Archive | March, 2017

On the Lookout

17 Mar

“Never to suffer is never to have been blessed.”   Edgar Allan Poe

We all have ups and downs in our lives.  Some days are wonderful, some days are merely okay, and some days try us with difficulty and trouble.  When we’re struggling with complications and problems and our lives are twisted up in confusion we may feel overcome with stress and anxiety as we try to find a way through.  When terrible times come upon us we may feel beset, completely surrounded by trouble, and uncertain we can manage.  But no matter what we’re going through there is always something beneficial for us.   No matter how hard the trial, or how difficult the problem, as we navigate it there will be something positive waiting for us.  We may not see it at first but if we are on the lookout for the one good thing, the one piece that works, or the one bit of information that is helpful, we will find it.  It’s always there and is the blessing to help us through.  It may not be evident at first, and it may not be easy to see but it is there and will lift us and help us through.  We find our true courage when we face difficult trials.  We learn how to solve problems by solving problems.  No life is without difficulty but with each challenge comes a blessing.  Looking for it, finding it and embracing it, will give us added fortitude and power.  There isn’t anything we can’t do and nothing we can’t solve.  Every trial we face makes us stronger and more powerful.  We are invincible and unwavering in courage.

When we are children and things go wrong we may lose our temper, cry, scream or run from the situation.  As we grow and face disappointments along the way we have the opportunity to gain tools that will help us mature and process problems effectively.  If we choose not to face our problems and instead try to hide or push them off onto someone else, or make excuses instead of addressing them, the opportunity for growth is lost.  We can embrace every difficulty that comes to us, take it apart piece by piece and with each step forward find resolution. As we solve each problem our understanding of how life works will deepen and we’ll become stronger and more capable.

Learning to face life bravely takes experience.  If we never have problems we cannot understand how to manage them or overcome them.  Every experience – good and bad – teaches us something and everything we learn works for our benefit.  Even in our darkest hours when we aren’t sure we will survive there is a blessing that will help us.  We can keep our eyes open and actively look for the good in every situation.  When we do, our experience will be embellished and we will have added courage and confidence that we will prevail.  There isn’t anything we can’t do and do well.

Today if you’re facing a big problem and you feel beset and overwhelmed, look for the one thing that is going right.  It’s there for you.  Embrace it and let it lift you and help you along.  You can solve anything and you are strong enough and brave enough to prevail.  Success is always there for you.  You will find the answers and you will win.

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Brand New

16 Mar

There comes a time in life when we may want to do something new. If we’ve been on the same road for a long time perhaps we are bored or no longer feel challenged. Maybe we feel we’ve done all we can in our current endeavor and want something more. Taking on a new challenge may bring us great refreshment and great change. We can set out on a new road at any time and go forward with confidence. We all have dreams but life can take over if we aren’t careful. We may find ourselves on a road we never really intended to travel because of chance or circumstance. Perhaps a job we took twenty years ago, because it was all we could find, may have turned into a career we never really wanted. There are all kinds of things that happen that create scenarios we may fall into that become habit or patterns in our lives we really didn’t choose. If we aren’t where we want to be we can change our plans, redirect our course and redesign our lives. It’s never too late to change. We only need to decide we are ready and begin. The world belongs to us. We can do anything we want to do and go anywhere we want to go. We are not shackled by restraints so powerful they cannot be changed. Our lives belong to us and when we’re ready, we can try something new.

Routines are great when we want predictability in our lives. We know what to do, we know when to do it and we know where to go. There is nothing wrong with having a life that is settled and familiar so long as it’s the life we really want. But if we yearn for something more, something different or something new, we can turn as we move forward and step away from the norm. There are millions of things to do and learn in life and we can try as many as we like. Everything is available to us and if we want something new, we can get it.

Some people live their lives wide open, trying different things all the time and pushing themselves to learn new ideas every day. If we want lives like that we may certainly have them but we don’t have to change everything to have a new experience. We can take one step away from our normal behavior and try one idea at a time. We can reach for something new and see how it fits and then reach for something else. There really isn’t anything we can’t do and we may embellish our lives any way we choose. Each day is a blessing and there is so much to see and learn. We can stretch a little further and try something new, and see the world a little differently. Our lives can be as full and rich as we want them. We need only decide we are ready to try.

Today if you’ve been doing the same things and feel ready for something new, open the door a little wider and see the opportunities waiting there for you. There is more you can experience and every experience will enrich your life. Do everything you dream of and stretch beyond your comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at what you find and your life will be fuller and augmented by each experience. The world is yours. It’s all there and it’s waiting for you.

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Hard Times

15 Mar

“It’s supposed to be hard! If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great!”  Jimmy Dugan, A League of Their Own

We all want our lives to be easy and uncomplicated but hard times come to us all and when they do we may find ourselves in very difficult and complex situations.  If we want to move through them and put them behind us we must face them head on, deal with the circumstances before us, and do what it needed to find a resolution.  Only then can we step forward and leave the problem in the past.  If the issue we’re facing is far reaching and very difficult we may feel overwhelmed at the enormity of the problem.  We can handle anything that comes to us and we can solve any problem.  The harder the challenge is, the more we’ll learn.  As we flex our power and test our abilities we will become stronger and the strength we gain will make us great.  The old saying of “no pain no gain” is true when it comes to the trials of life.  We have everything we need to face any challenge before us.  And as we overcome each issue we gain tools and positive attributes to carry forward.  Every experience teaches us something of value.  Remembering all the good we’re gaining as we struggle will give us added confidence and courage.  There isn’t anything we can’t do.  We are stronger and more capable than we realize and we can face hard times and walk right through them.

Nobody is born perfectly brave and wise.  We must gain courage and wisdom as we live our lives.  Every decision we make brings us information and teaches us something new.  Every challenge we overcome gives us additional power and courage to go forward.  If everything came easily we would never have the opportunity to grow.  We cannot be successful adults if we have only the courage and strength of a child.  It’s important to grow and learn into adulthood and trouble is the best teacher.  Hard times mold us and give us experience that help us become successful and ultimately bring happiness.

Some people keep themselves apart from others and new experiences in an effort to shield themselves from problems.  We can try to keep a low profile and that may prevent some conflict from coming our way but problems will happen simply because we are here.  Instead of trying to hide from them it’s far wiser to face them and learn all we can from solving them.  The wisdom of age comes from the experiences of living a full life – trouble and all.  We have all the courage we need to face anything that comes to us and we’ll gain the strength we need going forward as we learn to solve hard times and difficult problems.  We are smart enough and wise enough to face anything and do it well.

Today if you’re facing a difficult issue and you aren’t sure you will manage, trust in your strength and ability.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and nothing you can’t face.  You are more capable then you know and you will prevail.  Be courageous.  You will win.

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Common Ground

14 Mar

There are a lot of different kinds of people in the world. Many different belief systems, thousands of distinct traditions and rules, and countless variations of expression. We’re all unique and show our uniqueness in limitless ways. Despite our differences, we all share common wants and needs such as the need for care and love, physical safety, and a desire for connection to those around us. We may struggle trying to understand someone who is different than we are and have trouble relating to their views and behaviors, but no matter how many ways we differ we all have some things we share. As human beings inhabiting the same planet at the same time, there will be things we can relate to no matter how different we are. It requires respect for each other to look beyond our differences and find basic understanding. We may not agree on politics or religion, or what needs to happen or where we need to go, but we can agree to respect one another and honor our personal choices. We’re all important and each of us contributes to the world we live in. Nobody doesn’t count. We are capable of understanding things that are different than we are and we can learn from those differences to embellish and enhance our experiences going forward.

Conflict is sometimes the result of differing opinions. When we feel strongly about something it can be hard to understand and accept another point of view. We may not comprehend the opposing opinion but each is valuable even when they are far from what we believe. We can respectfully honor different ideas and see new perspectives by opening our minds to unique possibilities. Differences open our imagination and may help us understand life more effectively. We are capable of learning and understanding many things. We are all important and valuable and each of us enriches life in our own specific and unique way.

There isn’t only one way to do or see anything. There isn’t only one answer to any problem or situation. Variation and diversity are a part of natural life. Look at the trees on the earth. There are an estimated 100,000 varieties of trees in the world and each is unique and perfect for where it is and what it does. Although each is different they are all trees. We all have something exclusive to offer that no one else can give but no matter how different we are there will always be something we share. There is common ground we can relate to that will help us honor our differences. We are all valuable and worthwhile. We all have something to say and each opinion matters.

Today if you’ve been holding tightly to one point of view, allow others to share their perspectives with you. We all share common ground. Find it and embrace differences as you learn from those around you. The world is filled with diversity and every expression brings something unique. Everyone is important and you will grow as you understand many viewpoints and ideas. You are capable of greatness. Embracing differences and finding common ground will help you achieve it

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Spin Spin

13 Mar

When our car gets stuck in the mud and the wheels have sunk deep into the mire it can be hard to get it out again.  No matter how many times we gun the engine and try to gain traction we may go nowhere.  The car does its part by engaging the engine and turning the wheels but without anything to grab onto the energy is wasted.  The only way out is to provide traction for the wheels so the spinning can stop and movement forward can begin.  Our lives can be like that sometimes.  We may want to go somewhere but can’t seem to move ahead.  We may get stuck, spinning our wheels in the same place without anything to propel us forward.  Often when that happens we aren’t generally just standing still.  We may be expending a lot of energy and working very hard but what we’re doing isn’t working.  If we don’t change our methods we may end up exhausted, frustrated and confused about what’s wrong.  We can adopt any plan we choose and see how it goes.  But it’s important to pay attention and if we aren’t moving forward we can modify our plans to find success.  Working harder doesn’t always fix the problem.  If we’re in the mud, spinning our wheels faster won’t do anything to push us ahead.  If what we’re doing isn’t working we can modify our way forward and find success.  We have everything we need to accomplish anything we choose.  We can turn when the road stops and find another way forward and we can be successful.

Some people think there is only way to do things.  They may have defined rules about what they should and should not do and what is appropriate for them.  But there is no one right way to do anything.  If we want to do something that requires us to reach beyond what we know or what is comfortable we can stretch and learn new patterns.  We are smart enough and brave enough to step onto unknown territory in order to get to a goal we want to achieve.  There are always many ways to find success no matter what we’re seeking.  Being open to new ideas will help us find what we’re looking for and take us to the destination we desire.

It may be uncomfortable to change our personal patterns and reach beyond the familiar.  Even if we know we’re stuck we may find it difficult to consider new ideas we haven’t tried.  Keeping an open mind and focusing on the big picture instead of the minor changes we need to make will help us adjust our plans and push us forward to where we want to go.  We all get stuck in the mud sometimes.  We can find the traction we need to move forward if we evaluate the situation objectively and openly.  There isn’t anything we can’t do and nothing we can’t overcome.  We can make all our dreams come true and there is nothing powerful enough to stop us.

Today if you feel like you’re spinning your wheels and going nowhere, stop and look at the situation openly.  See what you can change and modify your plans.  There is no situation too complex for you to figure out.  You can go anywhere and do anything you choose.  Do what is needed to move forward.  Success is there for you and you’ll reach it.

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