The Teller of Life: Will Your Dream Happen? Two Determining Factors
The Teller of Life: Will Your Dream Happen? Two Determining Factors
There’s a classic story that beautifully illustrates the deeper spiritual truth about how our dreams really manifest in the world.
A middle-aged man walked into a bank and stepped up to the teller with a check in hand. “Will you cash this check?” he asked. The teller nodded, “Of course, sir. Just sign your name on the back, hand it over, and I’ll give you the money.” The man stiffened, taking a step back. “Wait a minute!” he protested. “Once I give you my signed check, you’ll be holding it with my name on it. What if you decide not to give me the money?”
The teller shook her head, gently explaining, “That’s not how it works. Bank policy requires your signature first. Only then can I give you the money.” But the man persisted, voicing his fears and uncertainty over and over. Finally, the teller grew so frustrated she asked him to leave.
Still determined, the man marched to a second bank, repeating the scene—refusing to sign before getting his cash, arguing with another confused teller, and being turned away yet again. Undeterred, he visited a third bank and tried the same routine. This time, the young teller had no patience left.
She reached under the counter, pulled out a rubber baseball bat, thumped the man on the head, and barked, “Sign the darn check!” Dazed, but finally willing, the man picked up the pen, signed the check, and the teller promptly gave him his money.
Flush with success, the man returned to the first bank, proud of his accomplishment. “Look! I got my money from the bank down the street,” he bragged to the first teller. The teller replied knowingly, “I bet even there you had to put your name on the back of that check, didn’t you?” The man paused and nodded, rubbing his head, “Well, yeah, I did. But no one ever quite explained it the way they did!”
This story shines a light on two fundamental factors for bringing our dreams to life:
1. The Law of Specificity
You can have any life you choose, but first, you must be specific. Life won’t respond to a vague wish for a “good life,” just as a builder can’t build a “happy house” without a blueprint. Get clear—decide exactly what you want, and paint it in detail. The more specific your blueprint, the more the universe knows what you’re requesting.
2. The Power of Commitment
Life requires your signature—a sign that you’re willing to commit, to align your actions and energy with your dream. Full commitment signals the universe to move on your behalf. When you put your name to your vision, resources, people, and opportunities flow toward you.
We live in a universe eager to fulfill our dreams—but first, we must clarify our vision and be willing to claim it fully.
So, what is your dream—and are you willing to sign your name to it?