Archive | July, 2017

What Matters

20 Jul

Our lives are often busy as we go from one thing to another, racing forward to accomplish something on time or get to our next appointment. We may have lists we check off as we finish one task and then quickly move onto the next. If we aren’t careful our days, months, perhaps years will fly by with little notice except for the lists we carry around to check off as we continue forward. We can become overloaded with tasks and forget about taking time for ourselves but we are the most important person in our lives. How we manage our needs, our time, our preferences and our desires is critically important if we want to be happy. There will always be many things that need our attention. We can address them one after the other but taking the time to notice what is most important for us personally at every moment will bring us peace and joy as we continue on. Taking five minutes to watch the sun rise before getting ready in the morning, enjoying a laugh with friends before we rush to the next appointment, or taking a short walk outside in the breeze in the middle of the day will refresh us and remind us how special and sacred our time is and how important we are. Life flashes by in an instant and every moment we’re here is a gift. We can savor the grace and pleasure of our lives and still accomplish all the things we want to do. We are precious and priceless. Honoring ourselves and taking time to hold onto what really matters will deepen our spirits and make our lives richer and more enjoyable.

Life is not a race although at times it may feel like one. We may be in situations where time is critical and we must hurry in order to accomplish something. But if we live all our days rushing and trying to go faster to get things done we may finish many things but lose ourselves in the end. There is no way to recapture time that has passed. We can plan to accomplish many things while still taking time to enjoy our lives through each moment.

It’s impossible to live in the moment when we’re thinking about what’s happening next. If our minds have already moved onto what’s coming we can’t possibly think about where we are. And if we aren’t aware of the moment we’re in we’ll miss everything happening right now. We can’t live in the past or the future. All we have is right now. This moment we’re in is exactly where we should be and deserves our complete attention. There is a lot to learn as we move along and much to see and enjoy. Keeping our eyes trained on where we are instead of where we’re headed will help us find greater joy and happiness as we move forward.

Today if you’ve been pressing ahead and concentrating on all the places you have to go, take a moment to enjoy where you are right now. You are standing in the perfect place for your life at this moment. See it, listen to it, enjoy it and embrace it. Live where you are and focus on what matters now. This is exactly where you need to be. You are precious and priceless and have so much to offer. The world is blessed because you’re here.

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What it Means

19 Jul

There are all kinds of ways to define success in life.  We all have ideas about what success means and how we manifest it in our lives.  Some believe it’s defined by money or position, or by those we know or over whom we have influence.  The outward appearances of success may involve many things but real success has little to do with what others see and more to do with how we feel.  Our personal success is intimately tied to who we really want to be and what we personally want to achieve.  Ultimately it must be defined by us and how we choose to live our lives.  No matter how we define it if we achieve what we determine is best for us we will find happiness.  The world has all kinds of ideas about how we should live and what success looks like but if want to be truly happy we must define it for ourselves.  We are always in control of our personal decisions and we may direct our lives any way we choose.  If we are true to the things we desire most and do what is needed to achieve them we will find great success.  Our personal successes will bring us great confidence and clarity as we move forward and help us define the paths we want to travel.  We know what we want most in our lives and who we want to be.  Every choice we make will either take us closer to those goals or move us in another direction.  As we move forward toward our personal success we will find great satisfaction in our journey and fulfillment going forward.

Outward success is essentially arbitrary and may be expressed in countless ways.  If we are convinced it’s merely a reflection of our monetary worth we may strive to acquire money in order to feel successful.  If we determine it’s how we are ethically and morally we may pattern our lives after the values we hold dear.  What it means is entirely up to us and has little to do with how others define it.  There may be pressure to conform to the definitions of success as determined by our social group, family or others and we may certainly follow any direction we choose.  In the end if we choose what is most important to us, despite the ideas of others, we will find happiness.

We must live with ourselves and our decisions every day.  If we choose to go along with others for the sake of convenience or conformity we may get the goals we want most or we may not.  When others are driving the train and we’re merely passengers we have no control over where we’re headed.  However, if we proactively direct our lives and make choices with our personal goals in mind we will reach the destinations we want most.  We deserve every happiness and reaching for our personal successes will bring it to us.

Today if you’ve been following someone else’s idea of what you need to do to be successful, decide what you want most.  Determine where you want to go and who you want to be.  You will reach every destination you desire and find great personal success.  There isn’t anything you can’t do.  Go forward with confidence.  It’s all there for you.

 

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Calm Waters

18 Jul

The weather can be unpredictable. When it’s calm and sunny we enjoy being outside, but things inevitably change and we will face times when storms rage and we need shelter. When the winds are blowing, or there is driving and unrelenting rain or snow, and it’s unsafe to be outside we will find refuge. There is great comfort being inside a sturdy structure that is tight and secure when the tempest is raging outside. We can relax knowing we are safe and no matter what happens we will be protected. In our lives, we may face tumultuous and difficult situations that rattle our security and make us tremulous. We may be in situations where although there is no physical danger, there is great emotional distress and we worry how we’ll get through. Life is complicated and there may be times when things happen that bring great disharmony into our lives. In the static and friction of the situation we may feel great anxiety and stress. But we have everything we need inside us to create a safe haven as we navigate through. No matter what is going on in the world or in our personal sphere, we can choose to have peace inside ourselves. There isn’t a problem that is too difficult for us to solve or a situation too intense for us to overcome. If we trust in ourselves and our ability to face whatever comes we will have the internal peace we need to find our way through. We can keep the waters inside still and calm even if there are storms raging around us. We are in control of ourselves and can manage anything carefully and effectively.

Some people are quick to anger. If things don’t go as planned or someone disagrees they become agitated and upset and may scream or rant to show their displeasure. It’s normal to vent when we feel upset but losing our temper and self-control will never get us what we want. We all face disappointments and nobody gets to have everything their way all the time. If our plans don’t work out we can find another way through. There is never only one way to do anything and our ability to be flexible and understanding when things go awry will help us find a solution and get to the destinations we seek.

Nobody wants things to go wrong. When we ‘re ready to move forward we never want an unexpected development to enter the picture and ruin our plans. But life is unpredictable and sometimes things happen and complications arise. Unexpected changes are just a time to revise our map going forward. We can be calm and find the way ahead and no matter what happens we will succeed. There isn’t anything we can’t do and with determination and calm we will accomplish every goal we desire.

Today if things are going wrong and it feels like there’s a tempest raging outside and you’re confused about what to do next, calm the waters inside and take the time you need to think. You know what needs to be done and you have everything you need to succeed. Have faith in yourself and trust in the way forward. Nothing is too far for you to reach. Every success is available to you and you will win.

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The Last Step

14 Jul

We make millions of decisions as we go through our lives.  Some of them are obvious and we know the answer right away and others are more obscure and require some thought.  There are limitless choices going forward no matter where we are.  If we don’t know where we want to go, any road will do but if we have a destination in mind we will need to carefully consider our choices.  Since we can’t read the future and can’t always see the end of the road, the best we can do is review all the information we have and make the best choice possible.  There is an undeniable truth in life that when we choose the first step on a path we also choose the last.  If we don’t know where the path is going we may end up somewhere we don’t want to be.  It’s important to weigh our choices carefully, especially when the results of those choices may have lasting consequences.  If we jump and decide on something out of convenience or speed we may make decisions that take us to destinations we don’t desire or that bring us trouble and complication.  Every road has an end.  We can carefully consider all the choices before us and get all the information we need to make sure that end is what we desire.  If we are careless and haphazard in our decisions they may be filled with confusion and disarray.  It takes valuable time to clean up after a bad choice and until we correct our course we can’t continue forward.  We can evaluate our decisions before we make them and find the best way ahead.  We deserve every happiness and success.  We can ensure our success by choosing carefully and making decisions that take us exactly where we want to go.

Speed is important when we’re in a race.  If we want to win a timed competition we need to be as quick as possible.  But speed isn’t always an asset when making choices about our lives.  Although there may be times when we must make decisions quickly, often there is no timetable involved.  We don’t need to rush and we can take the time needed to see all the options before us and understand where they will take us.  Once we are clear on the best way forward we can begin and if complications arise we can manage them and continue.

Sometimes there are many good options for a decision and it doesn’t matter which we choose.  If that’s the case we may choose any path we like and simply begin.  There will always be adjustments and modifications along the way and if we’ve chosen well those alterations will be manageable.  If we make the best decisions starting out our path will be easier and we’ll be more effective in reaching the goal.  Our lives are ours and we can be as successful as we choose to be.  Taking time to choose well before we begin our journey will enable us to successfully reach any destination.

Today if you’ve got a big decision to make and aren’t sure which way to go, evaluate all the options before you and weigh them carefully.  You will find the best road to travel to end up where you want to be.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and every success you seek is possible.  Move forward with confidence.  You have everything you need to succeed.

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What We See

13 Jul

“Two men looked out from prison bars. One saw the mud, the other saw stars.” Dale Carnegie

They say perception is reality. We all see things through our own paradigms and they are colored by our perception and how we think. Some people are natural optimists and even in dark times find something that makes them happy. Others see trouble in every aspect of their lives and struggle to feel joy. Two people facing the exact same issue may see it completely differently. We have the power to change our perspective and choose to find joy no matter what we’re facing. There will always be something to be happy about no matter how dire the circumstances. If we determine to find the one good thing while we struggle we will feel calmer and more confident as we go forward. Life is a great blessing. It isn’t always easy, it isn’t always fun and it isn’t always what we want to do. But no matter what it is, we have everything we need to not only survive but thrive as we progress. We can look down and see only mud, or we can turn our eyes upward and see the stars. It’s all there for us. We need only choose how we’ll see it.

We take a lot for granted as we go through our days. We grow accustomed to our comfortable homes, our cars, our clothes, our food, our jobs if we have them, and all the rest. We expect them to be there from day to day and rarely think about losing them. But sometimes life throws a wrench into the works and something fails. We get sick, or our cars die, or our jobs are threatened and suddenly we remember how many blessings we have and how much we want them. It’s easy to become complacent until the bottom falls out and we must face the possibility of losing something we love. We can choose to be thankful for everything we have. When we recognize our personal blessings, and appreciate all the gifts we possess, we’ll find more humility and grace and get closer to the person we most want to be.

Some people are never happy. They may complain because they don’t have a job and then get one and complain because it’s hard to go to work every day. There are lots of reasons why people are unhappy and we can justify every emotion we feel but happiness is a choice we make. It’s something only we can give ourselves. It really doesn’t matter what is going on outside us. If we choose to, we can find happiness in any situation. There will always be something for which to be grateful. If we seek out those precious, sometimes small gifts, our lives will be enhanced and we will feel deeper joy. Life is an incredible gift but how we live it is up to us.

Today if you’ve been feeling bad and find yourself looking down at the mud instead of up at the stars, change your focus. You have so many things to be grateful for. Find joy in the small moments and see every gift you possess. Your life is precious and priceless. Be happy and find joy. It’s right there for you. Reach for it and embrace it.

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