Archive | January, 2018

Playing Chicken

23 Jan

Everyone is different, and goals and dreams vary from person to person.  What’s important to one is useless to another, what is desired by one is cast off by another, and so on.  While we may often be successful in managing those differences there will likely be times when we clash with someone else and conflict arise.  If neither side is willing to bend we may decide to play chicken and push our way forward, daring the other person to blink.  It’s good to know what we want and how to get it, but in times of conflict, pushing forward in direct opposition to someone else may not always be our best option.  Determining not to bend may escalate the conflict and before we know it the situation may spiral out of control to a place nobody wanted to go.  Being open to other opinions and listening intently to other viewpoints will help us understand opposing views more clearly.  Once we see things from both sides we may more easily find a compromise that is acceptable to everyone that allows us to move forward.  There is no one right way to do anything.  There are always several options in any scenario and if we’re open to seeing them, the way forward will be easier to find.  Playing chicken will never open the door to increased understanding or acceptance.  It will only prove we know what we want and don’t care about other ideas.  We are capable of being open and willing to hear all viewpoints.  Once everyone knows the whole story from all perspectives, finding an acceptable way forward will be possible.

It’s good to be confident about our lives and decisions, but if we allow our confidence to become superior to those around us it may turn into arrogance.  The difference between solid confidence and arrogance is the conviction that not only can we accomplish what we want to do, our ideas are better than anyone else’s.  Arrogance closes doors before us and other options available.  We can be open to new ideas and outcomes and still be confident in our ability to succeed.  New ideas will bring us fresh perspective and help us find success more easily.

We can always live our lives any way we choose.  We don’t need permission to decide what we want.  If there is dissent, we can be patient and listen to opposing views, and then make whatever decision works best for us.  There need not be tension and stress because we disagree.  We can be gracious and kind, thank others for their input and then choose the best option going forward.  Disagreement need not always turn into a fight.  We can be open and polite, and then make our decisions.

Today if there’s something you really want to do and someone is standing in your way, give them time to express their opinion and listen carefully.  Discuss your views and then decide the best way forward.  There is more than one way to do anything.  The best options are there for you.  Be open and wise.  You will find the best way forward.

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Being the Turtle

22 Jan

When we decide to accomplish a goal, we may look at all the options before us and make a plan to begin. We can carefully look at where we want to go and decide how to get there. Once we begin working our plans sometimes the path takes longer than we planned on. It’s hard to wait for something we really want, and we may become impatient with continual delays and complications that keep us from moving forward. If it’s been a long time and we’re tired, we may decide it’s too much and abandon the idea altogether. But if we abandon a goal we cannot accomplish it. It won’t just happen because we want it, or simply appear because we’ve put energy into it. We can always change our plans and move on to different things but if the goal is something we really want, walking away from it out of frustration will not bring satisfaction. We don’t know what we don’t know and some things will take longer than we like, or be more difficult than we thought when we started. If the price turns out to be too high, we can let it go, but every goal is reachable if we’re willing to do what it takes to get there. Things won’t always go the way we want them to but we have all the wisdom and patience we need to continue forward if we desire the destination ahead. If we have to go slow, we can go slow. If we have to wait for a time, we can wait. The goal will always be there and it doesn’t matter how long it takes to reach it. There isn’t anything we can’t do. We can understand the road before us, weigh all the options, and make the best choice going forward.

There is no need for patience if we experience immediate gratification. If everything comes to us the moment we desire it we learn to expect life to work around our needs and may begin to feel entitled. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t revolve around any one person. Everyone has unique personal needs and desires. Nobody gets to go to the head of the line or get an extra measure of attention just because they want it. No matter what we want to do, we can decide how to get there and then work through anything that stands in the way. We are strong enough and smart enough to figure out any complication and find success. We can be patient when we must and still move ahead.

If we’ve been working on something for a long time and our progress forward has been slow we may decide to reevaluate our plans. Timing is important and if what we want to accomplish isn’t working out now, we can set it aside for a time and try again later. Our lives are always changing and sometimes the thing that held us up in the past works for us in the future. We can review our choices and decide how to proceed. We can continue to move forward slowly or we can try again later. Whatever we decide we will find success if we truly desire it.

Today if you’re frustrated with the complications and problems involved in a goal you’ve been trying to reach, step back and review the situation clearly. Decide if you want to continue or set it aside for now. Choose the best way forward. Success is there and you will find it.

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Driving the Train

19 Jan

Every decision we make determines where we’ll go and what we’ll do.  There will always be outside influences and there may be times we feel pressure to do things a certain way, but ultimately our lives belong to us and we can live them any way we like.  Our happiness is our responsibility.  If we aren’t happy where we are, it’s our responsibility to do what is needed to change the situation.  We can complain about our lives, bemoan our current situation, and blame anything and everything for our dissatisfaction, but the truth is we are the ones driving the train.  If we’re in a situation we don’t want, we can change it.  If we’re in a relationship that isn’t working, we can leave it.  Making excuses for why we remain unhappy will never bring us lasting comfort or improve our position.  We can sit and imagine how our lives could be or we can do what is needed to change things.  Change can be intimidating and isn’t always easy.  It takes focus and determination but we certainly have everything we need to be successful.  We are important and our personal desires are important.  We deserve complete and fulfilling happiness.  It’s available to us if we are willing to do what is needed to find it.  We know ourselves and we know what we really want and where we want to go.  We can decide to do what is needed to create the lives we want and find happiness.  We don’t have to wait for things to improve.   We can move forward today and reach any destination we desire.

Some people believe in fate.  They may think it doesn’t matter what they do, they are predestined to have a certain kind of life and experience.  Using that as an excuse to cover unhappiness is illogical.  We have the right to choose anything and everything we do.  We can go anywhere and do anything.  There is nothing strong enough to hold us in place once we decide we want to move.  All our dreams are possible and we need not stay anywhere we don’t want.  Nothing is out of reach and we can achieve any goal and reach any objective we desire.  We are in control and can create the lives we want the most.

Fear of the unknown may be a factor when we want to do something new.  Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring and when we’re pushing forward on a new path there is no way to anticipate all the complications that may come.  The first road we try may not work out and we may need to change direction and try again.  We get unlimited chances to find our way and no matter what we face we have everything we need to continue forward.  Life is a great blessing.  All options are available.  Happiness is there for us and we can reach further to find it.

Today if you feel unhappy and unfulfilled in your life, decide where you want to go and chart a new course going forward.  Let go of the things that are holding you back and break free of anything keeping you from your dreams.  You deserve everything you desire.  Choose your destination and start moving toward it.  Everything is there for you.  Complete happiness is possible and it will be yours.

 

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Taking the Leap

18 Jan

Everyone has dreams, wishes and hopes. It’s great to think about how things could be and we can spend all the time we want imagining our lives the way we dream of them. Maybe we desire more money, or there is someone special we want to share our lives with, or we dream of moving someplace new. We can spend our lives thinking “if only” something would happen we would be happier. But wishing and dreaming will never get us where we want to go. Even if we come up with the perfect plan to get there, if we do nothing, we will stay exactly where we are. Nobody knows what lies ahead and trying something new will bring unknown challenges and developments. It might not work out the way we think it will. The road might be far steeper and more difficult than we imagine, and in the end, we could fail. There are endless scenarios that might happen and we may worry about things that could go wrong. But until we actually begin we will never know how far we can go. We are stronger and more capable than we realize and if we really want to get somewhere, nothing is strong enough or complicated enough to stop us. But we must take the first step. And then we can look ahead and take the next one. If we continue forward, no matter what’s in the way, we will get to the destination we’ve set our sights on. We can do anything. We are powerful and wise, and nothing is out of reach. We can start forward and find success.

Olympic high divers are impressive to watch. It takes years of grueling practice and discipline to learn how to complete complex dives, and the road to the level of perfection needed is dangerous and difficult. After all the training and hard work, when the time comes if the diver walks to the end of the board and does not jump, there can be no success. Even if they know everything about the dive, and understand perfectly what must be done, if they don’t actually jump off the board, nothing can be accomplished. We might not train to be an Olympic diver but our dreams are just as important. Understanding them is just the first step. We have to take the leap and move forward to accomplish them.

There are countless reasons to put our desires off and set them aside. We’re busy, our lives are complicated, we have unexpected problems, there isn’t enough time, and on and on. The truth in life is we always do what we want to do most. There may be pressures from others and time constraints but nothing is powerful enough to keep us from what we want the most. When we decide to move forward, nothing will stop us. We’ll find our way around every detour and hurdle, and push ahead. Every dream is possible and every destination is reachable. We need only begin.

Today if you’ve been dreaming about how you want your life to be but have continued on the same road, change direction and move toward what you want. There isn’t anything strong enough to keep you in place. You can achieve any desire and make all your dreams come true. Your life belongs to you. Take control and begin forward. It’s all there for you. Success is one step away.

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Never Happened

16 Jan

Life has a lot of ups and downs and nobody gets a free pass from problems. Things go wrong and we may have to change what we’re doing, where we’re going, or how we’re moving forward. There are unlimited possibilities for complications and detours, and rarely will the road ahead be without some sort of compromise. When there is something very important to us or someone we really want in our lives and the situation changes in unexpected, sometimes disastrous ways, it can be difficult to accept. If the thought of letting go of a dream is too devastating to face, we may decide to ignore what has happened and pretend everything is fine. Denial only makes acceptance impossible and when we refuse to accept what is real we are living in a dream state. It is better to understand whatever reality we are living, even if we must adjust our plans, and find our way through. There isn’t anything too difficult for us to manage, and we can face any disappointment and continue forward. Sometimes things don’t work out. Sometimes we are going to lose and when that happens, despite the disappointment and sorrow, we can find our way. There will always be another step we can take, and there will always be another road to travel. We can accept whatever comes and still find success. We have everything we need to be happy. Nothing is powerful enough to hold us back.

Love is a powerful emotion. When we love someone, we want to be near them and share our lives with them. If they feel the same about us we may find great joy in our interactions with them. But it’s possible to fall in love with someone who doesn’t return our affections. It can be heartbreaking to realize our fondest dreams of them will not be realized. If we must walk away from a relationship we want badly it may be hard to find our footing. But there is always another road ready for us. We can accept what is real, face the situation openly, and find success going forward.

When our lives take a difficult unexpected turn and it’s hard to face the changes before us, the temptation to stay in place may be strong. We may convince ourselves that if we stay where we are things will change, and despite what has happened, everything will work out the way we want it to. We can only control our own choices and waiting for happiness to come to us is futile. Our happiness is our responsibility. We can modify our way forward to accommodate whatever changes have occurred and find our way to the destinations we desire. Our lives belong to us and we can be happy no matter what developments we must face.

Today if your road has suddenly turned and what you were hoping to achieve is no longer available, look at all your options and choose the best way forward. Happiness is there for you and you can modify your course to reach it. Accept whatever changes you must and continue forward. You already have everything you need to succeed. Keep your eyes focused ahead and you will reach the destination you desire.

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