"... being so hyper-focused on how I envisioned the greatest possible version of myself gave me an extraordinary gift."
Lifebook Online

"... being so hyper-focused on how I envisioned the greatest possible version of myself gave me an extraordinary gift."

When I initially took the life assessment quiz I was fairly surprised by the results. My career with a start-up was in flux and my finances were very far from where I wanted them to be. I answered accordingly in the quiz, yet, I scored a 132! Extraordinary! My sweetie came away with similar results, I believe 124. We came to the conclusion that the quiz placed a higher value on a growth mindset vs fixed. Even though our current financial situation was seriously lacking, we were (and remain) incredibly grateful for all that we do have and strongly see a future where our talents, skills, and hard work translate into great financial abundance. 

So, we started Lifebook feeling pretty good about ourselves and excited to see how we could grow even more. Then tragedy struck in the lives of those closest to me. My maternal grandmother of 86 was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer of the vulva and was severely burned by the malpractice of her physicians during treatment. Horrible and I never imagined I'd have so many conversations about my grandma's vagina.

Concurrently, it came to light that my mother had become addicted to benzodiazepines and was hospitalized for withdrawal symptoms. It was a physiological emergency that revealed the actual underlying psychological emergency at hand. It also obliterated the vision of Wonder Woman that I held for my mama my entire life. Devastating. So many tears.

If that weren't enough, my paternal grandmother of 95 had a heart attack, which she survived, only to be readmitted into the hospital two weeks later with EXTREME ulcers that were blocking her entire digestive tract. I apologize for the graphic description but, she was crapping and projectile vomiting blood, Exorcist style. It was terrifying. You haven't lived until you've helped your elderly grandmother shit blood into a bucket. I spent every weekend at her home growing up. She helped raise me.

All of these things hit just after completing the Emotional chapter of Lifebook and there are no words to adequately express my gratitude for having just gone through that thought experiment. It gave me the opportunity to immediately put my Emotional Vision to task and it changed everything. I believe that my ability to powerfully show up for these critically important women in my life was directly influenced by Lifebook. 

I'm happy to share that my mother has successfully titrated off the benzos and is working with an EMDR specialist (per my suggestion) with miraculous results. My grandma with ulcers has made a remarkable recovery and is being discharged from the hospital tomorrow. Sadly, my other grandmother, while she is now cancer-free (yay!), is still dealing with underlying issues of alcoholism, addiction & pain and is back in the hospital again. But this time, thankfully, my mother is in a far stronger and more stable psychological place to support her mother.

I know that story was long, but it really hammered home what Jon and Missy were saying all along. Life will always throw you curveballs. No one is immune to the often harsh realities of modern human existence. I began this quest "extraordinary" according to my assessment, but I was completely sideswiped during the quest. Diligently working the Lifebook plan and being so hyper-focused on how I envisioned the greatest possible version of myself gave me an extraordinary gift. It taught me how to BE that man, that best me when my family needed him the most. Now, that man is me. 

P.S. My career is really taking off. I've gotten a raise AND and a significant equity stake in the company! Plus I've been able to secure alternative means of income, on top of my career, by leveraging previously mastered skillsets. I truly believe that the Financial chapter radically altered my relationship to money and gave me the courage to use my non-career related skills and passions to add great value to others. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Matthew Rothman

Educator/Coach

United States

Related Stories

Lifebook Online

"Lifebook provides an amazing path for my journey"

Before I joined the program, I was jumping around so many resources working on my own personal growth journey. They are amazing indeed, I am thankful for so many benefits out of them, but then I realized that I need some clarity on what is it that I actually want, what kind of life do I a...
Read more

Tri Nuraini

Life Coach

Jakarta, Indonesia

Lifebook Online

"Lifebook has helped me to gain the consciousness to be 360 degrees smart and to thrive every day"

Lifebook has placed me back when I was a child that wanted to achieve an extraordinary life. I have a good a very good life indeed but not an extraordinary one because I have been flowing with the tide. Lifebook has helped me to gain the consciousness to be 360 degrees smart and to thrive...
Read more

Marisa Engel

Entreprenieur, Network Marketer, Project Manager

Sant Quirze del Vallés, Spain

Lifebook Online

"(I am) able to help others and also make a difference on this Earth"

Before Lifebook I was a mess, I thought te Universe was mad with me, kicking me every time with something bad, losing my boyfriend, my new born kids, after a decade of isolation having a new partner that treat me like I'm not worth it to dream at all, Being bully at work and mor Thanks to Li...
Read more

Alina Bertol

Employee, stray cat rescuer

Spain

Mindvalley is fueled by your stories

Our community runs on voices like yours. It keep us going, and keeps us grounded.
Tell us like it is. What's your story?
Tell us your Story