Experience description:
I
had lost a job at an accounting firm where I was supposed to eventually become a
partner; after searching around, I had a decision between two positions - one at
the Big 4 firm in my home city I had started at after university, as manager,
the other at another firm in the US just across the river that would give me
exposure to great experiences in various industries.
It was clear that the 2nd choice was better all around - financially, in
terms of experience and so on. As I
had worked before at the 1st opportunity, I knew exactly what to expect.
So while a little nostalgic, I also hadn't forgotten the limitations, and
I knew the limitations of working in a small Canadian city compared to a larger
American city. So I gave my verbal
acceptance to the 2nd firm.
One morning, still between jobs, I awoke at about 5
am (I knew the time because it was just starting to get light) exactly like Uma
Thurman awoke from unconsciousness in Kill Bill - gasping and sitting bolt
upright. I couldn't recall any dream
but I awoke with the very very clear realization that I absolutely could not
accept that 2nd position and needed to do whatever would work to get out of it
and accept the other one. I can't
emphasize enough how clear and pressing that thought was, and how fully formed.
Normally I am not a morning person and would never wake up on my own that
early, or with any clear thoughts.
So I burned bridges
(against my better judgment and again not normal for me) and found some pretext
for getting out of that 2nd job - I will never again have the opportunity to
work there - and let the 1st place know I was still in the running. And I did
end up working there.
I was never
given any clear vision of the future so couldn't know from this experience why
it was I needed to turn down the 2nd position, just that it was very very
important that I do so. I don't know for
sure whether it had to do with that position or with the one I eventually did
accept. However I can guess - I now have
my own accounting firm with a lot of small business clients and this is not
something that would have happened had I accepted that other position.
I would most likely have been a controller or CFO at a larger company.
In the position I am now in, I have the ability to help many more people
than I otherwise would have.
Any associated medications or
substances with the potential to affect the experience?
No
Was the kind of experience
difficult to express in words?
Yes the feeling of absolute certainly
is difficult to adequately describe
At the time of this experience, was
there an associated life threatening event?
No
What was your level of
consciousness and alertness during the experience?
high
Was the experience dream like in any way?
no although it woke me up
Did you experience a separation of
your consciousness from your body?
No
What emotions did you feel during
the experience?
a sense of
extreme urgency - almost life-threatening urgency
Did you hear any unusual sounds or
noises?
not exactly,
the words 'you can't take that job' were in my head, not in my own voice, but I
didn't actually hear them.
LOCATION DESCRIPTION:
Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar
religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or
amazing creatures?
No
Did you see a light?
No
Did you meet or see any other
beings?
No
Did you experiment while out of the
body or in another, altered state?
No
Did you observe or hear anything
regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?
No
Did you notice how your 5 senses
were working, and if so, how were they different?
Yes
very
vividly - I was complete alert and awake in a moment with heightened
awareness, from a state of dreamless unconsciousness
Did you have any sense of altered
space or time?
No
Did you have a sense of knowing,
special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?
Yes
I knew that it was the most important
thing at that moment that I do what I was told to do, for the course of my life
Did you reach a boundary or
limiting physical structure?
No
Did you become aware of future
events?
No
Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts
following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?
Uncertain
I've always had random experiences of this type, no more or fewer after than
before. When I say this type - this is
the only one precisely like this, where I have woken up with full knowledge of
something I needed to do. Usually, these
experiences for me come during dreams or while listening to music.
How has the experience affected
your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?
well clearly career choice, that
was the purpose of the experience
Has your life changed specifically
as a result of your experience?
Yes I am now in a field of client
service whereas otherwise, I would have been heading up a cost centre in a
mid-sized company. In other words, I am
helping more people in what I am now doing.
Have you shared this experience
with others?
Yes I only share this with people who
have similar experiences, so their reactions are not negative.
What emotions did you experience
following your experience?
Shock
What was the best and worst part of
your experience?
Best part and
worst part - the certainty of knowing what I had to do
Is there anything else you would
like to add concerning the experience?
The conviction
did not grow weaker with passing of time, meaning I did not reconsider as the
day or week or weeks went on after this experience.
I never thought, shouldn't do that, or shouldn't have done that.
Following the experience, have you
had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced
any part of the experience?
No
Did the questions asked and
information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your
experience?
Uncertain I hope so but I don't know.