Means to an End

20 Mar

We all have things we dream about, goals we want to accomplish and dreams we want to realize. Some of them come easily and others are difficult and complicated, and take a lot of effort and time to achieve. We may face a time when someone offers us the possibility of a shortcut to a destination we really want. Maybe we want a promotion at work, and our current boss tells us if we work on a special project we’ll likely get it. Generally, in cases like this, there isn’t an iron clad promise that the prize will be ours if we comply, but merely the hint that it’ll happen. If we believe it will help move us forward and take the bet, we may choose to do as we’re asked. It’s good to try new things, and work hard, but sometimes the cost is great. Suppose we must work a lot of overtime, and deal with difficult people, and do all kinds of unpleasant tasks to get the job done, and then suppose it takes far longer than we thought it would at the beginning. If we are convinced it’s a necessary means to the end we desire, we may continue on and stick it out. When we’re done, and the project is finished, we might actually get the promotion, but nothing is sure until it happens. If we do, the trials and struggles may have been worth it, but what if it doesn’t happen? What if something changes and the promise we believed in does not come to fruition? Then what? Once trust has been broken it’s very hard to re-establish, and if we must continue to work with someone who’s broken it, the situation may be very difficult to endure. We are in control of our lives and can make any decisions we like, but our we are important, and every day is a gift. Before we accept any suggestion, we can take the time we need to fully understand what is involved, what we’ll have to give up to accomplish the task, and what we’ll lose if things don’t work out. If it’s a chance we’re willing to take, we can proceed forward, but if the costs are high, and there is no guarantee of success, we may decide to wait. Whatever decision we make will take us somewhere. By taking our time and choosing wisely, we can ensure it will take us closer to where we really want to be. We are highly intelligent and perfectly capable of seeing things clearly and making excellent decisions. We can trust ourselves to make the best choice and find great satisfaction moving forward.

Families are complicated and although we love those involved, our relationships may be difficult and trying at times. There may be a lot of pressure to do things the same way as other family members, and if we want to take a different road, there may be conflict and hard feelings. We are entitled to live our lives any way we like, but going against the family norm can be difficult and stressful. If there is a lot of contention, we may buckle and simply decide to set our own desires aside and go with the flow to end the distress. We may be able to follow along for a while, but our dreams will continue to pester us, and if we really want to be happy, at some point we’re going to have to strike out on our own. Being different does not mean being less. We know who we are and what we want, and with courage and determination, we can have the lives we desire most.

We may be in a personal relationship with someone who has ideas about how we should live our lives which may be very different from what we really want. They may suggest what we should do, where we should go, what we should wear, and who we should be friends with. We’re all entitled to our own opinions, but nobody knows us better than we know ourselves. Even someone very successful doesn’t know more about what we want than we do. We can be confident with the decisions we make and trust ourselves to find our own way forward. Every destination is possible and with focus and clarity, we will reach success.

Today remember you are in control of your life. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Every single road is open and waiting, and all your dreams are possible. With determination and confidence, nothing can keep you from success. Decide how you want to proceed and take the first step forward. You are amazing and capable, and nothing is too difficult for you. Be sure and move forward. Every success is already there for you and you will reach them all.

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Looking Down

9 Mar

There are all kinds of people in the world with all kinds of cultures and ideas. We’re all different and our choices are unique to each of us. Because of our differences, there is sometimes conflict and we might think the world would be better if we were all the same. Well, it might be easier if everyone was on the same page all the time, but there would be no way to grow, and boredom would be constant. It would be like going to Disneyland and all the rides are exactly the same. It’s easy to spend time with others who share our values and opinions, but there will always be someone in our circle we disagree with. If the differences are hard for us to understand, we may think they’re odd and beneath what we’re doing. We can look down on anyone we like, but being different does not mean being less. Chocolate ice cream is very different from vanilla, but they are both delicious. The world is a big, busy place and there is no way to completely insulate ourselves from others who are different that we are. Nobody will ever be exactly like us and there is nothing to be gained by judging those with other expressions. They aren’t dumb or stupid – they are just different than we’re accustomed to. Instead of judging what we may not understand, it’s better to accept others for who they are. We don’t have to adopt their point of view, we don’t have to follow their lead, and we don’t have to change our lives to fit anyone else’s narrative. The old saying, “Live and let live,” is the best approach. We are intelligent and highly capable of managing any situation that comes. Life is full of variety, and we can be welcoming even when we don’t agree, and find enrichment in contrasting viewpoints. 

Some people are very confident and sure of themselves. They may believe they have all the right answers and anyone who disagrees just doesn’t understand the issue. If we don’t follow their line of thinking, they may criticize and ridicule us in an effort to get us to follow along. It can be difficult to deal with them, and hard to be patient if we must. No matter what anyone else is doing, we always have the power to choose our own way. Nobody is in control of our lives but us. There are many roads to every destination. We can go left when they go right, and still find our way to the goal.

Family pressures and cultural influences may be strong. When we’re young it’s easy to go along with whatever our parents are doing and what’s happening around us. But as we mature, we develop our own ideas about what we want to do and how things should go. Our ideas are important and our choices are ours to make. Just because something has been done one way for a long time doesn’t mean we have to continue on the same road. We know who we are and what we want, and with courage and determination, can live our lives exactly the way we desire.

Today if you’re dealing with someone very different from you, whose ideas and choices are foreign, remember we’re all unique. You can choose any road you want to travel. You know where you want to go and already have everything you need to reach any destination you desire. Decide how you want to proceed and begin your journey. Nothing can keep you from success.  The whole world is there for you.

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Burning the Boats

28 Feb

Everyone has their own ideas about what they want to do and how things should go. We can accomplish anything we want once we identify it, if we’re willing to do what is needed to succeed. If the goal is easy we can simply get it done, but we might want something that requires us to step away from our comfort zones. We may have to develop a new skill to accomplish the task, or need to do things that are foreign or intimidating. If we’re unsure, we may put everything off for now, thinking we’ll get to it when we feel more confident. Of course, we can wait as long as we like, but one thing is certain – nothing will happen until we start. It’s said that if we want to capture an island, once we arrive we should burn the boats so there is no way to retreat and return.  We may not be trying to capture an island but the message is clear. If we want to do something that we’ve avoided, we must remove every obstacle keeping us from starting. We can ignore any reservations we have about completing the goal, and take the first step forward. The first step in any new journey is often the hardest, and once we’ve begun our confidence will rise and we will confidently find our way. There isn’t anything we can’t do. We only need to decide what we want, how we plan to get it, and then start. We have all the courage and wisdom needed to reach any destination, and nothing is out of reach. We can trust ourselves to manage any complication and find the road ahead. The whole world is there for us and every goal is possible. 

When we begin a new journey, we may find ourselves on unknown roads. We don’t know what will happen and we can’t see around the next bend. Someone may stand in our way, serious problems may arise, or the road may be blocked, forcing us to start again. If we really want the goal, we will find a way to get there no matter what happens. There isn’t anything powerful enough to hold us in place indefinitely.  Detours may happen, we might get turned around and lose our way for a time, and there may be serious hurdles that must be overcome. But we are stronger and more powerful than we think we are, and nothing can keep us from success.

Nothing is permanent and if we don’t like what’s happening in our lives right now, we can do what is needed to change it. There will always be many options available to us in every situation. We can look at everything openly and objectively and decide how we want to proceed. We deserve complete happiness, and by deciding what we want the most, and then doing what is needed to get it, we will find it. Life is a great blessing and we have all we need to create the lives we want the most. 

Today if there’s something you want, but you’ve been putting it off for one reason or another, decide how you want to proceed and take the first step. You are smarter and more capable than you imagine, and nothing is too difficult for you to accomplish. Trust yourself and be confident. There is greatness inside you. Burn the boats and move forward toward success. Every dream awaits, and you will make them yours.

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Light and Darkness

24 Feb

There is a lot of contention in the world these days and we may feel a lot of concern about what’s happening. There are wars, and rumors of wars, trouble with governments, problems with schools, and high prices that may be making us jittery and unhappy. These are treacherous times and we may worry about what will happen next. It’s hard to feel comfortable when we feel like there’s a lot going wrong. The world is a big place filled with all kinds of different people, different ideas, and choices. When there are differences, as there always are, things can get complicated in a hurry. It’s difficult to navigate complex and unpredictable times, and we can’t control what our neighbors do, what our leaders do or anyone else, and if their choices affect us negatively we may feel angry and upset. It’s hard to be happy when we feel beset by trouble. There is no way to know what will happen next, and we may worry about our safety and our future. It hard to look ahead when we feel overwhelmed and unsettled, but we have complete control over our own lives. No matter what’s going on, peace is always possible. When there’s a lot going wrong and we feel stressed, we can find respite by choosing to be kind and considerate to those around us. Simply saying “Hello” or offering a smile to those we pass, we will not only lift them, but we will lift ourselves. Worry will change nothing. By looking up and choosing to be happy, despite our circumstance, we can step forward with confidence. We are wise and more powerful than we imagine. By choosing to find joy in whatever situation presents itself, we will discover great happiness and peace.

Roses are beautiful flowers. They smell as good as they look and bring pleasure and beauty to the world. But just below the lovely blossoms, there are very sharp and strong thorns, and if we aren’t careful, we may get cut when we handle them. Life is a lot like that. There are great experiences possible and we will all have precious days filled with happiness. We will also have days filled with sorrow and grief. Nothing is perfect and there is good and bad in every situation. We can focus on everything that has and may still go wrong, and fill our minds with worry and anxiety. Or we can focus on what works, and is beautiful and open happiness and joy. By choosing to see the light in the darkness, we will feel great peace as we move forward.

Sometimes the road turns and we get tangled up in trouble and distress, and we may feel overcome and upset.  Hard times will come to us all but nothing is permanent and in time whatever we’re experiencing will change. The clouds will clear, the darkness will lift and there will be light ahead. By trusting ourselves when we’re facing very difficult and challenging times, we can be sure of success and find our way forward. We are intelligent and capable, and nothing is powerful enough to hold us down forever.

Today if you’re worried and concerned about what’s happening around you, stand still and look at everything openly and objectively. There will always be a way forward, and all the answers you need to find it are there for you. Be confident and trust yourself. There is greatness inside you and nothing can keep you from success. Look up and step forward. Nothing is out of reach and you will prevail.

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Stronger Than the Storm

14 Feb

Everyone wants an easy life where everything goes as planned and we’re never unhappy.  It would be great if we could order our days ahead of time to ensure we get exactly what we want. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and even when we try hard to plan carefully and watch our step moving forward, sometimes things just go wrong. None of us lives on a deserted island and there will always be people coming in and out of our lives. They may inadvertently make decisions that affect us negatively, or they may purposely stand in our way. We might have no idea why our plans went up in smoke and everything fell apart, and while we’re in the midst of trying to figure out what to do next, we may feel lost and uncertain. We can’t control the weather. What comes comes, and even the most proficient and wise meteorologist has no control of what will happen. Storms will appear – sometimes intensely and unexpectedly. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, we’ll have to navigate through. Weather is one thing, but we may experience difficult storms in our personal life. Something may change without notice, we may lose something we treasure, or someone we love may leave us. We may lose our jobs or a million other possibilities that upset our lives and turn everything upside down. At the beginning we may feel frozen in place as we try to understand what’s happened, and we may have no idea how to proceed. But we are stronger and wiser than we imagine, and no matter what comes, we have everything we need to find our way forward. Trouble will come. There is no one perfect way to handle it. The answers we need will be there and when we’re ready, we can step forward, confident, and sure of success.

Sometimes it seems that everything we touch falls apart. It’s as though the planets have aligned against us and nothing will ever work out. When we’re struggling and there’s a lot going wrong, we may believe we will never be successful. We may as well just sit down and give up. Of course, we can do anything we like and if we want to surrender, we certainly can. But giving in and giving up will never take us where we most want to go.  All our dreams are there for us and nothing is strong enough to hold us in place forever. We can take the time we need to decide how we want to proceed, and then begin again.

There is no such thing as bad luck.  Luck is simply when preparedness and opportunity meet. We may get prepared to do something, but the opportunity to start isn’t available at this time. That’s not bad luck and it doesn’t mean we can’t succeed.  It only means the goal is unavailable right now. Nothing is permanent and when our situation changes we can start again. We know who we and what we want, and we already possess everything we need to reach any goal we desire. By trusting ourselves, and standing firm, there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish.

Today if a storm is raging and everything is upside down, take the time you need to look at the situation objectively. You are smarter than you think you are, and you will find your way. The whole world is there for you and nothing can keep you from success. Stand strong and look ahead. Every goal is possible, and you can make them yours.

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