Ask The Council

Overcoming Project Setbacks: Guidance for Success

This post answers questions for The Council from a reader named, Ellie.

Ellie: Hey there. I hope you’re all well. I just read the last comment, and I have some questions about work, also.

I’ve been running two projects, one for eight years and another for five years, that don’t seem to really be getting off the ground. First, there was illness and its associated difficulties, then the pandemic and colleagues dropped off. Now, post-pandemic, the sector faces various issues, and so on. Why did these setbacks happen?

Council: It happened because you created it. It was part of your reality. It fell into the timeline of the pandemic, and for many, many reasons.

If you have been trying something for eight years, or five years, or ten years, or even two years, and it is not taking off, it is not becoming what you need or want in your life, then you need to look at it. What’s missing from this? Is it something that you’re just holding onto tightly, that it has to be this way, it has to be that way, but it’s not happening?

We say let go of this idea. Is there something in it you can change to make it easier? Maybe there’s something along the lines, but not exactly the way you’re trying to create it. It is always there for you, but you must examine the way you are doing it. How are you trying to get this into your life? If it’s by plugging away, dragging up whatever you can to make this happen, you are not in the right vibration.

Everything you want in your life, you already have. It is there for you, but the way to find it is to go in the higher vibration of love, the higher vibration of joy, to be happily excited about something. And if you look at it and it’s not working, you can say, “All right, the way I see it, I can’t create it this way. How do I change the scene? How do I change how I want it to happen? Maybe I need to picture new people coming into my life.” Play with the idea, because after all these years, if it’s not happening, you need to look at it differently.

It is always there for you. You will meet the right people who will want to be part of it, who can help you get it off the ground, but change the vibration. That is so important, how you feel about it. But if it’s so hard that it’s dragging along, why on Earth would you want to create that? Find something you will create with joy, with excitement, and you will be able to have it happen.

Ellie: A year ago, someone advised me to move forward without colleagues, so I did. For the first project, I contacted hundreds of places that would, and in the past, did host my work. I spent a great many days following up, but have absolutely no takers.

Council: And so did you look at it? Why isn’t anybody interested in it? “I need to tweak this a little bit.” And with the interest in it, of how to change it to make it interesting, also let it happen. But if you think nobody is interested, it is not working, it’s not the right people, you are in the wrong vibration. Always look, “I am in control. I can make this happen. Now let me look at it again. What can I change about it? What can I get excited about it?” Go from there.

Ellie: For Project #2, which I think does need people, I started reaching out to old colleagues, and also meeting new people, but again, no takers. I’ve lost the ability to visualize for my work now.

Council: And there’s another problem right there. You lost the ability to visualize. How are you going to create this? How are you going to feel the joy of starting this new business? How are you going to see it succeed if you cannot visualize it?

Ellie: I just get sad, and it hurts.

Council: Sadness is in the way. Feeling hurt is in the way. Instead, think of yourself: “I am a spirit. I’m intelligent. I’m here. I want to do something. Of course, I can create this. Apparently, I’m going about it wrong right now. How do I change this? Let me look at this.” And change the way you see it. And when you see it, make sure you’re in a place of love, of happiness. “Yes, yes, this is a bit different. This will help me. I can see myself meeting all new people, bringing them into my life, who can add to this. They have some ideas that are interesting.” Play with those thoughts.

Ellie: I’d be heartbroken to let these projects go.

Council: How about instead of being heartbroken, say to yourself, “Well, the way I was trying to do it isn’t working. Now let me release it and get excited about something new that I can bring in.” Do you feel the difference in the thought? Being heartbroken about letting it go, that doesn’t feel very well. But being excited, “I’m going to let it go. Goodbye. We’re going to change the thought. We’re going to add to it. We’re going to bring something new in.” Look at the difference in the feeling, and that’s how you create.

Ellie: But is this life’s way of telling me to stop these projects, stop this work, and change sectors?

Council: It’s you telling you this. No one else is telling you. Somehow your higher self, what you are planning, what you want to do next, is showing you, this particular way, it’s not happening. So follow that. “All right, this is not happening. Let me let it go, and let’s see what I can replace it with.”

Ellie: Would something like technical work or alternative intelligence be better for me to go into?

Council: If you feel joy in learning that, if you feel happy getting to that area of your life to work with that, of course it will work for you. It has no choice but to work for you. But if you’re just doing it because it’s just something else, maybe it will work; that vibration will never make it work. Find something that brings you joy. Find something you want to look into now. Research it. See how you would do in it. How does it feel to do it? And that’s how you get the information whether it’s for you or not.

Ellie: What would happen if I did (go into technical work or alternative intelligence)? Would I be happier?

Council: That’s up to you. (Laughs) We can’t make you happy. You look into it and see how you feel. If it’s happiness you feel, then go with it. It’s part of your higher self pointing the way. When you feel the joy, the interest, the happiness, then that’s what you try for, and you create it.

Ellie: I can’t imagine it’s true, but if I’m still to keep with the projects, how do I secure takers for Project #1…?

Council: You will never do this because you can’t imagine it will be true. So right there, you are telling yourself you can’t imagine it happening. You can’t see this getting off the ground. So we would say, “Forget that.” The thinking you have about it right now will not help you develop what you want to develop.

Ellie: …and find people for Project #2?

Bob: I imagine the answer is the same for Project #2.

Council: Look for happiness on your journey. When you find it, when you have the feeling, go in that direction.

And so we send you love, and all the joy that you can find in your lives. Create, create, create.

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Listen to the entire 10-minute audio recording of our session with The Council (below) to hear all their guidance for Ellie and the rest of us, and let us know what you feel about it.

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June 14, 2025 - Posted by Cynthia & Bob | Audio Content, Channeling, Feelings, Imagination, Love, Questions & Answers, Spirit, Vibration, You Create Your Reality | Excitement, Happiness, Higher Self, Joy, Visualization, Work