Archive | September, 2016

Hand Over Hand

15 Sep

Climbing a rope is hard. No matter how much we weigh, pulling our entire bodies up inch by inch is strenuous and difficult. If we are very strong it’s easier but the first time we try we may be surprised at how much effort it takes to pull up even the smallest bit. Hand over hand we pull and each tug takes us up a little further. If the rope is long and we want to reach the top it requires constant strain and determination. It’s hard work but once we’ve completed the task, the reward will be great. When we’re trying to accomplish something difficult it can be like climbing a rope. We pull and reach and make a little progress but if it’s complicated every step forward may take serious effort. Big challenges take time but each step forward takes us a little closer to the goal. If we get tired we can rest, and the goal will wait for us. We are capable of focusing on where we want to go and there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we want to badly enough. We can pull and tug taking each step with determination and we can overcome any obstacle in our way.

There are countless opportunities in life. There is no end to what we can learn and experience if we choose to. We can change our lives any way we want to – learn a new language, travel the world, teach a class, go skydiving, become a chef, run a marathon, or anything else we can imagine. There is more to do and see and learn than we could ever accomplish. Every new activity will take us out of our norm. We may be uncomfortable at the beginning as we learn the new skills and the change in environment may be foreign to us. But we are extremely flexible and there isn’t anything we can’t adapt to if our motivation is sufficient. If we want to do something new all it takes is the decision to do it and the determination to master it.

If we like we can have predictable and comfortable lives and never think about changing or attempting to climb any ropes. We know where we are, we know what to expect, and there is comfort in routine. But routine will only give us the growth we can find in doing the same things. Of course, we can become experts where we are and that is a noble goal, but new experiences will open the doors to growth and understanding. If we are timid, we can try new things that are similar to what is familiar. If we are more adventurous we can go far out of our reach and do something entirely different. Our personal experiences are up to us but the further we reach the more we’ll learn and the more confident we will become. We are capable of conquering new goals and stretching our abilities. We are often stronger and more flexible than we think and we may find we are far more courageous than we may have imagined.

Today if you’ve been pulling and tugging to get further down the road and you’re feeling the strain, keep moving forward. If you’ve been comfortable and want to stretch, reach out and grab hold of something new. You have everything you need to succeed and are stronger and more capable than you imagine. Press forward. There isn’t anything you can’t do and you’ll reach any goal you set your sights on.

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Our Gift

14 Sep

“The past is your lesson.  The present is your gift.  The future is your motivation.”  Unknown

While we’re navigating our lives and doing everything we need to accomplish we often think about our futures.  Where are we going?  What do we want to do?  How will get there?  There are questions to explore, ideas to formulate, and plans to make.  If we’re highly ambitious we may spend a lot of time planning for what lies ahead.  There is nothing wrong with making plans for the future and everyone has dreams they hope to accomplish.  But the real gift in our lives is our present.  What’s happening right now is the most important thing in our lives.  The past is behind us and we can take all the lessons we’ve learned from our previous experiences forward with us but we can’t go back.  The future lies ahead and although we may try to plan for it, nobody really knows what it will bring.  Today is the most important day of our lives.  What we’re doing right now is the only thing we have any control over.  What we’re doing, how we’re living, and what we’re learning today is the gift that helps us move forward.  We may forget how important today is if we’re heavily invested in plans for tomorrow, or grieving over something that has passed.  But today, right now, is the most precious gift we have.  If we pay attention and apply ourselves to this moment we will gain as much as possible from our experience.  Without today there would be no tomorrow.  We can honor our lives today and grab hold of everything it has to offer.

When we’re busy and have a lot to get done our time flies by.  The hours seem like minutes and before we know it the day is gone.  If we’ve rushed through it we may have missed some of the blessings available to us as we hurry to the next item on the list.  We may not even see those who pass us or hear others say hello.  Having a singular focus is helpful when there is a lot to get done.  But if we look up and pay attention as our lives rush by we will have a richer experience and deepen our connections to those around us.  It doesn’t take long to acknowledge someone and say hello, or offer a smile as we walk by.  If we take our eyes off ourselves for a moment and interact with others our days will be augmented and enhanced.  This day will be gone quickly and there is nothing we can do to get it back.  Seeing it as a gift and opening ourselves up to receiving all its blessings will bring us happiness and contentment.

They say when we’re dying we don’t regret the things we did, but the things we didn’t do.  If we knew today was our last day on earth, how would we change things?  Who would we see, and what would we do?  This may not be our last day here but if we lived our lives as though it were, how different would it look?  Would we take more time for those we love?  Would we pay more attention to those around us?  Would we offer more care and compassion?  We can change anything about how we’re living our lives at any time.  We can make each day a priority.  This life is precious.  Living each day to the fullest will bring us the most satisfaction.

Today if you’ve been rushing around to get things done, remember what a gift today is.  It’s just for you.  This is the best day of your life because it’s the only day you have.  Live everything to the fullest today.  This is your most precious gift.

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Restore Session

13 Sep

If we work with computers, and most of us do, there may be times when the system goes awry and there are glitches. Sometimes as those problems are worked out we may get a prompt asking if we want to restore the session. If we click on it the system will go back to its configuration before the issue started and we can continue on as though nothing happened. It’s great to be able to return to exactly where we were before the hiccup and go from there. When we have problems in our lives it seems it would be wonderful if we too had a “restore session” button we could push. If we did, all the things that went wrong could be forgotten and we could simply return to where we were before it all started. We wouldn’t have sorrows or scars to heal from and we could continue on without a second thought. Of course, that isn’t possible and whatever we experience we carry forward with us. If we got tangled up and entwined in a situation we have to change, we have to find our way out. And all the feelings and emotions we’ve experienced will color our pathway forward. There is no way to escape any experiences we have in life. They become part of us and even if we try to forget, there will always be something that has changed because of them.

After a bad experience we may desperately want to forget what’s happened. We may try to push every thought that reminds us out of our heads, and press forward with dogged determination. We might be successful in forgetting most of it but we will never be able to return to exactly how we were before things went wrong. We change with everything we encounter. Sometimes the changes are far reaching and affect us greatly going forward, and sometimes they are subtler. Everything impacts us in some way. How we manage that will often determine how happy we are. We can change anything but the past. It is there forever. If it’s a bad memory, we will carry it forward but we can find ways to navigate it successfully.

We can learn something of value from most of our experiences. There is generally at least one lesson we can take with us that will help us in the future. We might understand ourselves a little more deeply because of what’s happened. Or we might understand relationships better, or how to give and take more effectively, or we may see where we need to improve to find greater success. Every experience brings lessons to learn. Some of them will apply to us and if we are wise we will take the opportunity to evaluate them and learn from them. Learning from our past can help us prevent repeating old mistakes again and again, and bring us greater success and more happiness going forward. We can learn all we can when things go wrong and if we do we’ll find increased understanding in the future.

Today if you’re going through a difficult situation and wish it would just disappear, you have everything you need to prevail. There is value in struggle and you are learning new ways to cope. Learn all you can from this experience and take the lessons with you going forward. You will get closer to the person you most want to be and happiness will follow.

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Motivation

12 Sep

There are limitless things we can accomplish in our lives.  We can do anything we really want to do and there isn’t anything keeping us from fulfilling our dreams.  Our lives belong to us and we can design them any way we like.  If we are sufficiently motivated we can move forward and achieve anything.  Motivation is a powerful force.  It can help us overcome obstacles in our way, and keep us on the road when we get tired of the journey.  But motivation is just the first step in any change.  On its own it can’t do anything.  Being motivated doesn’t make change happen.  It only gives us the impetus we need to begin and motivation alone will change nothing.  It’s the spark that can start the fire but fire requires work, planning and fuel to continue.  All the motivation in the world will mean nothing if we don’t actually do the things we need to accomplish the goal.  Lots of people talk about being successful, opening businesses, writing books, and all the rest and they may be very motivated to succeed.  But without action, motivation will get us nowhere.  It’s just the first step.  We have to put work behind it to get where we want to go.

We may hear others tell us we only need to believe and we can accomplish anything.  Although having faith we can succeed is important and necessary in every endeavor, it isn’t enough.  We can believe we can climb Mount Everest all day long, and truly be convinced we can do it, but without doing all the training required to accomplish it we will get nowhere.  Faith can move mountains but only if we do everything in our power to make it happen.  There really isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we are motivated enough to do whatever is required to make it reality.  The catch is to be willing to do whatever is required.  Faith and motivation are just the beginning and can open the door to all our dreams.  If we want to walk through those doors we have to put action into the plan.

There is a whole industry of motivational training.  There are endless seminars, countless books, many professional trainers and a sea of courses we can take to get motivated.  If we are seeking change in our lives they may help us begin the journey to make the change a reality.  But before we do anything we must decide what we really want.  If we aren’t sure we want to make the change, or it looks too daunting, all the motivation in the world won’t help us achieve it.  Once we decide what we really want we must begin doing what is needed to make it happen.  There isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we are motivated enough to do what is required to make it a reality.  The world belongs to us and we can make our lives any way we want them.  We can be motivated, and then be diligent in using that motivation to accomplish everything needed to succeed.

Today if you’re motivated to make a change, use that energy to plan your way forward.  Decide how to make your dreams reality and begin the journey.  There isn’t anything you can’t do.  You know what you want.  Plan ahead and work hard and everything you dream can be yours.

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Getting the Cheese

8 Sep

There is a saying that the second mouse always gets the cheese. The idea being the first mouse goes to the trap and is destroyed allowing the second mouse to swoop in and grab the spoils once the danger has passed. Although we fortunately don’t have to deal with mousetraps in our lives there may be times when we let someone else go in front of us if there is a complicated or unsettling matter that needs attention. Sometimes it’s because we aren’t sure about the situation and letting someone else go first gives us more information. And sometimes we may be concerned there is trouble ahead and we’d rather let the first guy face it. Letting someone else pave the way can seem like a good idea when we’re unsure or intimidated by a situation. But that doesn’t always work out for us in the end. Yes, we might get the “cheese” if there are problems ahead, but we may lose important opportunities by stepping aside and letting someone else get there ahead of us. There really isn’t any situation or complication we can’t manage. We are brave enough to step up and go first even when things are difficult. We have leadership skills we can call on and all the courage we need. We can choose to be the one to mark the path and forge the way ahead.

Personal confidence is something we can always work on. Being confident in our abilities gives us an edge and helps us achieve and find answers even under difficult circumstances. There will be times of uncertainty and sometimes fear of what lies ahead. We can’t read the future and there is no way to know for certain if we will prevail. But if we study the situation out carefully before we move forward, and confidently proceed, no matter what happens we will find our way. Sometimes things will go well and other times there may be problems. But if we face the situation calmly and confidently we will find whatever answers are needed to move forward.

Getting the cheese isn’t always the most important part of the scenario. We can learn a lot about problems and how to solve them as we face complicated situations. The growth we gain from facing adversity and hardship teaches us how to understand the world and live successfully. Nobody wants to lose at anything but we never lose in any situation if we gain knowledge and understanding – even if we don’t prevail. If we do win and get the cheese it’s an added bonus. If we miss out this time we can take all the information we’ve gained going forward and use it to make our mark the next time around. There really isn’t any problem so complex or difficult we can’t figure out. We have all the tools we need to succeed. Taking advantage of everything we learn in the process helps us every time.

Today if you’re worried about a situation and aren’t sure about it take the time you need to see it objectively. Think about what you want to gain and move forward with confidence. You have all the tools you need to succeed. Everything you want is within reach. You are brave enough and smart enough to do anything. Step up and take charge.

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