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Cheating

10 Jan

When there’s something we want to accomplish, sometimes we think we’re ready but find it hard to move forward. We may think we’re prepared to make the change, talk about it, get others to help us, make a plan and attempt to work it. But if we aren’t convinced we really want it, despite all the planning we may look for ways to cheat. If we aren’t ready to do what’s needed to turn the tide, we may vacillate back and forth with our decision. For instance, if we want to lose weight we may sign up for a program we think will work and determine to move forward. At the beginning, we may feel strong in our decision but if we aren’t ready to change we may look for ways around the diet requirements, make up “cheat days,” or pretend we’re eating less than we know we are. Our confidence may suffer as time passes and nothing changes. We won’t find success even if we pretend we’re working hard and nothing will change. Looking for a way to cheat is a sign that we’re not yet ready to move forward and it’s unlikely we’ll find success. Everyone is on their own timetable. If we really want something to happen, we can do what is needed to achieve it. But if we’re unsure, or unconvinced, it’s better to wait before we try to implement the actions we need to take. If we aren’t ready, we can be honest with ourselves and prepare to get ready. We can take the time we need to change our thinking, decide what we really want, and then plan our way forward. There isn’t anything we can’t do, but we must decide we really want to achieve the goal or we’ll go nowhere.

Sometimes we make decisions based on what others think we should be doing instead of what we really want to do. There may be pressure from friends or family to change something in our lives and if that pressure is great enough we may try to go along. But change only happens when we decide we want it. We are the only ones in control of our lives and if we aren’t ready, we can wait. The best we can do is decide what we want most for ourselves and then live our lives accordingly.

There may be times when we really want to change something but haven’t had the courage or the ability to make it happen. Maybe we aren’t convinced we can do it, or perhaps it will take longer than we hoped, or it’s harder than we thought it would be. We can always change our plans and modify what we want going forward. But if there is something we really want and haven’t been successful in achieving, evaluating our reasons for wanting the change may help us commit. If our motivation is strong enough we will succeed. We can do anything when we’re ready. If we want a change, even if it’s eluded us in the past, we can make it happen.

Today if you’ve been going back and forth with a decision you want to make, decide what you really want and go forward. You can do anything you want to do. What’s happened in the past doesn’t matter. The road ahead belongs to you and you can make it any way you want. Decide where you want to go and be confident. There isn’t anything too difficult for you to achieve.

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Foreign Territory

22 Dec

Throughout our lives, we go through many changes and adjustments. There are times we face big changes – marriage, the birth of a child, a new career, retirement and others. When our lives are changing dramatically it takes some planning and preparation to help us navigate the next step. If we are excited about what’s coming and happy with the new plan, the adjustments may come more easily. It can be an exciting time filled with fun and adventure. But sometimes big changes in our lives may be threatening. Life is constantly in flux and although we become accustomed to the routine adjustments we make along the way, big turns can make us feel unsure. We can take the time we need to evaluate any new situation, make a plan for moving forward, and take it step by step. We can process any change that comes and if we make a plan for one day at a time we’ll be ready and move forward with confidence.

There is great security in routine. We get used to doing the same things, going to the same places, and seeing the same people. We feel comfortable when our surroundings are familiar. When we’re facing a development that requires great change, even if we’re confident we’ll be fine, actually going through the process of modifying our lives may be unsettling. New situations are foreign to us and even though we know we’ll find our way, it can be disquieting to navigate. There are new patterns we must learn, maybe new people to interact with, and the scenery may be different. When we’re in foreign territory it can be confusing. But foreign territory is only unsettling because it’s new. We can make it ours by embracing it and learning about it. We are strong enough and brave enough to face new situations whatever they require. Change is constant. Big changes may be more complex but we are capable of navigating them and embracing them.

Planning can make any change easier. If the changes we’re facing aren’t sudden and we know about them before they occur, we can take time to evaluate everything we need to prepare and make a plan for going forward. Making a plan will give us more confidence and help us manage whatever details we face as things progress. There will probably be unexpected complications, but we can manage those as they come and do what is needed to address them and get back on track. Change is inevitable. We can manage it well and find success by taking our time, evaluating each needed step forward, and planning our course. There isn’t anything we can’t manage or overcome. We can walk through new doors and face new circumstances with confidence and clarity, and find joy in our new situations.

Today if you’re facing a big change in your life and you’re feeling a little unsure, take time to evaluate all the parameters forward and make a plan. You have everything you need to be successful. Embrace whatever comes and make it yours. This life is an adventure and you are brave enough and smart enough to take it on.

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Which Way is Up

7 Dec

For student pilots who haven’t yet learned to use the instruments on a plane, vertigo can be a serious issue. When flying through clouds, rain, or fog without instruments it can be hard to figure out which way is up. Disorientation may occur because it’s impossible to see the land below and everything looks the same. It can be difficult to discern if the plane is ascending or descending. Learning to understand and rely on the instrument panel to show what’s happening, despite the visual clues, will enable a pilot to safely navigate through hazardous situations. Without them, disaster may result. In our personal lives, we rely on a lot of physical clues to tell us what is going on and what we should do. We see and hear things and then proceed accordingly. But sometimes we can’t see the whole story and may become confused and disoriented. If we aren’t sure how to proceed, we can rely on our internal instrument panel to guide us. We can think about the issue, discern what is real, decide which way is up, and chart our course forward. Our previous experiences give us information to guide us. We can clarify our direction by evaluating the situation carefully and taking the time to determine which way we need to go.

It can be easy to get confused when there is a lot going on or we’re receiving mixed messages about something. When we have a decision to make and lots of people are weighing in and giving us advice it may be confounding trying to figure out what to do. Everyone has a different opinion and although there may be many good suggestions, if they all come at us at the same time we may get lost in the commotion. It’s like being in a dense fog or trying to navigate through the clouds to find the answers. If we step away from all the confusion and take time to think and clear our thoughts, we’ll figure out the answers we need. By consulting our internal navigation system, we can find our way. We have great intuition and inspiration available to us and we can access it and use it to direct our course forward.

There are no decisions that are beyond our capability to understand. We can think about even complex situations and comprehend what we need to do to address them and solve any problem that comes up. We can draw on our past experiences and all the things we’ve learned as we’ve lived through each day and we can discern truth. If we take the time to look at each variable and plan our way forward step by step, we will succeed. It doesn’t matter how foggy it gets, how hard it rains, or how many clouds are gathering above, we have everything we need to clear the confusion and go forward with confidence. We are wiser and braver than we think we are and there is nothing too difficult for us to navigate.

Today if you’re in a complicated situation and there is a lot of confusion and interference, step away and clear your head. You have all the answers already. Identify them and plan your way forward. You can do anything and solve any problem. You will find your way through with confidence and clarity. You have everything you need.

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Getting the Hammer

5 Dec

There are times in our lives when we have almost everything we need to get something done. We may have most of what’s required for success but not everything. Despite the missing pieces, we may try to force things to work anyway but without all the tools needed we may get stuck. It’s like being given some boards and nails and told to go construct something without a hammer. There is no way to nail the boards together without a hammer so even though we have most of what we need, we don’t have everything. We must get the hammer before we can complete the project. When we’re trying to accomplish something it’s important to understand what we’ll need to get it done. Then we can plan to acquire the necessary tools to move forward and be successful. If we don’t have all the required tools, whatever they are, we may spend a lot of time spinning our wheels trying to patch things through. That may work for a time but in the end without everything needed we won’t prevail. We need the boards, the nails, and the hammer. Taking the time to get everything together and understand the requirements before we begin will help us get to the goal.

Learning to prepare before we begin may prevent complications. If we decide we want to do something and jump in before understanding all that will be required, we may get lost before we get to the goal. There may be details we didn’t consider, requirements of which we were unaware, and a thousand developments we couldn’t anticipate. Learning all we can about the process we want to undertake and understanding what will be needed to accomplish it before we start will help us get to the goal more effectively and easily. The old saying of “look before you leap” is wise advice. If we don’t know where the road is leading, we won’t get to our destination. We can prepare carefully by learning all we can about what we want to do before we begin and ensure we have all the tools we’ll need to accomplish the goal.

Sometimes we have to grow before we can get to a desired destination. Maybe we need to get more education to get there, or we need professional help to assist us in the journey. Sometimes we must rely on others to complete their roles in the process before we can proceed. If we are prepared and understand what must be done, and we have gathered all the tools we need, we will move forward with confidence and clarity. We will understand the process as we progress and have everything we need to address whatever complications arise. If we take the time to be sure we have the hammer, we will be ready. There isn’t anything we can’t do if we prepare well. We can be confident in moving forward, sure of success.

Today if you’re trying to accomplish something but don’t have all the tools needed, go back and get them. Get everything you need to move forward and prepare your way to success. You can go anywhere and do anything if you prepare well. Do what is needed to ensure the road ahead and you’ll get to your goal. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Get the hammer and everything else you need. You will succeed and achieve greatness.

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It’s Not My Fault

18 Oct

We have many experiences every single day and sometimes our lives don’t exactly go the way we planned or the way we most want them to. When things go wrong because we run late, we miss an appointment, we overextend ourselves, or we drop the ball on a responsibility, it’s tempting to say “It’s not my fault,” and then blame the circumstance or someone else involved. Sometimes things really are out of our control and we aren’t responsible for the result, but other times, although we may want to blame someone else, the problem lies with us. When we are the reason things go wrong it’s best to accept our part in the problem and then find a way to fix it. There is great blessing in understanding personal responsibility. It’s a gift that enables us to find our way and clarify our path forward more successfully. When we fully acknowledge exactly what we’re doing when we falter we can learn how to be more successful in reaching our goals. Nobody gets everything right every time. We all take left turns from time to time. Understanding when we’ve failed to follow through and learning from the experience helps us become more honest with ourselves and those around us. And that honesty allows us to see where we need to change to find greater success.

It’s easy to point our fingers outward when things go awry. There are countless excuses we may offer and some of them may be valid. But even if our excuse is valid, we are still responsible for the promise we made. If we own our responsibility, and claim obligation over it we will often find a way to complete it as promised. Our ability to follow through on our promises reflects who we truly are. If we take them lightly and offer excuses when we drop the ball, we may lose the trust of those around us. But if we do all we can to honor them, making no excuses for failure, others will know they can depend on us.

Things go wrong sometimes and we can’t predict the future. If we simply cannot fulfill a commitment we’ve made, we can discuss the situation with the others involved and together come up with a plan to work around the problem. We can be pro-active and acknowledge when things aren’t going to work out. If we over commit, we can revise the plan. If our schedule changes and we can’t complete something we’ve promised, we can ask for help. Communicating our concerns will help us resolve any issue that arises and address a situation before we fail. There isn’t anything we can’t handle. We can keep our promises and we can move forward with confidence and clarity and address any problems that come our way.

Today if you realize you aren’t going to be able to keep a commitment you’ve made, address the situation openly and find a workable solution. Revise your plan and do what is needed to work around the problem. You are wise enough to solve any problem that comes your way. Face it head on and continue moving forward with confidence.

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