The Great Metaphysical Tug of War

Everyone knows tug of war. It’s messy and tough—a game that balances endurance and strength. In a competition where a team is evenly matched, a round of tug of war could technically last forever. Fun fact: people have lost fingers, been dismembered, and even died from injuries sustained from tug of war. It’s serious competition.

What does this have to do with Real Estate Investing? Well, let me tell ya.

Some of you may have read that two weeks ago, I made a “hard switch” from working as a high-income IT Consultant to working in real estate sales. My intentions have been noble all along—I have three sons under 4 and a lovely (read: exhausted) wife that was tasked with solo-managing our household while I traveled for work. I want to spend time with them, and I definitely can’t afford to lose them.

The problem I have had through the entire process thus far, though, is whether I made the right decision.

My soul definitely senses that I have done the right thing, but my brain tells me I am an idiot. God, karma, positive energy (whatever you would call it) has been with me every step of the way, but I can’t shake the thoughts that I’ve moved on too early, that I am destabilizing my financial future, and that I am putting my family in jeopardy.

This inner struggle—this ethereal game of tug of war—has been wrecking me all week.

And then I read Job 1 out of the Bible.

Again, call it God, karma, positive energy, whichever you might believe to direct your destiny. I read a chapter of the Bible I have read a hundred times, but something was different this time. 

In the story, Job is the most blessed man in Earth, and returns that blessing to God. He is the richest man in his side of the country, had an amazing family, and walked with integrity and had an amazing connection with God. He had it all—the Bill Gates of 3,000 BC. Until it all was taken from him. The enemy came and destroyed his fortune and annihilated his family...basically taking his prehistoric net worth to zero.

What did Job say? “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD.”

Now, I’m not saying I am Job. What I am saying is that Job took his circumstance and turned it into joy. He made the conscious decision to take the news with humility, understanding that in a moment, everything could disappear, but all He needed was the Lord. And he blessed Him in that trial.

What did I learn? It is not for me to fight it out and decide whether my decision was correct or not. Living life looking backward is a life not worth living. I am stuck with the very real risk at this critical juncture in my life that I could miss my true destiny because I am too worried about the path I took to get to where I am. If the path I took got me to where I am, and my goal remains ahead of me, I must have taken the right path (so long as I did not sacrifice my morals on the altar of my goals). 

This metaphysical tug of war shenanigans has to go. If my soul and mind work together, I can accomplish anything, do anything, be anything. If my soul and mind are at odds, neither wins and I lose—and so does everyone around me.

I wish it was as easy as just blowing a whistle to call off the match. Unfortunately, mind games are a different beast entirely. At least now I am armed with the knowledge that aligning my mind and spirit will drive me to setting and reaching the best goals—goals that matter—goals that make a difference in my life, my family, and my community. And I will be doing it for the right reasons.