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Whispers

9 Mar

Finding direction in our lives is sometimes easy and we feel confident we’re going exactly where we want to go and are on the right road to get there. Other times as we move along we may experience some doubt. Even if everything seems to be exactly the way it should be we may hear a little whisper in the back of our minds that something needs to change. There may be a niggling suspicion that things aren’t exactly as they seem. If we’re busy and involved, we may ignore it and if the problem is small it may not matter. But often when we have a feeling that things aren’t right, there is something we need to look at. When we get quiet whispers that come again and again it’s wise to pay attention to them. We can’t know everything but we are highly perceptive. We may be subconsciously aware of something that doesn’t fit and the doubts that creep in may be a sign we need to look more carefully. If we’re doing something we really want to do, we may forge ahead no matter what comes to mind. But if there is a quiet, small voice of caution that whispers again and again, it’s wise to listen. We can stop and really look at the situation objectively and we may see something differently and choose to change our course. Sometimes things are exactly as they seem, but other times we may misunderstand what’s really happening. Listening to our inner voices, and heeding whispers of caution will help us more carefully and effectively navigate our way forward. We can be wise and careful and still accomplish everything we want to do.

We know what we want to do and we know how we want to do it. We are in control of our lives and we can decide how we manage it and what we will do. But we aren’t the only people who have influence over what happens to us. We cannot predict the decisions or actions of others and sometimes their plans will be in direct conflict with ours. If we don’t know what’s coming, we can’t possibly prepare. We can be confident and still exercise caution. We can move ahead with our eyes not only focused on the goal but those around us as well.

The world would be easier to navigate if everyone was honest and clearly stated what they were going to do and followed through on every promise. But that is not how things are. Everyone makes choices and some people will lie to us, some will promise things they have no intention of doing, and some will mislead us to achieve their personal goals. If we are careful and watchful we will have a better chance of succeeding no matter what others do. If we listen to any warnings or doubts and address them carefully we will be more aware and able to proceed more effectively. We can do anything and we can be wise. Listening to the whispers that may come will help us succeed.

Today if you have a feeling that things aren’t exactly as you think they are, step back and evaluate the entire situation openly and honestly. If there are problems, address them and correct your course going forward. You have everything you need to be successful. Listen carefully and pay attention and you’ll find the right way forward.

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Cake

28 Feb

Cake is delicious and most of us enjoy it from time to time. If we want to bake it ourselves, we must pull together all the ingredients and combine them to get the best results. If we don’t have an ingredient we may be able to substitute something instead but we can’t usually leave something important out and expect things to go well. In our lives, we have lots of opportunities to try new things and with each endeavor we need the skills and tools – the ingredients – to be successful. Sometimes we may have some of the things necessary and must work to gain the remaining items before we begin. Other times we may have everything we need to accomplish a goal but instead of moving forward we wait. Perhaps we aren’t confident we can succeed, or there are others telling us we will fail. We may wait until we feel sure or we may forge ahead and go after success now. There may be obstacles but we have everything we need to manage any difficulty before us. It takes heat to make a cake and it takes work to achieve our goals. When we want to accomplish something, we can pull our talents together and face anything that comes as we press forward. We have everything we need to succeed and when we’re ready there is nothing that will stop us.

No matter what we’re working toward there will likely be complications along the way. There are few times in our lives when everything goes exactly as planned. We’re flexible enough to adjust our trajectory going forward if something is in our way and wise enough to figure out any problem we may have to solve. If we are determined to achieve something, and if we’re willing to do what it takes to move forward, we will succeed. Success doesn’t just happen because we want it. We must see the objective clearly, determine what we must do to achieve it, and then work toward the goal. Each step forward brings us closer to where we want to be. If we stumble we can correct our course. If take a wrong turn we can revise our plans. Working diligently and consistently will get us to the destination we’re seeking.

There are lots of choices in the world. Before we do anything we first must decide what it is we want to accomplish. We must determine what we want to do and where we want to go. Even if we know we want cake, there are dozens of flavors we can choose. Do we want chocolate, vanilla, cherry, black forest, German chocolate, Boston cream or something else? The same is true in our lives. Our choices are limitless and we can’t move forward if we don’t know where we want to go. We can determine what we want most to accomplish, and then we can make a plan to achieve the goal. There isn’t anything we can’t do. Our lives are ours to design. Once we decide what we really want there is nothing that will stop us from success.

Today decide what you want most and where you want to go. The world is here for you and you can do anything you choose. Be confident. There isn’t anything you can’t accomplish. Determine what you want most and then plan to achieve it. Success is waiting for you. Take the first step toward it today.

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Impact

21 Feb

The world is a huge place and there are billions of people living in it and going about their lives making choices for good or bad. As we hear about the many places far away, we may feel very small and wonder if we have any influence at all on the world around us. It can be hard to feel we matter when we consider the big picture. While it’s true the world is huge and countless things are happening all the time, it’s also true that our lives, no matter how small we believe they are, matter. We have an impact on those around us and as we make decisions we influence the world. We may not cause a tidal wave of change, but even small stones tossed into a pond create ripples that change the surface. Every person we interact with is changed in some way because we are here and every situation we engage in is modified because of our choices. There is no way to be invisible as we go through our lives. Every single person is important. We all have gifts to offer and each gift changes the world in some way. Believing we are insignificant is an illusion. We all count and matter in ways we may not comprehend. There is a reason we are here. Remembering our importance and how valuable we are will increase our confidence and help us understand our place in life. Our presence is important and everything we do changes something in some way.

If we live in a big city with millions of people it may be more difficult to see how special we are. When there are many voices it may be hard to believe ours can be heard. But every voice is important and even whispers will be heard by those listening. Someone will always hear us no matter where we are. It’s impossible to be here and not have an impact on those around us. Everything we do changes something else. Everything we say opens new ideas. We are integral to the evolution of the world around us. Understanding that influence and using it wisely will bring us great satisfaction and happiness.

Sometimes we may feel we don’t count, that nobody sees us, and that no matter what we do we’ll never change anything. We may think our contribution is so small it will go unnoticed and that our presence means little. But it isn’t possible to live a life with complete autonomy separate from those around us. We weave in and out of other lives and everything we do changes something. We can make our impact positive and loving, and we can choose the highest path going forward. If we do our best, we can change the world for good. Every choice we make will have an effect. We can decide to make the best choices to bring about positive change and leave the world better than it was before we came.

Today if you feel your life is small and insignificant, remember everything you do will affect those around you. You have the power to change the world. You can be the stone in the pond that causes ripples of goodness to flow forward. Choose well, be your best, and never underestimate the power you have to impact the world around you. You have so much to offer and we’re all better because you’re here.

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Star of the Show

13 Feb

When we’re watching movies, there are often a lot of people on the screen and many things going on. There is a lot of sensory stimulation with the music, the script, and scene movement. If it’s an action movie it can be hard to catch everything that’s happening. But no matter what’s going on or how many different characters there are, our attention is focused on the star of the show. There is always one main character who carries the story. Our lives aren’t movies but there are lots of things going on all the time and many people coming and going every minute, and we are the star of the show. We are the most important person even when we’re focused on others and what we’re going through is captivating. We can be selfless and help those around us and address all the scenarios and situations that come, but in the end if we aren’t taking care of ourselves we won’t be as effective as we could be. The first person who needs our attention is us. If we don’t meet our personal needs, we won’t be able to care for anyone else. Most of us will not get “star treatment” from others as we go through our lives, but we can give it to ourselves and make sure we have everything we need to be healthy and strong. We are the stars of our own lives, and we deserve to take the best care of ourselves we possibly can. If we do, we will have all the strength and wisdom we need to help others and be an asset to the world around us.

When we fly on planes and go through the safety drill before the flight, the flight attendants always explain that if oxygen is needed, we must put our masks on first and then help those around us. We must make sure we are able to help by taking care of our needs first. That’s true in our personal lives as well. No matter what we’re going through or what trials we’re facing, we need to figuratively make sure our masks are securely fastened and we’re getting the oxygen we need before we attempt to assist those around us. We must be first on our list to ensure we have everything we need before we extend ourselves.

It is noble and valiant to serve others. It’s good to sacrifice our time to help when we’re asked and be available to those who need us. Living a life focused solely on our own personal needs and wants and discounting those around us will not bring us long term satisfaction or happiness. There is much gratification to be gained by extending ourselves and being helpful. But helping others requires personal strength and courage. We must build up our own personal energy before we can share it. We can be kind and helpful and still take the time we need to care for ourselves. We are the most important person in our lives and when we remember to give ourselves everything we need first, we will have enough to serve others.

Today if you’ve been neglecting what you need to be strong and happy, take some time for yourself. You deserve the very best of everything and you can get it. Remember how important you are. We all need you in our lives and want what’s best for you. Give that to yourself today and you’ll find happiness and peace and have the strength you need.

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Hero Worship

8 Feb

Sometimes we meet people who seem larger than life.  They may be beautiful, talented, and successful and might appear to be close to perfect.  We may believe they are everything we want to be and more.  When we’re with them perhaps we can’t take our eyes off them, or hang onto their every word, and we may think they could never do wrong.  This sort of hero worship can happen to all of us.  While there are some people who have achieved great success, or done things we have only dreamed of, we must remember nothing comes without a cost and nobody is perfect.  Even the most successful among us have shortcomings and personal issues they must deal with.  Although their faults and weaknesses may not be readily apparent, they have them just like we do.  It’s good to admire those who have achieved great success, no matter what that success entails, but it’s important to remember they are just like us.  They may be further down the road than we are, and they may have opened more doors than we have but we are all on the journey together.  We can take from them the lessons that will help us going forward and we can be confident in continuing on our own course to the success waiting for us.

Everyone has personal struggles.  We all pay for our successes in one way or another and even those who seem to have it all have sacrificed something valuable along the way.  Nobody is truly perfect and even when others seem to have it all, there are things we can’t see.  We all have things amiss in our lives and problems we must solve.  Everyone has challenges they must overcome specific to their own circumstances.  We can learn from others’ experiences and they can learn from ours.  Everyone has a unique road to travel and the trials along the way are specific to the goals we are trying to accomplish.  Nobody gets a free ride or a free lunch.  We all have our challenges and issues, and it’s those who refuse to let them overcome the journey who succeed and reach their goals.

Although we may feel others are heroes, the real heroes in our lives are ourselves.  We are the only ones who truly know what we’ve been through, how hard the journey has been, all the detours we’ve had to navigate and the price we’ve paid.  Our determination to continue forward and reach for the next door is heroic and brave.  When we don’t quit and continue to persevere we are courageous.  We can honor the choices we’ve made to stay the course even when it gets hard, and take credit for staying in the game.  If we stay up all night with a sick child, endure a difficult boss, extend ourselves when we feel we have nothing left to give, or share when we don’t have enough, we are heroes.  Choosing to be the best we can be no matter what our circumstance, is the most incredible thing we can do.  And when we make that choice we are the real heroes.

Today if you’ve been admiring someone you think has it all, remember how wonderful you are.  You are the real hero in your life.  You are a blessing to the world and those around you. Remember that today and go forward with increased confidence doing well and changing the world for good.

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