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Batter’s Box

2 Dec

There are a lot of things we all want to do as our lives progress. We can’t possibly do them all at once but while we’re involved with other things we can prepare for what we want to do next. Getting ready to move forward will enable us to begin as soon as possible. Simply waiting for things to change will not bring success. If we don’t prepare for what’s coming, we may miss our opportunities when they appear. It’s like being in our own personal batter’s box ready to start when our time comes. In baseball, the batters warm up before the game and then sit waiting in the box to be called. When it’s their time, they step up confident and ready. We can be prepared for the next step in our lives as well, by planning ahead and being aware of where we are. Life belongs to those who take it. Sitting around and simply waiting for success will never work. We must be ready to move forward. We can plan for our futures today by doing what is needed to prepare for success and being ready when our opportunities arrive.

As we go through our busy lives it’s easy to get caught up in what we’re doing and set our future goals aside thinking we’ll get to them later. We’re busy and it’s hard to think about the things we want to do when we’re so wrapped up in what we’re doing now. The problem with setting goals aside when we’re busy is we’re always busy. Expecting the perfect moment to appear when we’ll have nothing to do but plan for our future is futile. There are few times in our lives when everything will be done. If we want to accomplish a goal, we must plan for it even when we’re actively engaged in other things. We can look at it, determine what we need to complete it, and with each passing day choose to do something to prepare for it. It takes conscious planning and thought to prepare for success but even when we’re busy we can find the time if we’re motivated enough. We can’t get more time into our days but we can manage our time to allow for what’s most important to us. Planning for success will help us achieve it. Achieving the goals we most want will bring happiness.

Coasting through our lives and simply managing what comes every day will keep us busy and involved. There will be countless complications, endless tasks to finish, and a continual list of things to do. Being busy allows us to get a lot of things done but if we aren’t directing our lives toward completing the goals we most want we won’t feel fulfilled and satisfied. If we want real happiness, it’s important to focus on what we most want to achieve. We can prepare and be ready for when we are able to move forward. Our lives belong to us. Planning for what we really want and then accomplishing it will bring us happiness and success.

Today if you’ve been busy and putting off something you really want to do, think about how you can prepare to accomplish it. Plan for success going forward and lay the groundwork for your future. You’ll be ready when the time is right. You have everything you need to do anything you want. Get ready, get set, and when it’s time, go forward.

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Getting it Back

28 Nov

There may be times in our lives when things out of our control change what we can do and where we can go. If the change isn’t permanent we may work hard to do whatever is needed to turn things back. We may be determined to get our lives back the way they were before the development interrupted our plans. But sometimes getting our lives back the way they were before everything changed isn’t where we want to be once we have the chance to return. Sometimes during the process of growing, healing, progressing or solving what was in our way we change. We become someone new. Our personalities are the sum of our experiences and everything we experience changes us in some way. What we thought was a detour when it started may turn out to be a course correction. We may find a new road fits us better than the original and discover the path we were on isn’t what we want anymore. We may get our lives back but not exactly the way they were. Life is all about changing and sometimes unexpected developments show us a clearer vision of what we want.

When we’re happy and things are going our way, we don’t want anything to change. Everything is comfortable and we feel content just the way it’s going. But nothing stays the same forever. Change is constant and inevitably something will alter our course. We may be required to adjust our path to continue forward. If we refuse to see the complication before us and hold on tightly to the way things were, it will be impossible for us to go forward. We’ll get stuck holding on to what we think we need and denying what is really happening. Some changes require adjustment and getting used to. Sometimes we need a little time to wrap our heads around what has happened and figure out what to do. We can take the time we need but if we want to continue growing and learning we will have to choose a path and begin taking steps in a new direction. Change can be hard and unsettling but we can manage it. We can find our way even if the road we were on is no longer available.

Nobody can tell the future or see what will come tomorrow. The best we can do is openly evaluate where we are and where we want to go, and then plan our steps forward. There will be complications, there may be problems and we might stumble a time or two. But there isn’t anything we can’t figure out and nothing we can’t solve. With determination and courage, we will see through the twists and turns and find our way. Wherever we are now will change in time. We can embrace the changes as they come and accept them as the natural course of life. We deserve to be happy and we can confidently face anything that comes and plot a successful course forward.

Today if you’re facing a complication that has changed everything and you want your life back the way it was, take a good look at the opportunities available to you. Consider everything that’s possible and plan your way forward. You can handle any changes and developments. You are strong and wise and you will find your way to happiness. You have everything you need already. Your life is yours to design and there isn’t anything you can’t do.

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Cracks

17 Nov

Cracks

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

It seems our lives would be wonderful if everything went the way we wanted it to. It would be so much easier if there were no complications and things always worked out in our favor. When our lives are difficult and there is a lot of static, lots of things going awry and we’re busy trying to sort it all out, we might wish things were different. We understand that nothing is perfect and we cope with problems and obstacles in our way as they come up. We are capable of managing any complication we face but sometimes we wish it was easier. It’s the nature of life to be imperfect. Very few natural things are flawless and there are cracks everywhere. But the cracks aren’t just imperfections, they are also openings that let light shine through. That light can bring us new ideas, show us new roads, or unveil new destinations for us going forward. When we’re stressed and something goes wrong, often we find information that helps us going forward. We gain strength from the conflict, patience from the endurance, and sometimes find new direction in the experience. Cracks in the plan sometimes open up new horizons and take us places we never dreamed of.

Wood grain can be very beautiful. There are many kinds of woods, many colors and hues, many different types of grain and when they are cut and polished they all have a unique beauty. There are imperfect knots in wood which are formed when branches drop off as the trunk of the tree expands and the grain grows around the remaining base of the branch. Knots are usually considered defects and are generally harder than the surrounding grain which can make sawing difficult. But although they are imperfections, they are quite beautiful and add a lot to the finished product. If the wood were completely flawless with all the grain lines running perfectly straight it would be boring. The knots add interest, beauty and character to the wood. Yes, they are imperfect but that imperfection is what makes them so lovely.

Nobody wants a life filled with problems. We all want things to go well and be able to move forward without a lot of drama. Sometimes that happens but most of the time we have to adjust to one thing or another in order to progress. If we can see the complications as opportunities to learn something new and chances to expand our understanding, we will navigate them more easily. There may be cracks in the armor as we go forward but they will open up new ideas that help us continue. There may be knots in the wood as we try to make something happen, but if we polish them and see how they shine we can find new ways to get to the destination. If we can see beauty in the confusion, and possibilities in the problems, we’ll conquer whatever we must face.

Today if you’re in a situation with a lot of complications and feel overwhelmed, look at the possibilities before you. Each difficulty brings new ideas and opportunities to see things differently. Take a good look at everything. There is light shining through to show you the way. You will see it and find success.

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Somewhere Else

4 Nov

This life is a fluid experience. Everything is always changing and the only thing we can count on is that what we’re experiencing today will be different tomorrow. We are in a constant state of flux and no matter where we are now, we’re on our way to somewhere else. We are always learning and growing, and even if we don’t want to, we’re changing. It’s the nature of life. Time continues on and we move forward. Nothing can stop our continual movement until we reach the end of our days. Whether we’re headed where we want to go, learning what we need to learn, or in command of our direction is often up to us. We are in control of our lives and can direct them any way we like. There will always be complications, others may enter and confound our plans, and unexpected developments may derail us for a time. But if we are determined and focused we can get back to the road we want to travel and continue on. There isn’t anywhere we can’t go and nothing we can’t do.

Some people like everything to stay the same. They want their routines to be solid, their lives to be predictable and prefer not to change anything. They want to wear the same type of clothing, eat the same kinds of foods, visit the places they know, and limit their contact to people in their personal circle. While we may opt for a small life, limited in scope and opportunity, we can’t prevent change. Even if we’re determined to stay exactly where we are, the forces of life are moving us somewhere else. There is no way to freeze time. Each moment brings something new into our lives. Everything is fluid and every moment we’re moving forward. Where we’re headed depends on the choices we make.

We have many kinds of experiences every day. Some are good, some are even wonderful, some are common and predictable, and sometimes our lives may take a terrifying turn. We have no control over what comes to us and as each day unfolds we must find a way to cope and adjust to whatever changes it brings. Every development brings with it the opportunity for growth and learning. There is something to be gained from every experience. If we ignore the chance to learn we lose the opportunity to increase our understanding of life and deepen our awareness of where we are. We will change every single day in some way. How we process those changes is often up to us. We may get closer to the person we want to be or we may step a little further away from our goals. No matter what we choose, we are on our way to somewhere else. We can choose to direct our path to the destination we most want to reach. We can learn and grow as each day passes, and continue on the road we most want to travel. This life is a wonderful gift. The opportunity to choose and learn and grow are the greatest blessings of all.

Today if you feel you’re going in a direction that is taking you away from the where you want to be, turn your course. You know where you want to go and you know how to get there. You are in charge of your direction. Nothing will stop you from succeeding.

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Time Out

3 Nov

When we’re children and get a little out of control, maybe get too rambunctious or have trouble getting along in a situation, sometimes we may be placed in time out. We may go somewhere away from others that is quiet where we can sit and think for a while until we feel more in control again. Time out can be a useful tool when things start to get too emotional or hectic and it’s helpful not only when we’re children but also when we’re adults. Many of us have very busy lives with lots to do. We have a lot of responsibility and taking time out may not occur to us even when we feel overwhelmed. Sometimes all we focus on is pushing forward and getting to the next task. We learn to deal with stress and juggle complications as they arrive. Although we may accomplish much the quality of our lives may not be as good as we would like. But we can be successful in getting our tasks completed and still take time for ourselves. We can set a few minutes aside, step away from our pressing concerns, and reset.

In this day and age of technology where we can constantly stream news from around the world it’s easy to get caught up in situations we can’t control. Information overload is an ongoing issue when so much information is so readily available. Although it’s possible to continually be exposed to what’s going on everywhere, there is often little we can do to change or assist in many situations. Everything we see, read, or hear stays with us as we move forward. If it causes sorrow, stress, or anger or impacts us negatively we must determine its value. If there is nothing we can do about what is happening, the information, while perhaps interesting and informative, serves little purpose. We may decide how much influence we want things that negatively impact us into our lives. We can take a time out from all the information available and instead choose to focus on what we can do here and now to make our lives better and impact the world for good.

Just because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean we should do it. We have countless opportunities available to us every single day. There are things we want to do, things we must do, things we put off doing and limitless versions of each. Our lives are ours to direct and we may make any decisions we like. If we agree to do everything we are asked and strive to do everything we want, we may get overloaded. But we can take a time out. If we’re overextended, we can adjust our plans. If we’re exhausted, we can take a break. If we’re overwhelmed, we can re-evaluate and change going forward. We can step away from all the activity for a while, review objectively what’s happening, and make a workable and comfortable plan for the future. We deserve to be happy and in control of our lives. Taking a time out regularly to refocus will help us achieve that.

Today if you’re busy and pressed and feel things have gotten out of control, take a time out. Step away from the situation for a moment. You know how to make things work more easily for you. You have everything you need to succeed. Think about what you most want to accomplish and arrange things so you are comfortable and in control. You’ll be happier as you go forward and you’ll succeed

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