Archive | July, 2017

Worth the Time

12 Jul

There are ups and downs in everyone’s life.  There are unexpected developments we can’t prevent and sometimes others do things that complicate our situation or cause us distress.  When someone hurts us or causes us problems we may be angry and decide to give the same behavior right back to them.  After all, they negatively impacted our lives and we might think it’s only fair we return the favor.  We can do anything and there are limitless ways we can get back at others for things they’ve done.  But is it worth our time?  Each day is a blessing and we don’t have unlimited time to live our lives.  If we use the time we have doing things out of spite or revenge we miss the chance to do something of value.  Each minute will pass no matter what we choose.  We can use them to build up our lives and love those around us, or we can get down in the dirt and get even.  When we get to the end of our lives and review our most precious moments it’s doubtful we’ll treasure the times we wasted on retribution.  Our time is the most valuable asset we possess.  If we use it to continually move forward, care for ourselves and deepen our love for those around us we will find great joy in our experiences.  We cannot control the choices of others but we can control how we respond to them.  We can choose to value ourselves and our time as precious and refuse to give it up for things that are meaningless.  We are priceless and unique and deserve every happiness.  Making the best choices with our time will help us find the joy and peace we seek and bring us every success we desire.

Some people see life as a big scorecard.  If something good happens to them they get points in the positive column and if something goes wrong the points go into the negative.  Scorecards are great for sports and games but not so effective in our lives.  We cannot control what each day will bring and there may be times when we face challenges that bring us down.  But everything always changes and no matter what is happening or who is involved it’s not permanent.  Problems and hard times aren’t always negative experiences.  There is always something to be learned and gained as we navigate them and sometimes the hardest moments of all teach us everything we need to go forward successfully.

It hurts when we’re treated badly and it isn’t fair when others are inconsiderate, rude or mean to us.  If we remember the responsibility and accountability for bad behavior belongs to those who exhibit it and not those who receive it we will have a better understanding of the best way forward.  We can always choose to do what’s right no matter what those around us are doing.  Our lives are ours to design and we can make decisions that will bring us every blessing.

Today if you’ve been treated badly and are pondering revenge, remember how precious your time is.  You have so much good to offer and are a blessing to the world.  Choose the path that takes you where you want to go to become the person you most want to be.  You deserve every happiness and success.  Your excellent choices will bring them to you.

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Moving On

11 Jul

There are all kinds of people in the world. Some embellish our lives and bring us fun and happiness. Others may bring complication and drama. There are limitless experiences and we might face times when we get hurt because of our association with someone. The human race is a mixed bag and from day to day we never know what we’re going to see. When we have painful experiences with others and are hurt deeply we may want to get as far from them as possible, and sometimes we can do that. But if we must continue to interact with them because of professional alliances or personal connections we can’t break such as family relationships, it may be hard when they are near us. If the pain is raw it may be difficult to breathe when they appear and very hard to navigate the situation. Even if we’ve been successful in staying away from them for a time, if they unexpectedly re-enter our circle it may be hard to get through. The memory of the pain from our previous experience may come flooding back and we may feel we’re suffering through it all again. Even if it feels we’re right back where we were it’s only an illusion triggered by memory. We can take a breath and remember how far we’ve come. We need not re-live anything that is painful and if old feelings wash over us we can see them objectively and let them go. Old wounds always heal if we let them and memories only have the power we give them. We have so much to offer and can keep moving forward no matter what has passed. Each day brings a new promise and we can create happy and successful lives going forward.

Deception is a destructive tool. It can be used to create convincing mirages that mislead us. If others use deception to pull us in we may find ourselves walking foreign territory, unsure of what is real and where to go. Often there is much confusion and misdirection but we may miss the cues if we value those leading us along. When the deception is revealed, as it inevitably will be, we may feel lost or shame that we fell for the lie. But there is no fault when we have faith and believe in others. The blame and responsibility belong to those who deceive and not those who are taken in.

Honesty is an all or nothing position. We’re either honest or we aren’t. There is no sliding scale or gray area. When we are honest in all our dealings our lives are easier to manage and clearly understood by those around us. If we manipulate the truth to suit our needs, or pretend to be something we aren’t, in time our deception will be uncovered. Hurting others through deception will never bring us lasting happiness. It’s far better to live cleanly and openly, even when the truth is difficult. Using dishonest plans, following those who deceive or reshaping what is real to fit our personal desires will only bring us hardship. We can live noble and honest lives and choose what is best at every turn and when we do we’ll find lasting happiness.

Today if you must face a situation that carries with it bad memories from the past, remember who you are and how far you’ve come. You are strong and resilient and capable of living an excellent and successful life. The past is behind you and has no power over your future. Go forward with confidence. There isn’t anything you can’t do.

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Setting it Back

10 Jul

As we direct our lives forward sometimes we suffer setbacks that move us backward or hold us in place.  They may involve others who have a different idea of what we should be doing or unforeseen circumstances or developments that stop us in our tracks.  Setbacks are never in our plans and when they happen all we may see is the time we’re losing as we try to correct our course.  It’s irritating when something stands in our way going forward but setbacks are not just complications.  They are also opportunities to stop and review the plans we’ve made and look at options going forward.  Every problem brings with it an opportunity to learn.  If we maximize those opportunities and learn as much as possible we will find the way forward and carry with us all the information we gain.  No matter how much we know about anything we can’t know everything.  A setback is merely a pause in our progress that gives us time to look again.  While we’re standing still we can review our plans and explore new options.  We may find a different perspective that opens new arenas we had not previously considered.  There isn’t anything that can stop us from reaching our goals.  No matter what detours or diversions arise we can find the way to success.

Big plans often have many moving parts.  We may need to fully accomplish one step before we can move to the next.  If it takes a long time or the journey is complicated and difficult we may tire of the struggle and get burned out.  If we need a break we can take one.  Sometimes stepping back for a short time and gaining a fresh view allows us to find ways to move forward more quickly and efficiently.  If we get mired down in our efforts we may develop tunnel vision only being able to see one road ahead.  But there are many roads that lead to every destination.  If we step back and set the goal aside for a moment we may more easily see other options available to us and find a clearer path going forward.

There is no required timeline for most of the goals we want to achieve.  We can set our own schedule and work around the other parameters of our lives.  If we must step away from a goal for a time in order to focus on more pressing situations we can set it back and then pick it up again when the time is right.  There is no need to pressure ourselves to accomplish anything too quickly.  We can make plans that fit into our lives without compromising the other responsibilities we must care for.  There really isn’t anything we can’t accomplish.  We are capable and wise and can move forward in exactly the best way.

Today if you’ve been pushing hard to reach a goal and have suffered a setback and are stuck, use the time to see the whole picture.  Let all the options present themselves and you’ll find the next step.  You are smarter than you think and there isn’t anything you can’t do.  Look around.  The road is there for you and you will find it.  Success is just ahead.

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Looking Back

7 Jul

“True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.”  Ernest Hemingway

Life is a process of continual learning and every new situation brings with it parameters we must figure out and find our way through.  Sometimes we get the answers right the first time, and other times we may take a wrong turn that takes us somewhere we don’t want to go but teaches us something new.  There is no life manual with an answer key to help us through.  We find our way as we go step by step.  Sometimes our choices are complicated and take us through situations we’d rather avoid but each turn, right or wrong, gives us tools to go forward more effectively.  Constant change occurs not only in the world around us but within us and moves us a little further down the road to our destination.  As time passes we may look back at our former selves and the decisions we made.  Because we have additional wisdom and understanding we might wonder what we were thinking when we chose the wrong road.  But we are where we are at every moment.  If we do the best we can with each step, even if we falter, we will find the way ahead.  True nobility comes as we gain the attributes we desire most and continue to move forward.

There are moments in our lives that are nearly perfect.  Things go well and we are happy.  Those moments cannot last forever but while we’re in them we can’t imagine how things could go wrong.  But life is ever changing and nothing stays the same forever.  When our situations change and we face difficulty or challenges that feel beyond what we can manage we may lose our confidence in the future.  Even in our darkest hour when it seems nothing will go right we can have faith that things will change.  We are stronger than we think we are and there really isn’t anything so powerful that it will overcome us.  We can endure difficulty, even disaster, by taking it one step at a time.  Nothing can keep us from prevailing and as we struggle we gain strength and wisdom to take forward on the road ahead.

Looking back we may see decisions we made that cause shame and heartache.  We may struggle to forgive ourselves for choices that brought hardship to us or those around us.  Nothing can change the past and it’s better to see the situation as it is, accept the choice we made, and learn as much as possible from the experience.  Then we can let it go and move forward with renewed confidence carrying with us all the knowledge we’ve gained and increased insight for the road ahead.  Life is complex and nobody is perfect.  We will all falter at some point.  We may forgive ourselves and move forward with renewed confidence learning all we can from the past.

Today if you’re looking back and are disappointed in a decision you’ve made, learn all you can from the experience and let it go.  You are wiser now than you’ve ever been and you can make excellent decisions.  Leave the past behind and look ahead to the destination you seek.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and do well.  You have everything you need to succeed and find joy.

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The Neutral Zone

6 Jul

There will be few times in our lives when we’ll get where we want to go serendipitously or by accident. Generally, if we want something to happen we’ll have to work for it. Pushing forward toward any goal is the best way to ensure we get there but there may be times when we have to wait. There may be others standing in our way we cannot move. There may be situations that take our attention away from the road forward or unforeseen complications that must be resolved before we can proceed. Waiting is like idling in neutral. The engine is still running but until the gears change we can’t proceed. If we must wait a long time we may give up on the goal and decide to take another path. We can always change our direction at any time but if the goal is something we truly want we can be patient and remain in place until things change. We don’t have to give up on any goal we value. It may feel we have no control as we wait but even when standing still we are in command of our lives. Life changes constantly and in time our situation will modify and we’ll be able to proceed forward again. While we wait we can be prepared and ready for that eventuality and spring into action as soon as we are able. The opportunity to move forward will always come again.

Life is all about choices. We can do anything we want and go anywhere we want to go. We don’t need the agreement of others and we may define our lives in our own personal ways. If we lack confidence or are unsure we may stand still and let others decide what we will do. If we don’t control our lives, others will control them for us and the destinations they choose may not be the ones we want. We are the only ones with personal inspiration regarding what is best for us. Even those who know us very well will never know us completely. We have everything we need to go where we really want to go. Shifting out of neutral and determining to define things according to our personal desires will help us achieve the lives we want the most.

The neutral zone is an easy place to live. We don’t have to make decisions, we don’t have think about the future and we don’t have to work hard to continue forward. When a car is in neutral very little fuel is needed to keep it running. It doesn’t take much energy to stand still. When we let life determine our path forward we give up the opportunity to design our lives and achieve what we truly desire. We deserve every happiness. Every dream can come true if we purposely move forward toward it and do what is needed to find success. We can go anywhere and do anything but first we have to gear up and begin.

Today if you’ve been waiting for something to happen to change your life, take control and start to move. Begin the journey you’ve been dreaming about. There isn’t anything you can’t do. You are more powerful than you imagine and you can accomplish anything you desire. Step forward. Your destination is just ahead and nothing will keep you from success.

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