Archive | August, 2016

Seeds

22 Aug

“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.” Indian Proverb

When we’re planting a garden we decide what kinds of vegetables or flowers we want and purchase the seeds we need.  If we want eggplant we buy eggplant seeds and if we want petunias we buy those.  We completely understand we cannot buy pansy seeds and expect to grow petunias.  It’s obvious we need to buy the exact seeds for the result we’re seeking.  Our lives work the same way.  Whatever we do brings a corresponding result.  If we are kind, chances are others will be kind to us in return.  If we are moody and angry, we will generally get a different response.  And if we are dishonest and manipulative, our lives will often bring a harvest of disharmony and distrust.  Everything has a payoff and those payoffs are directly related to what we extend.  Everything we do is like planting a seed.  The returns we get depend on the seeds we plant.  If we are aware and pro-active in our choices, we will get the harvest we want.

It’s easy to plow through our lives without paying attention.  We can let little annoyances become part of our outward expressions and pay no attention to how our behavior impacts those around us.  If we’re having a bad day we can be grumpy and moody and let everyone else know.  But sharing our bad mood with others will do nothing to make us feel better and may have a negative impact on the lives of those around us.  We can plant the seeds of frustration and unhappiness and they will grow.  Or we can remember that our bad day is just a passage and we can keep our unhappiness to ourselves.  We don’t have to be secretive or hide out, but we can smile at those around us even when we don’t feel our best and project a positive outlook even when things aren’t going our way.  We can plant seeds of harmony even when we aren’t feeling our best.

Everything we do today will have an impact on what comes to us tomorrow.  Just like planting seeds in our garden, everything we do will bring us a corresponding response.  If we are dishonest in our dealings with others we may get away with it for a time but eventually we will lose the trust of those around us and our lives will be impacted.  If we manipulate situations to gain what we want regardless of how it affects others we may lose valuable associations and relationships as a result.  The law of the harvest is immutable.  We will reap what we sow.  What we do will always bring a corresponding reaction. There is no way to avoid it.  We may get away with planting discord for a time but eventually the plant will grow and we’ll be accountable for the harvest.  We can pay attention and choose our seeds carefully.  We can have happy and productive lives filled with reward and fulfillment if we plant the seeds that will bring them.

Today be sure the things you do and say will bring you the results you’re seeking.  Remember you’re planting seeds with everything you do.  Choose carefully and plant a garden that will bring you the rewards you want most.

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Unsung

19 Aug

As we go through our days we have limitless choices to make.  Every day brings a new challenge or question to answer.  If we want to be our best we try to make each decision well.  We try to keep our feet on the road we want to travel and get closer to the person we want to become.  Sometimes people notice our good works but often they just get lost in the shuffle of everyday living.  If we make a good decision that requires us to sacrifice something we may feel others should acknowledge it.  Perhaps we feel we should receive some kind of praise because we chose well.  But we don’t make good choices for the acclaim they bring.  We make them because they are the best decisions we can make going forward.  We will find great satisfaction by choosing well and oftentimes prevent complications and problems doing so.  We don’t need the praise or adoration of others because we were wise.  Being wise will bring us enough reward.  We will be content in our lives by choosing the best roads possible and feel good knowing we are doing our best.  Although the praise of others feels good it is not required or needed.

Some decisions we face may have attractive options that won’t take us where we want to go.  It can be hard to turn away from a quick fix or a poor choice that will bring us benefits we desire.  But temporary solutions generally bring only momentary happiness and often result in endless complications.  If we’re tired or frustrated and want to move forward quickly we may opt for them, but in the end may find the harder more effective decision was wiser.  We don’t need immediate gratification to find happiness.  We can carefully plan for all possible outcomes and choose the very best option even if it takes more time and is more difficult.  We are what we do.  If we want to be the very best we can be we must make the very best choices.

Some people need a lot of attention.  They want praise every time they do something right, and recognition when they accomplish a difficult task.  Oftentimes that need for attention comes from a lack of confidence.  We can be confident by choosing well.  The need for approval and acknowledgement may influence us into making decisions that aren’t the best choice going forward.  If what we’re seeking isn’t long term success but immediate praise, we may choose options that are quick and flashy but have no lasting success.  We don’t need the agreement of others to choose well.  We can make the best choices even if we stand alone.  We are smart enough, capable enough and wise enough to find the best answers and we are strong enough to choose them.  There isn’t anything we can’t understand and master if we want to badly enough.  We don’t need adoration to choose well.  We can make the best choices and succeed because it’s what we want most to do.

Today if you’re facing a decision choose the path that takes you closer to the person you want to be.  There is greatness in you.  Show the world who you really are by choosing well.  You have so much to offer and we all need your influence.  Choose wisely and success will follow.

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Ruined

16 Aug

There may come a time in our lives when we realize we’ve made a horrible mistake. We’ve chosen something that took us far away from where we want to be and the decision has impacted us greatly. We may feel devastated, and shocked at what has happened and where we are. And if the disaster is great enough and far reaching enough we may even believe we’ve ruined our lives. We might think it’s over – we’ll never recover from what’s happened and we’ll never be right again. Moments like that come to most of us at some point. We don’t know everything, we aren’t perfect and we will make mistakes. If those mistakes are disastrous and put us in terrible situations we may feel destroyed. Ruined. But no matter what has happened, no matter how far we are from fixing it, or how much we are impacted by the situation, we are never ruined. Being ruined implies utter destruction – complete annihilation. We are never completely destroyed until we die. If we’re still alive we can find our way through anything no matter how bad it seems.

It can be hard to forgive ourselves when we’ve lost our way and done things that bring us hardship and heartache. Looking back on the situation we understand where we went wrong because we can see all the facts. We may feel foolish and frustrated that we made decisions that brought us failure, and think we should have known better or could have predicted the ending more effectively. But we would never have chosen to fail purposely and we can’t know everything at the beginning. Although we can’t change what has happened we can correct our course and move forward from where we are. It can be humiliating and certainly humbling to falter. We learn as we go and the lessons learned when things go wrong can teach us a lot about how to be successful going forward.

The influence of others around us can be great. If we value them or love them we may listen to their advice even when we aren’t sure it’s what’s best for us. If we follow their suggestions and falter we may blame them for our situation. But we are in control of our lives and responsible for everything we do, influence or not. If we follow along and find failure, we are accountable. Others may be responsible for their part in our demise but our decisions belong to us. Saying it’s someone else’s fault prevents us from owning our part and learning from the situation. We can stand firm and accept a bad decision no matter what it brings. And then we can focus forward to correct our course and find success. There isn’t anything we can’t do and nothing we can’t fix. We are strong and capable and we can modify going forward. We have everything we need to be successful and happy. No problem or detour can keep us from success.

Today if you’re in a terrible situation because of decisions you’ve made face the problem openly and honestly. See where you went wrong and correct your course. You are smart and capable of managing anything that comes to you. This is just a detour and you will find your way around it. You have everything you need and you know what to do. Keep your eyes focused ahead. You will find success and happiness. You will prevail.

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The Destination

15 Aug

Whatever we’re doing in our lives we are headed somewhere.  Our lives change every day in some way and even if we’re doing the same thing today we did yesterday, we are on the road to something new.  The destination may end up being a modified version of exactly where we are now if that’s what we want, or it could be someplace very different.  Every experience brings us information and teaches us something.  Our lives are ours to direct and we can use our experiences to point the way forward.  They say we always do what we want to do most and that’s generally true.  We can move toward a new goal or stay where we are.  We get to choose but one thing is sure, we will arrive at the destination we’re traveling toward.  If we’re on a road we don’t want to travel but do nothing to step away, we will go where it takes us.  Conversely, if we decide we want something different we can change our direction at any time.

Some people bemoan their lives and say they never got to do this or that and are unhappy with the way things turned out.  There are some circumstances that may prevent us from doing things we want to do at the moment, but nothing is permanent and everything changes.  When the tide turns, as it inevitably will, we can change our focus and move in the direction we want to go.  But everything takes effort.  There is no free lunch in life.  If we want something we can generally get it but we’ll have to do what it takes to achieve it.  If the cost is more than we want to cover, we can let the goal go.  We can make the decision not to pursue it.  Our lives belong to us and we can manage them any way we want to.  But if there’s something we want to achieve and  things don’t work out the first time we try, instead of complaining about the loss we can keep our eyes focused on the future and when the situation changes we can try again.  There is no limit to the number of times we can open new doors.  If we’re persistent and keep our eyes on the prize we will attain it.

Personal courage is needed when we want to make a change or seek a new goal.  We have to believe we are capable of achieving it and then be brave enough to move forward and do what it takes.  It’s easy to get stuck and complacent, and ignore dreams we want to achieve.  But each day is a chance to start again.  It doesn’t matter if we’ve let things go before, we can start any time we’re ready.  If we missed the chance the last time, we can grab it now.  There is no time limit for success.  It comes to us when we are ready to achieve it.  It’s always there waiting for us.  We can take control of our lives and begin the journey to the destination we want most.  We can move forward day by day and step by step and we can win.  We have everything we need to be successful.  We are strong and capable and we know what we want.

Today if you’ve been waiting to move forward toward a desired destination, take the first step.  You know where you want to go and what you want to do.  You have all the courage and strength you need to get there.  Start moving.  Success is waiting for you.  Go get it.

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Hit and Run

12 Aug

Suppose as we approach our car in a parking lot after doing some shopping we see someone has hit it while we were inside.  There is no note anywhere with information about who did it.  There is nothing but a smashed up car we now have to deal with.  We’ve become the victim of a hit and run.  Somebody hit the car and simply drove away.  Unless there is a witness who saw the event and is willing to come forward with information, we’re stuck with the damage and making the repairs.  It’s unethical to damage anyone’s property and not take responsibility for it, but some people don’t care about ethics, or what is right.  And so we have to deal with what’s happened.  It’s cowardly to hit anyone or anything and run away afterward.  And when it happens to us we may feel angry, and frustrated.  There is no way to make things right if the offender has disappeared and we are stuck repairing the situation on our own.

Ethics is an interesting subject.  We define what is right and it’s ethical to maintain the standards we set.  It’s unethical to impose pain and suffering on others and not be accountable for it.  But if we want to we can make all kinds of excuses for bad behavior.  The idea of “situational ethics” comes into play.  It’s a convenient excuse when we know what we did was wrong, but feel the situation warranted it and we shouldn’t be responsible for it.  For instance, we miss an important turn as we’re driving somewhere and need to turn around.  There is a no U turn sign but we look around, don’t see anyone and do it anyway.  The situation called for us to turn around and go back, and since nobody saw us, there’s no harm.  But the problem with embracing situational excuses is there will always be a reason to compromise our values, and if there isn’t we can make one up.  We are what we do and if we want to be ethical and honest we must choose what is right even if nobody is looking.

They say the best way to cook a frog is to put it in cold water and slowly heat it up.  That way the frog won’t resist as the water slowly warms until it’s cooked.  When we make decisions that take us away from what we believe is right and then make excuses for them, we are in the water as it begins to heat up.  The next time a decision comes and we want to step out of our standards a little it will be easier because we’ve already stepped away before.  If we keep taking steps further and further away from where we want to be our perceptions of right and wrong will change and our standards will follow.  And like the frog, we’ll be cooked before we know it.  We have to decide what kind of person we really want to be.  If we want to be firm in our convictions we can’t risk wavering.  We can’t hit and run and hope it won’t matter.  What we do always matters.  We can be strong in making choices that keep us on the road we want to travel and define who we most want to be.

Today if you feel tempted to turn away from your standards just a little to accomplish something, hold fast.  Choose well and be firm in what you know is right.  You will prevail and earn the respect of those around you.  You are worth more than you can imagine and your influence on the world is great.  Make it the best influence it can be.

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