On the road to my favorite temple in Bali, one of my Money Goddess participants told a story of a joke from a popular comic who shared that his children had a pet snake. Visitors would get upset when the snake bit them. The comic pointed out, “The snake can’t speak. It doesn’t have hands. It’s a hello bite.”

Later, at the temple, an amorous little puppy started chewing on my hand, then my leg.

Then, inside the temple pool of the sacred spring, a koi fish bit my ankle.

I was SHOCKED! In all the times I’ve come to Bali and come to this temple, that had NEVER happened before.

It was a hello bite.

And that got me to thinking about other places “Hello” bites show up in life…

Here are some:

• An economic setback.

• A health challenge. (My car accident and coma in 1983–that was a big bite!)

• Sudden loss of a relationship/job/dream

• An assault

They all bite.

Stuff happens in life that HURTS. And we can say those things are “bad” and “wrong”– and I’m perfectly willing to say that this is TRUE.

But what if they were ALSO loving “hello” bites saying “Wake up! Pay attention! Your next chapter is beginning?”  A shock to lead you to a new level of awareness, that YOU can use to your benefit.

Here’s a little insider secret from my Money Goddess retreat:

Several days into hearing their stories and coaching my women on some really devastating life experiences, often rooted in early childhood traumas, I posed a question to the group:  “If your parents had been exactly as you’d want them to be, and gave you the childhood you wished you had, what gifts would you lose?”

Think about that for a second. Many of the worst things that have happened to you in life also brought some of your greatest learnings, innovations, and rewards. Would you ever want to give those up?

For example, my mother (a violent addict, but also a brilliant and loving woman, depending on the day) told me, when I was a chubby child, that no one would love me if I was fat. So she put me into ballet class, and bulimia, for the next decade. As a result, 1) I’ve been very successful at helping clients with eating disorders, because I UNDERSTAND them, and 2) I got to experience being a professional ballerina. Those are Big Benefits!

What are the benefits YOU can pull out of your own “hello” bite history?

By the way, this is the secret of Money Goddess #3: Persephone–connecting Pain to Purpose to Prosperity. Our own pain gives us the humility and empathy to respect the experience of other human beings… so we can help others.

Back to my experiences in the Water Temple in Ubud… I actually interpreted those puppy and fish bites as welcome kisses. I was even jumped by a monkey in the Monkey Forest of Ubud. I choose to believe Bali likes me. 🙂

MORGANA RAE is an internationally acclaimed life coach, author, and professional speaker, who is regarded as the world’s top Relationship with Money coach. Morgana’s groundbreaking program for attracting wealth has featured her on ABC-TV, PBS, NPR, United Press International and The Wall Street Journal online. Learn how to become a Money Magnet with her FREE 4-part video gift series. Fill out your name and email at the top of the page. (We promise not to share your info!)