Currently I work in a bowling alley. I've become an excellent bowler. I enjoy the competition and the "tests" that are presented during competition. The most common test on the lanes is how I handle pressure. In my Tuesday night league, the Continental League, there is a lot of 'action', and a significant sum often rides on the performance of the players. It's not uncommon to step up to a several hundred dollar shot. This pressure, the increased heartbeat, the mental chatter and stimulation, and the attention of those who know how much is riding on the shot all test both the inner and outer work and preparation that I've done. I've failed to execute strikes on many occasions. The past 3 Tuesdays however, my preparation has paid off handsomely, and the fiscal rewards have been large.
Though there is certainly an element of luck involved in high performance, the foundation of success is in the work that has already been done. It's like the once-world #1 golfer, Vijay Singh, said, "the more I practice, the luckier I get." I've practiced and studied bowling more than most. The bowling alley I work in is owned by my uncles, and I've spent a substantial amount of my life there. In bowling lingo, I'm the "house man". Since I know that house intimately, I have an edge over my competitors. I'm not a gambler on things I can't control, but if I feel I have an edge, I'm not afraid to bet on that edge. The past 3 weeks, that edge has been openly displayed, and a lot of attention was directed my way. This has caused a change in perception of other members of the league.
Just before leaving with a fat wallet last Tuesday, I was pulled aside by the league officers. They told me I would no longer be allowed to participate in the 'action'. They said I had an unfair advantage and that I was "raping them". I offered no arguments. How could I, as I only gamble when I have an edge, and that edge had become clear. I was accused of cheating. That did bother me somewhat. I'll be first to admit that I have an advantage in that house, but I am no cheater. I worked to gain that advantage, and it took a lot of time, sweat, and attention. I'm a mirror of the phrase quoted earlier by Vijay Singh. I was neither disappointed nor upset at being barred from the action. I understand their point of view, and I take it as a rather flattering compliment of my success in becoming a top bowler.
Why do I bring that story up? I do so because it relates well to a larger stage, the arena of international finance.
On various websites and on popular TV shows hosted by the likes of Glenn Beck, certain international financiers are consistently lambasted. They are blamed and accused of conspiracy, cheating, collusion, and other such manipulations. I'd like to assert that there is a direct parallel between this dynamic and that of my Continental League experience.
Certainly men like George Soros have a significant edge in market dynamics, that is what they have chosen to master. They have put in the work. They have failed before, losing money and learning lessons. That they are able to see the imbalances and bet against, making a lot of money in the process, unsustainable bubbles and irrational policy is no crime, rather it is a result of the inner and outer preparation to perform under pressure. To go against the herd takes a lot of guts and inner fortitude, but that is where the big money is made in international finance. Blaming them for the problems of governments, citizens, and currencies is a fruitless pursuit.
I've said before that the blame game will become very attractive as the global pressure cooker heats up and illusions begin to crack. The blame game transfers responsibility for one's plight to a scapegoat. Exercising sovereignty and wellness requires us to personally take responsibility for our choices, decisions, and perceptions. If we lose money gambling, in markets, or on poor business decisions, the blame falls squarely on our own shoulders. To blame others veils us from the lessons that can be learned by our failures. When we accept full responsibility, we can then move forward in learning, and either change our choices, or up our "skill level" so that we can then "compete" and hopefully succeed.
When we resist the urge to point fingers or unknowingly judge or accuse others, we step more fully into personal empowerment and authentic living.
In Light...............................Td
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