I'm a collector.
And you should be too.
And what I collect is something that may be missing from your life.
And if it is, you may be living what Henry David Thoreau called "a life of quiet desperation."
He said, "The masses of men" live such lives.
But fear not.
The thing that's missing is easily found.
As easily as a stamp collector finds stamps.
And that's how easily you can begin to reclaim what may be lost in your life.
And reclaim what may be missing.
Just like that.
Found.
Whole.
Feeling like a new person again.
All in the same day.
What am I referring to?
First person to guess it right wins a f'r'e^e 20-minute coaching session with me.
If you guess it right and, additionally, tell a personal story that illustrates it and illuminates it for your brother and sister Wealthy Souls, you get a f'r'e^e 45-minute coaching session.
Your life clock is ticking.
Time to fill in the gap.
Answering the question is your first step in discovering what's missing so it'll never be missing for long again and you'll cease feeling that sense of "quiet desperation".
Share your answer in the comment box at the bottom of this page.
To be precise, the question is:
"What is The Missing Piece from your life
(and most people's lives!) that may be
causing you, my friend, to live a life of
quiet desperation?"
Big Clue:
It sometimes is missing from my life, too.
But not when I write these Wealthy Soul
Newsletters. Nor when you share your beautiful
thoughts on my blog.
Share your enlightening answer now, my friend, in the comment box at the end of the page below -
spirituality
Posted by: Mike Gerriety | October 10, 2006 at 08:07 AM
are you talking about faith?
Posted by: Michelle Esclapez | October 10, 2006 at 08:07 AM
Interesting that I should read your newsletter this morning as I sit and question where my career should go from here. Without a goal or some direction to life, I think we are lost--unable to reach our potential because we have no map to follow. Like that story we often read about being a ship lost at sea because we have no map to direct us. My goal today is to get my life and career back on track--and in order for me to do that I must map it out and take the first step--push off and get going down that new path I have chosen.
Posted by: Barbara Hibdon | October 10, 2006 at 08:28 AM
I think that the loss of the "family" is one of the greatest losses that we are facing today. Being part of a family implies a committment to it...emotionaly, morally, financially, etc. If the going gets tough, that does not mean throwing in the towel, but actually digging in deeper to resolve the issue facing them. I honestly feel the the downfall of the family will eventually bring about the downfall of our civilization as we know it. If we don't take care of our own flesh and blood,, how will we take care of the rest of society?
Posted by: Walter Leder | October 10, 2006 at 08:51 AM
What is missing in my life is true happiness and contentment
Posted by: Abraham | October 10, 2006 at 08:57 AM
Love
Posted by: Suzanne | October 10, 2006 at 08:59 AM
inspiration
Posted by: Cecil | October 10, 2006 at 09:42 AM
TRUST, PURPOSE, MEANING, PASSION. They are what's missing.
Posted by: gale | October 10, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Faith, Hope, and Charity, all of which are needed for Love.
Posted by: Wayve | October 10, 2006 at 10:20 AM
What is truly missing is a fulfillment that only Christ Jesus can provide. I need to learn how to be organized with my time and be more dedicated so that I can receive blessing for being a faithful servant!
Posted by: shelley | October 10, 2006 at 10:26 AM
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN GOD I JUST DONT FEEL AS CLOSE TO GOD AS I SHOULD I WANT TO BE A FAITHFUL AND OBEY GOD AND SERVE HIM AS A FAITHFUL SERVANT
Posted by: Dianne | October 10, 2006 at 10:31 AM
What is missing is not applying the law of attraction? And this is missing because people are not recognizing who they really are inside. Instead, everyone is under the spell of social conditioning, believing in what they see instead of designing their own creations.
Posted by: Saleem Rana | October 10, 2006 at 11:07 AM
Contentment within yourself. God gives you that, KNOWING, even if you do not feel it, that He is always at our side. No need to be feel alone because He is there.
Posted by: Angela | October 10, 2006 at 11:09 AM
I think you, as I try to be, are a collector of good memories. They are easily collected because you can make them each and every day.
At the end of one's life, on one's deathbed, that is all one really has left from living.
May we all create a great memory today.
Posted by: Linda Popolano | October 10, 2006 at 11:20 AM
Love, we forget to do all things in love.
Posted by: Susanlynnette | October 10, 2006 at 11:21 AM
When loving everything you do,looking within, instead of out all kinds of wonder things happen
Posted by: Susanlynnette | October 10, 2006 at 11:24 AM
I discovered some time back that was missing from my life was
" SHARING" and not just my giving in the sharing but also receiving
from others.Everyone has something to share and exchange with others and everyone has the time to listen to others who want to share.Can you just sit back and try to imagine what the world would be like if there wre no sharing...Food for the hungry..medicine for the sick..education for those thirsting for knowledge.The true foundation for life is sharing..Where would we all be if there were no sharing?More than likely "we wouldn't be." So when you begin the day...give some though to sharing.It's good for all of us.
Posted by: CHARLES | October 10, 2006 at 11:40 AM
"COMMITMENT"
"What is The Missing Piece from your life that may be causing you, James, to live a life of quiet desperation?
"Commitment"
"Commitment"
"Commitment"
Posted by: James Myers | October 10, 2006 at 11:57 AM
Most people are missing "Shalome: Nothing missing/nothing broken!"
Posted by: Sharon Williamson | October 10, 2006 at 12:04 PM
I think self-confidence and lots of faith, both in the Universal God and in myself. I have a fear of success, and I have lived with this for about 60 of my 75 years. My ex-husband told me every day how really bad I was at managing money and I guess I took it really to heart(my sub-conscious mind). I am a retired RN and have a medical history that would fill a book, but I'm still here. Guess that counts for something. Thanks, Dr. Norwood, for all of your messages. I really enjoy them. Patricia.
Posted by: Patricia Leonaitis | October 10, 2006 at 12:07 PM
Peace, because with peace, all else can work better in life. When I am peaceful, everything else falls into place. When we are at peace and have gratitude for what we have now, the law of attraction, love, inner guidance, contentment, freedom all work better.
I find whenever I have let go of things that were bothering me, my life starts changing. As I learn to forgive others and myself for things from the past, I can move on. Releasing unhealthy beliefs that stagnate my success is crucial, as well. The days that I truly look for love, peace, joy, kindness, goodness, trust and have patience, my days become more productive and my months more fruitful.
Posted by: Sandi | October 10, 2006 at 12:08 PM
The missing piece is the absolute presence of holiness that comes from unconditional love and grace - unmerited favor. To me, quiet desperation is NOT a negative, but rather a positive factor of humility, compassion, mercy, forgiveness and the quest of being holy, Such desperation truly keeps me focused on fulfilling my mandate of 'dying to self' while embracing eternity with Holy God.
Posted by: MaryAnn Shaw | October 10, 2006 at 12:08 PM
That's the nag with the english language - it was built in a time when the only words that could possibly describe what "it" is are compartmentalized in religious categories, seemingly locked away. We are only now beginning to modify the way we speak and talk to ourselves to include the solution to the problem. But everyone has it. The missing piece is an illusion. :-)
Posted by: Christopher | October 10, 2006 at 12:17 PM
Being thankful, collecting the thoughts of beauty all around
Posted by: Susanlynnette | October 10, 2006 at 12:23 PM
The missing piece for me was the understanding that I was already whole.
This realization first came to me when I was putting together a jig-saw puzzle. I don't even remember the puzzle's picture; I just remember the process and my thought of how like life it was, including the obsessive search for one maddeningly absent piece, that later my hand, almost without volition, picked up and put into the waiting gap.
That's when I understood that the puzzle of my life was already completely present before me, with no extra pieces and none missing. Some might be upside down or cardboard side up, but if I calmly trusted the puzzle, and diligently fitted together whatever I could, whenever I could, the whole would reveal itself in a way I would understand.
Over the years I've sometimes forgotten this, or had to refresh it with a different image. The current one is this: I may hope to learn to play another instrument, but I am already the music.
Posted by: Lena Guyot | October 10, 2006 at 12:43 PM
I think what most people are missing is a GOAL, or a definite PURPOSE in life. Most people just wander through life from day to day or paycheck to paycheck, taking whatever comes along and not planning for anything. And many times, those that DO have goals, give up on them before they have a chance to realize them. As Olympic champion Jesse Owens once said: "Its always too soon to quit."
Posted by: Bob Schafer | October 10, 2006 at 12:48 PM
Gratitude
Posted by: brock sansom | October 10, 2006 at 12:49 PM
Purpose. I never feel "quiet desperation" when I am at work in some way (as a stay-at-home mom that means PTO or school district activities). But when life is a series of events it seems meaningless...I am in search of a purpose. I have been for quite a while now. I hope to fine it.
Posted by: Dana | October 10, 2006 at 12:55 PM
"Focus" Michael. The word is focus
Posted by: Derrick Cameron | October 10, 2006 at 01:01 PM
It's PASSION. Without passion in your life, you're just going through the motions.
Posted by: Tom Glowaski | October 10, 2006 at 01:02 PM
CONFIDENCE in Self 24/7
Posted by: Ellie | October 10, 2006 at 01:12 PM
CONFIDENCE in Self 24/7
Posted by: Ellie | October 10, 2006 at 01:14 PM
CONFIDENCE in Self 24/7
Posted by: Ellie | October 10, 2006 at 01:15 PM
Self love = peace and satisfaction.
Posted by: Jerry | October 10, 2006 at 01:17 PM
I guess most people don't have purpose and direction therefore they cannot act = PDA.
Posted by: marian | October 10, 2006 at 01:23 PM
PURPOSE!
Posted by: kjlea@hotmail.com | October 10, 2006 at 01:27 PM
I believe it is the ability to know what makes you happy. A person needs to identify what happiness is for them or they are desperately searching and never finding it or even knowing that they have found it. What is happiness?? I'm sure it can be different for everyone or sometimes exactly the same thing. It is KNOWING what it is for you that makes it possible to find or have.
Posted by: Judy | October 10, 2006 at 01:31 PM
I think what is missing from my life is knowing that I am perfect just the way I am. With all of faults and talents, I am worthy of my own self love and acceptance of myself. I am a creature of God and I am worthy no matter what, I just need to believe it.
Posted by: Michele Baldwin | October 10, 2006 at 01:33 PM
What is missing is finding your passion or your purpose in life. I read an article that said a man opened a mustard store because he was passionate about different kinds of mustard.
Posted by: Donna Steline | October 10, 2006 at 01:54 PM
Prayer & Vision. I think I NEED TO BECOME MORE IN TUNE TO WHAT I REALLY WANT OUT OF LIFE. I AM CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT A JOB THAT BRINGS ME NO FULLFILLMENT AND I HAVE LOST MY FOCUS ON GOD. I AM ALSO IN SEARCH FOR A PURPOSE.
Posted by: LaVaughn Williams | October 10, 2006 at 01:56 PM
NOTHING
Posted by: Alain Massé | October 10, 2006 at 01:58 PM
Passion,
The passion to achieve anything you choose to.
Passion that makes you tick, passion that makes you unstoppable all the way to fullfillment or the next level..
Posted by: Isabelle | October 10, 2006 at 02:07 PM
What's missing is Connection!
Connection inward to one's true Self, and connection outward to others who in the long run are part of our Self too.
Posted by: Mike | October 10, 2006 at 02:17 PM
Fulfilment
It means different things to different people but attaining it offers a sense of joy and peace - an at oneness with oneself, it often involves giving of yourself to others and doing something you feel passionate about.
Having left Headship after 22 years on ill health grounds I am in the process of creating a new life. It would be all too easy to allow the challenges life offers ( believe me I have plenty of challenges, a wheelchair user, live alone, creating a new professional life etc. etc)to have a negative and draining impact on the state we choose to live in. Fulfilment and happiness are states we can choose to aim for and achieve on a daily basis rather than disappointent of frustration. Not always easy but oh so much more pleasant for ourselves and those around us.
Posted by: Gina Gardiner | October 10, 2006 at 02:19 PM
My family life is grand ( we have been married over 30 years). I am not yearning for some unrealized dream.
My answer is this: I would like to have enough money to pay the bills without stress, and to contribute to some of my favorite charities.
I have embarked on an internet business under a very successful sales and marketing pro. I know that 95% of internet marketers fail to make any money. I will be in the other 5%. Wealth is not an objective, although it would be nice.
We are both retired, so having time to spend with each other is an objective that is being met.
Thank you,
Dr.Gwen A. Roberts-Foote
Texas
Posted by: Gwen A Roberts-Foote | October 10, 2006 at 02:20 PM
What I feel that is missing in my life is the time and the lack of ability I have to connect to the masses. To allow myself to understand that everyone on this earth really intends to be a good person and believes that what they are doing and being is the best they are capable of. In a world that is so filled with hatred, violence and desperation to prove themselves right. The need for everyone to pay a penance for harm done by creating more hurt. The one thing I feel that is really missing is RESPECT! Respect for ones self,one another and our opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but it is with respect we are able to see the others view. Whether we agree or not, we must have respect without defamation, because ultimately it leads to so much distruction both worldwide and within ourselves.
Posted by: Michelle Gentry | October 10, 2006 at 02:24 PM
FAITH.
Posted by: Denise | October 10, 2006 at 02:31 PM
To truly care about people, and to love the unlovable.
Posted by: Betty | October 10, 2006 at 02:39 PM
To truly care about people, and love the unloveable.
Posted by: Betty | October 10, 2006 at 02:44 PM
I think you collect connections with others. In your hint that is what you do by writing your newsletter and that is what we are doing by posting on this blog.
Today I was talking with someone I use to work with. She is very stressed out and I am familiar with the situation. She just needed to bounce some thoughts off to someone who could understand them. And because we have a shared background we could start laughing about something silly which is what she really needed to do.
Posted by: Maryann | October 10, 2006 at 02:47 PM