Archive | April, 2016

At the Edge

13 Apr

Most of us want to do our best in all our endeavors.  We try to learn the things, and seek the best outcomes for everything we do.  Sometimes something new is intimidating and although we are motivated, we may not be sure we can accomplish it.  If we push forward we may eventually get to a place where the next step is outside our comfort zone and we are at the edge of mastery.  We haven’t stepped over the line yet, but it’s right there.  When we reach those moments we may stop, unsure if we can really manage going forward.  Sometimes if we succeed in taking that next step it will change everything, and even if the change is something we want, we may feel tremulous and nervous about taking it.  When we’re at the edge, at the very end of one thing and the beginning of another, it can be unnerving.  We wonder if we can really do it.  We wonder what will happen if we do.  And what will happen if we don’t.  Every time we change there is uncertainty.  We know where we are now and even if we really want the change, it’s new territory.  But we can do anything we want, and we have the courage to push through any challenge.  When we reach the edge of something new, we can step right over it, and keep going.

There are lot of reasons to keep things the same.  We know what to expect, we know how to manage our regular routine, and we’re comfortable with the way things are.  But reaching out for something new enhances us and makes our lives richer and more meaningful.  We can learn and do things we’ve always thought about trying, and we can succeed.  If we stay in the same routine throughout our lives we miss the chance to see how far we can really go, and what we can do when we put our minds to it.  We are all capable of far more than we think we are.  There really isn’t anything that is too hard or difficult for us to manage if we work at it.  And when we gain new skills, learn new things, and go new places, our confidence rises and we understand more about our lives and ourselves.

Fear is something we all deal with.  For some of us it’s a rare experience, but for others it’s a constant issue.  It can keep us from trying new things and hold us back.  If it’s strong enough it can cripple our lives if we give into it.  Courage isn’t the lack of fear.  Courage is going forward despite it.  New and unfamiliar territory carries with it a level of uncertainty and if we focus on that instead of the goal we’re seeking, we may never take the first step toward changing.  But if we want something new in our lives, we can look beyond the uncertainty and any fear associated with it, and move forward anyway.  We are capable of doing amazing things but first we must believe we can.  If we have faith and take the first step into the unknown it will lead us to the next.  Each step we take will bring us more confidence and the fear will lessen as we get closer to the goal.  We can do anything.  It’s all within our reach.

Today if you’re at the edge of something you want, and aren’t sure about stepping over it, go forward.  You are worth more than you realize and you can do anything.  There isn’t anything too complicated or daunting for you.  Go forward with confidence.  You have everything you need to succeed.

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Shifting

12 Apr

We do thousands of things every day. We go places, we look at people, we talk, we interact, and everywhere we go and everything we do shifts our reality just a bit. We’re perceptive and when others impact us negatively or positively it can stay with us. If someone is rude to us it can make us feel bad for the rest of the day. And if someone is unexpectedly nice to us, it can brighten us and make us feel good. As we go through the motions of our lives we have the chance at every turn to make a difference. We can make the world a better place by doing something positive. Just one small act of kindness can lift not only the receiver but the giver, and all those who witness it or hear about it. We’re all connected and when we hear or see someone doing something good, we all feel better. Knowing that, if we determined to do one small positive thing every day, over time, we could change the world. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, we don’t have to donate money, or run into a burning house to save someone, or take all the neighbor kids to a movie, although those are all impressive. We could do something small to lift someone and make their day better. For instance we could help someone with a heavy bag, or cheer a crying child, or let someone who’s in a hurry go in front of us.  Those small acts don’t seem like much, but they can mean a lot. And they can change a day that is lonely or sad or stressed into something better. We are all capable of sharing goodwill, and each time we do, we bless those around us and receive blessings as well. If we decided every day to do one small act to make the world better, we would be amazed at how it lifts us and how much happier we’d be.

We can get caught up in our personal lives. We have a lot of responsibility and every day seems to bring more that needs to be done. If we focus only on ourselves and not those around us we might think we’re being more efficient, and maybe we are. But those around us are part of our world and impact our experiences here. When we look up and notice them we see they are just like us. They are trying hard to get things done too, and they have challenges and triumphs just like we do. If we extend ourselves just a little to let them know we’re aware of them and that we care, we would all feel more connected. And feeling connected is a wonderful thing. It makes us remember that we’re lovable and cared for, and it communicates the same messages to others.

There are countless ways to be of service.  Often, once we do one small thing to help out, it opens our eyes to something else. If we keep our eyes open and look, each day will bring us an opportunity to serve. Day by day as we practice extending ourselves we’ll notice that service makes us feel good. We feel better knowing we’re doing something noble. It doesn’t take a lot of time, it doesn’t take money, and it’s an easy thing to do. The blessings will be abundant – both to us and those around us. We can shift everything to the right, and be a source of great happiness.

Today look around you. See if there isn’t some small way you might help someone else. You’ll find it and when you do, offer a hand. Tomorrow do the same thing. Soon your perspective will change and you’ll feel more connected, and you’ll be happier. You’ll still be busy, but there will be a shift in how you see things. Bring the sunshine. You’ve got it all inside you.  Share it and it will return to you tenfold.

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Turbulence

11 Apr

When we’re traveling by air and take a seat on an airplane, we hope for a safe flight that is smooth and without complications. We want to get to our destination without undue stress or unnecessary excitement. Generally that’s what happens. We fly from place to place without incident or worry. But sometimes because of weather conditions we have turbulence. When that happens, the pilot puts the seat belt sign on and we’re asked to stay in our seats. If there is only minor turbulence most travelers endure the small bumps without concern. But if there is a ferocious storm or high winds, things may get intense as the plane is bounced around, and sometimes falls for what seems like forever before correcting. When that happens, turbulence is a completely different experience. Although air travel is by far the safest mode of transportation, it can be unnerving and frightening to sit belted in during severe turbulence. Although we may feel confident that everything will be fine, we may also feel worry and fear. We can have turbulence in our personal lives as well.  Everyone wants their lives to go along smoothly, and we don’t want difficult times to come upon us.  However, chances are they probably will, and things will get bumpy.  We may feel concerned and unsure.  But just like being on a plane, we can buckle in, sit tight, and get through.

No matter how pro-active we are, no matter how we prepare and plan, sometimes things go awry. There are a lot of people in our lives and they often impact what happens to us either purposefully for inadvertently. There is an old saying that if you want to see God laugh, make plans. It can feel that way sometimes. But all we can do is make the best decisions possible and hope things work out the way we want them to. When they don’t, we have to find another way. There are endless opportunities to change our minds and there is never just one way to do things. If we’re facing a storm, and the plane starts to fall a little, we can regroup and correct our course.

Because this life is all about our relationships with others and a lot of what we do depends on their decisions, there will be times when we’ll be hurt. It’s not possible to live our entire lives without being hurt from time to time. If the pain is extensive and we feel devastated, it can be like trying to navigate through strong winds in a horrible storm. We may slip, we might fall, it may be difficult to see the road ahead, and we might think we can’t survive. But there isn’t anything too hard for us to overcome. There is no storm so powerful that it will leave us hopeless. We can find a seat belt by focusing on our abilities, and we can sit tight as we figure out what to do next. We don’t have to go into the storm alone either. We can get help from those we trust and we can find our way. Turbulence isn’t pleasant. It’s upsetting when things get tossed around and we lose our footing. But no storm lasts forever, and no wind can blow without stopping. We have everything we need to make it through.

Today if things are bumpy and you’re unsure, and if there are problems that are making it hard to navigate, hang on. This is just turbulence. Sit tight and take your time. You have everything you need to find solid ground again and there are clear skies ahead. Keep your focus and trust your instincts. You will make it to the other side and find your way. You are stronger and smarter than you realize.

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Done Deal

8 Apr

We do a lot of things every day. We try new things, start new projects, begin on a new path, and continue on. There are endless things to learn and do. We can tackle any challenge we want to and we can succeed. But sometimes we don’t finish what we start. Maybe the project ended up taking more time than we planned on, or maybe it turned out to be more complicated or expensive than we wanted. When we don’t finish things and don’t let them go, they hang around on the periphery of our lives. Maybe we stuff them in a closet and although ignore them, see them every day. Maybe we put them in a drawer and try to forget them, but we know they’re there. If we don’t plan to finish whatever we’ve been working on, and we want to move forward, we need to let them go. Otherwise, they will be a constant reminder of what we didn’t do. We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to, and if we’ve decided we’re not going to finish something it’s best to remove it completely. We can give it away, throw it away, erase it from our to-do list, forget it, and move on.

When we have unfinished business around us it can undermine our confidence. We may believe we should have done more to complete it or managed it better. Those thoughts can hold us back and we may struggle thinking we should try to work on it again. We can always go back to anything we’ve left behind but if we’ve decided we’re not going to do it, we can let it go. Moving forward is our privilege and we don’t have to focus on things that hold us back. We accomplish a lot of things well, and if we come upon something we can’t or don’t want to complete, we can move on. If it’s important enough to finish even when we don’t want to, we can do that as well. Either way it’s our choice, and we can make it.

If we are judicious in our decisions about what we will and won’t do, we’ll be more successful in completing the tasks we take on. We can’t do everything and promising to do more than we can will only lead to disappointment. We can take some time to evaluate what we realistically are able to do, and then decide from there. Making careful decisions about our time will enable us to find success. It’s easy to get carried away and agree to do more than we can. There are a lot of people in the world and sometimes it seems they all want something from us. But we’re in control of our lives and our time. If we know we won’t be able to finish something it’s best not to start. Leaving things unfinished again and again may impact our confidence. If we are wise and choose carefully, we’ll be more successful in completing the things we’ve chosen, and feel better about our accomplishments.

Today if you’ve got unfinished projects that are niggling at you, think about what you can realistically complete and let the rest go. You aren’t a failure for not finishing something. You are wise to manage your time. You know what you can and can’t do. Let go of the things you can’t, and you’ll be successful completing the things you can.

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High Expectations

7 Apr

When we’re trying to do something new or we’re learning a new skill, sometimes we expect to be able to do it perfectly from the start. Even if we acknowledge intellectually that may not be possible, we may hope for it nonetheless. Sometimes our expectations for ourselves are unrealistically high. We think we should be able to do anything we want and do it well. Unfortunately, life doesn’t really work that way. We all do some things well, and some things not so well. But when we want to do something badly we may think we should be good at it from the beginning. Expecting perfection can lead to failure. If our expectations are too high and we fall short we may give up. And giving up gets us nowhere. Just learning and trying something new is enough to start. If we can learn to be more patient and more accepting with ourselves we’ll be happier and more comfortable as we move along.

The world sets high standards. Never in history have we been expected to do more than we are today. The ideals of perfection are everywhere we look. There are constant messages that our appearances, our lifestyles, our finances, and our personal lives should be flawless and accomplished without effort. Of course none of that is possible. If we internalize the messages we see virtually everywhere, we can feel we aren’t good enough, fast enough, strong enough, rich enough, or smart enough. There is no way to be perfect at everything despite the messages we hear. The truth is we will do some things very well, and some things will elude us. We can decide what our lives will look like and what we’ll do. No matter what we hear and see, we can determine how we’ll go forward and find satisfaction in knowing we’re doing things our way. We can set our expectations in ways that bring us success and happiness.

Some people do amazing things that change the world. But those are extreme and extraordinarily rare. We all have successes in our lives but they may not be on such a grand scale. That does not diminish the importance of the success. When we live purposefully, directing our lives on the paths we most want to follow and achieve our goals, we are successful. The goals we set don’t have to be monumental. No matter what they are, if we achieve them, we are successful. We don’t have to do extraordinary things to make the world a better place. Just by living well, being kind and supportive, showing compassion, and taking care of ourselves makes an impact for good. There isn’t anyone else like us anywhere on earth. We don’t have set impossible expectations or be perfect in the eyes of the world. We are perfect just as we are.

Today if you’ve been expecting a lot from yourself and have set your standards high, remember you are perfect just as you are. Your kindness and compassion are making the world a better place. We are all blessed because you’re here. You’re one of a kind and bring a light no one else can offer. Be who you are. It’ll be exactly right.

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