case of preying on the vulnerable. I question why Joe allows this to go on, as it truly sullies his good name.
Also Joe’s staff used a quote from me in which I praised him as being an inspiration to me out of context to promote a product I never used. I have a problem with that and it was never corrected.
I want to respect Joe, I really do. I believe deep down he *is* a nice guy. But its getting tough to do that.
I have noticed that critical comments are now being posted on this blog rather than censored. Perhaps this one will be allowed too, and perhaps Joe will even respond to to and make an effort to earn back my respect, which I truly lament having lost.
~Jonathan Timar
I’m sorry for whatever the sales team said to you. The program has been around more than four years but I switched sales a while back. I believe all is fine now but again, I apologize. I allow all comments on this blog except from three people, two of which were friends that decades ago I helped with leads, advice, and more. In fact, they still owe me money. They seem to have made a career out of trying to hurt me. Nevertheless, yours and all other rational comments are allowed. I can’t respond to them all as I am just overwhelmed with projects and people wanting my time. It’s after 5 am as I type this, just so I can find a way to reply to you.
Hi Joe,
As I have always enjoyed your books, and this blog as well, I want to thank you for responding.
I hold no ill will against you, However I too have posted comments critical of you on my blog. I have written nothing untrue, just a simple documentation of my personal experience with your Miracles Coaching sales people, which was overwhelmingly negative.
I posted that here; http://inthelimelight.net/2010/07/01/joe-vitales-miracles-coaching-hypnotic-marketing-at-work/, quite some time ago, but it has recently seen a sudden boost in popularity.
I would like to give you an opportunity to address this issue directly, as perhaps you are not even fully aware of how the coaching is being sold.
I would also like to give you the chance to address why a quote from me was used on the Miracles Coaching sales page in a manner that falsely suggests I have used and endorse the program.
Unfortunately, if you really believe the problems have been addressed, I think you are mistaken, as I have had several people post comments on my blog in the last few days reporting the same negative experience I had.
I believe you are an honorable man, Joe, and more importantly, I want to believe it.
Best,
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan, I appreciate your input regarding my Miracles Coaching program and how it is being sold. I did research so I could answer you.
We do have a two-step process that qualifies individuals for our program and then explains the different options that are available to them. My program isn’t for everybody and unless a person is willing to put in the time, effort and frankly the money, they won’t get the results they are looking for. Our interview process has been set up to determine if a person is serious. As you know, unless you are really committed to something, you won’t make the changes that are required in order to make a difference in your life. Our intent is to help individuals clear their blocks and limiting beliefs so they become what they really want to become. Thousands of people have found tremendous success in our Miracles Coaching Program and have ranked us an average of 4.3 out of 5 in whether the program has made a difference in their life.
I apologize if you felt you were being “high pressured” into our program. We often find it to be a fine line between encouraging people to make a change that they need to in their life and being “too pushy”. I hope you can understand.
Regarding your quote being used on our Miracle Coaching site. I apologize for not giving credit where credit is due, it wasn’t intentional, it was just an oversight. Your comment has been removed.
All the best.
Alfonso, I never said that Jesus or Buddha “cast away” material possessions. They simply did not seek possessions beyond their real need or the needs of those whom they served. They certainly didn’t gather and hoard (keeping far beyond what one needs or uses to better others’ lot), and to suggest that doing so is consistent with the path they taught is either the product of gross misunderstanding or an intentional misinterpretation.
On one point, you are at least getting close – the need for balance. But such also applies to one’s material possessions. Keeping far more than one needs is a state of imbalance, no matter how it is rationalized. I acknowledge that it “feels good” to do so; such is the nature of desire to seduce. That seduction, however, does not lead one to a place of peace, but rather to a place of craving for further seduction.
The same applies to the subject of praise offered by one’s fellow humans. The sage does not seek praise, neither does he (or she!) flaunt that praise which is given. And heaping praise upon one’s self is hardly a sign of the humility that is such a significant attribute in all the great spiritual teachers throughout history.
I hope this has cleared the matter for you, and made more understandable my objections to the message and methods under discussion.
Joe: “Detachment and following the Divine is what I teach, which is the real secret to spiritual awareness.”
If this is, in your words, the “real” secret to spiritual awareness,then one shouldn’t need, say, “The Secret” secret. I think by naming the “real secret” here, you’re acknowledging that there are no secrets, which seems to be an ongoing subtext with your products and marketing. There are no secrets. You have to open your life. That can’t be reduced to a product or a formula.
Sounds like you just revealed another secret. 🙂
But how much is enough or how much is too much? Is there a limit somewhere or some authority who will tell us STOP you’ve got enough? Justi love your writings Joe, thank you so much!
Jussi,
There is no authority to tell us this; all we need to do is look around at the world we’re creating. People in these forums are big on talking about creating their individual lives — but what about the world we create when we buy into Wall Street’s vision that our worth is determined by how much we own? What about blood diamonds? There are many things in the category of blood on our hands besides diamonds. And how much is enough when we’re creating landfills with our cast-off toys, and polluting water and diminishing the habitat of other creatures? Ask yourself what you want to leave as a legacy of your life on this earth. A landfill of rusting toys?
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