In order to be a powerful Creator there are numerous tools available to support you in living as your full creative potential.
However, people often think that tools are a chore, unnecessary or won’t make much difference. They make up excuses as to why they don’t need the tools or don’t apply them. Where are you not applying the tools?
Here’s my Waterpik story I’d like to share with you:
I’ve always been blessed with having really good teeth. I’ve not had any problems with them and just assumed that, that’s the way it is always going to be and all I needed to do is just do what I do.
Visit the dentist twice a year for teeth cleaning. Floss and brush them every day and that’s all I need to do.
I had the belief – that’s the status of my teeth and that’s the way it is always going to be. I don’t need to do anything different.
However, 2 years ago I experienced pain with one of my back teeth. I went to the dentist and she said, “Your back tooth is moving.”
Needless to say I was completely surprised. “How is that possible? Teeth are fixed aren’t they?”
She referred me to an orthodontist and he discovered I had an abscess under my 2nd back molar. I had inflammation under the gum. I was then referred to a periodontist who told me I needed surgery. He was going to clean out the gums, build up the bone and that way I would keep my tooth and improve the surrounding gum tissue.
I had the surgery. It all went well.
When I went to the periodontist he mentioned a tool called a Waterpik and asked if I used one. I replied I didn’t have one and therefore didn’t use it.
We don’t know what we don’t know. It never occurred to me to use this tool. I knew of its existence but it wasn’t something that was fully in my awareness. After all I had great teeth. Why would I need something like that for?
What am I doing here? I am filtering out what I believe I need and don’t need.
We filter things out. We delete, distort and generalize things that come into our awareness so that it fits in with our model of the world.
I was filtering and editing out what was coming to me.
Interestingly enough, this tool was mentioned to me on 5 occasions.
The first time in my initial encounter with my periodontist and then 4 times after that.
The next time this tool was mentioned to me was in my follow up appointment with the periodontist after my operation. I was told not to use a Waterpik for 3 – 6 months after the operation so as to give my gums time to heal fully. However it would be good to resume using it after that.
In my head I thought, “That’s not a problem! I won’t be needing that! Besides, I don’t have one anyway.”
The next time it was mentioned was 6 weeks after my operation when I went to get my stiches removed. The dental assistant who removed my stitches asked me if I used a Waterpik. I told her “No I didn’t have one.”
6 months after my surgery I had a special periodontal cleaning scheduled with the Dental Hygienist and she mentioned the Waterpik and asked if I used one to which I replied, I didn’t have one so didn’t use it.
After all I believed it didn’t apply to me.
I was deluding myself. I was in denial about my teeth. A Waterpik was for people with teeth or gum issues.
This was just a one off thing for me. Why would I need to use it?
My teeth were fine!
Really? Was that the truth? Do you have oral surgery if everything is fine?
No!
I was avoiding that I had something going on with my teeth. If I had a tooth or gum issue what did that mean about me?
The belief about it was, that I was sick, or unhealthy and what would that mean? I was unviable…. Being unviable means I can’t survive. I’ll die.
Our fundamental limiting beliefs are tied to our survival.
So I couldn’t admit that… Hell No! I can’t be sick, ill, weak, have an issue with my teeth, gums. I’ll no longer viable and useful… I won’t be healthy and vital. I’ll be a “Have Not” and that’s a fate worse than death.
I’ll be an outsider and won’t belong. Life is no longer possible for me.
Don’t you love beliefs!
And all of these limiting beliefs are unconscious!
Can you see how imperative it is to be aware that they are there?
Instead of being curious and acknowledging that clearly something was going on with my teeth and obviously by this stage the Waterpik had been mentioned to me on 4 occasions you’d think that I’d be going, “Ding, Ding, Ding. My intuition is talking to me and letting me know that this tool is useful to me!”
But, No! I’m resisting and holding onto my beliefs for dear life.
I’m going to avoid being unviable at all costs.
Where’s the power? It’s in creating the outcome I don’t want!
The Periodontist didn’t explain what this tool was for. Just asked me if I was using it.
I didn’t get one because I believed it wasn’t necessary. It was just another tool. I don’t need it.
The truth was I simply wasn’t listening. I was resisting.
It’s an additional chore to do every day, it’s super messy and any other excuses I gave myself. I’ll be fine without it!
Here’s the end result:
I didn’t have this tool and I didn’t use it. I continued resisting.
So guess what?
I was still having issues with my gums. And I wasn’t even aware of it.
The 5th and final time this tool was mentioned to me was when I had my 12 month periodontal special cleaning. Now there was a new Technician/ Hygienist working there and she did my teeth cleaning.
During the procedure, I had several teeth that were bleeding and a few of them were at a level 5 pocket. (That means there was a pocket of bacteria in the gum around those teeth.) Luckily most of them were at a 2. A level 2 pocket means you have very little bacteria. Consequently those teeth didn’t bleed.
Anything above a 7 is problematic and can lead to deterioration of the gums and eventual long term damage and you’ll lose your teeth.
If your gums bleed during the procedure, it indicates that there’s inflammation there due to a buildup of bacteria. That buildup of bacteria weakens the tissue. When your gums are strong and healthy, they don’t bleed.
She explained why it was important for me to use the Waterpik. By using this tool you remove the bacteria 4 layers deeper than you can get to with just flossing and brushing. It’s a way to maintain super healthy teeth and gums. So when she explained it, it was now blatantly obvious.
My Intuition was like, “Hello! Wake up Australia! Use it or lose it!”
Here’s what will happen if you use the tool and apply it, here’s what happens if you don’t.
2 minutes maintenance every day to have healthy gums and teeth versus expensive dental bills, losing my back teeth, needing implants, crowns, etc. Let alone having to deal with inflammation etc.
Keep all my teeth and have super healthy teeth and gums for the rest of my life or lose teeth?
No brainer!
Where are you not applying the tools in your life? Are you justifying to yourself that tools don’t apply to you, or making excuses that you don’t need them?
Are you in denial about your current reality? Are you avoiding your current reality because you are wanting to run away from the perceived consequences of your beliefs? Just like me, saying “I’m fine!”
No you’re not. You are denying the truth.
Where are you resisting your Intuition even when it is blatantly obvious? It is in your face!
What beliefs are you making up about using tools? Too hard? Too much work? They apply to other people but not to you. You’re not capable of making the tools work. They are a chore because you’ve got to use them every day. You don’t feel like using them.
These tools don’t work!
Really? They don’t work because you’re not using them.
Conversely where are you applying the tools? What effect is this having on your life?
When I started to use the Waterpik yes it was foreign and awkward at first. I watched a video that the technician recommended so that I could learn how to use it effectively without spraying water everywhere. I learned that using warm water & not cold water – better for the gums and I learned to start using it on the lowest number setting and build up to a level 7.
You use this tool by feeling where the spray is going (it’s intuitive) and trace it along the natural gum line. You don’t do it by watching yourself doing it in a mirror. If you attempt to watch what’s going on, the spray will go everywhere and you’ll flood your mirror and bathroom.
After a few goes, it felt very easy to use. Now it feels very natural and I incorporate it every day.
I just went to have my teeth cleaned at my dentist and my teeth didn’t bleed at all during the procedure.
When you use a tool you are also learning when to apply it, how to apply it most effectively and what are possible cross applications of it. Using tools help you with self-awareness – they help you discover things about yourself, others and the world that you wouldn’t recognize or get without them.
When you learn and apply what you learn it leads to success and encourages you to continue learning an applying.
Isn’t it time you started applying the tools?
