Sometime last week, I received a call from a potential client.  The call was odd in several ways.  The caller didn’t say who she was, or where she had heard of me – but jumped straight into questions about my coaching methods, my prejudices, and my appointment availability.  The caller was, in my mind, quite aggressive as she attempted to push me to agree to conditions that I didn’t want to agree to.

After agreeing to speak further, I hung up the phone with an uneasy feeling.  Did I really want to work with this person?  Would working with her be of assistance to either of us?  The answer came quickly and clearly: no.  And so, the universe answered.  When she was to call again, the phone was silent.

It was such an odd experience.  I truly love to assist people, and yet – I know what methods work for me and my clients; and what type of relationship I want to have with my clients.  It was fairly easy to say ‘no’ to this potential client. 

As I thought about my encounter, I could almost hear my higher levels laughing at me.  You see, I had been asking for more abundance – just to finance a splurge or two.  And the universe gave me an opportunity for “just money”.  But that wasn’t the message I wanted to send.  I’m not willing to take clients that I don’t feel that I can assist, or that don’t feel appropriate to me.  I’m not willing to accept anything less than integrity into my life – and taking this client would not have fed my integrity.

If we buy into the fears, judgments, and tensions of others - then we have given our lives over to them.  And yet, if we stand our ground – firmly, nicely, and with a smile on our face, we transcend the opinions and judgments of others; and the accepted way of being.  We become free when we command it so.

And so, my “splurge money” came to me in a totally unexpected way.  I maintained my integrity, and I’m still available to work with the people who are ready to work with me – rather than being tied up with people who are paying me money, but wasting both of our time.

So, watch with humor as the universe tests you, and remember that you can never fail.

Namaste!

Susan M Wright

Assisting Chase

I have had a Chase Visa card for years.  I always pay my bill in full, and on time.  No fees, no problem – until last month, when my bill was due on a Sunday.  I sent the money as usual, via online bill payment; but too late for it to arrive before the weekend. 

Even though Monday was a holiday (Labor Day), my next credit card statement showed the payment applied on Monday.  According to the statement, my total balance of $25 had been paid one day late, so I was charged a $29 late fee plus $1 in interest – because my bank had not paid them on a Sunday.  So, I got on the phone.

Two phone calls later, after talking to two customer service reps and one supervisor, the Chase position was unchanged.  They would not offer any waiver of the late fees or interest, but the supervisor was helpful in assisting me to close my account and telling me how much I needed to send to pay my card in full ($31).  So, I paid the bill and shredded the card.

I asked for guidance on whether to let things be, or to be of service to Chase.  The answer was to ‘be of service’.  So, with Susan’s help, we wrote a letter to the CEO of JP Morgan Chase explaining my experience.  About 10 days later, I received a voice message from Colleen at Chase Card Services Office, asking about my experience.  I called her back and left her a message explaining that I felt their computer program was flawed, and their customer service people were uninterested and incapable of helping a customer like me.  A couple of days passed and I received a call from Colleen.  She apologized several times, reinstated my card, credited the late fee and interest charges, and wrote a formal letter of apology with her direct contact info (in case I ever need to talk to her again).

Now I ask myself; why did I go through this experience?  The answer is simple: the situation presented itself.  I asked for guidance from my higher realms.  Once I received the guidance, I followed it – and moved on with life.

Life is good.

Lots of love,
Wolfgang