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Stepping Out

27 Mar

There are billions of people on earth and unless we live on a deserted island or on top of a remote mountain, some of them will be right next to us. It’s great to have company as we go through our lives but we’re all individuals and sometimes we bump into each other as we move along. Conflict is a normal part of life and we all experience it from time to time. When it erupts and escalates, even if we aren’t the key players, we may find ourselves swept up in the melee. When ideas clash and tempers rise, we may be caught up in the struggle and carried along simply because we are there. We can remain in the fight and try to help resolve the conflict, or we can step out and allow those involved to find the answers without us. We all want to be there for those we care about but it’s important to understand where the lines of responsibility lie. We can be supportive and still stay out of the fight. We all have enough personal battles of our own and we can step out of those that belong to others. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It’s simply a way to respect the right of others to disagree and work out their problem themselves. Learning to resolve conflict and find answers in the midst of struggle are valuable tools to carry forward. We can be supportive and kind, and still allow those around us to find answers on their own. We are all responsible for our own lives. We can stand on our own, face our personal struggles, and find the way forward. There isn’t any problem too complex for us to understand and even in difficulty and duress, we can find the way ahead.

Everyone deals with conflict their own way. Some people can step back from their feelings and easily see things objectively and openly. It’s easier to find answers when our emotions aren’t involved, but sometimes if our feelings have been hurt or we are being influenced by others around us, looking at the situation impartially may be more difficult. It’s hard to find the right road ahead when we’re looking in another direction. We can take our time and evaluate what we really want moving forward. The best answers will always be there for us. When we’re ready we will find them.

We all want to make the best decisions going forward but life is complicated and there are often many factors to be considered. When there are many options going in different directions it can be hard to find the right answer. Weighing all the possibilities and seeing where each will take us will clarify our choices and help us choose the best road ahead. There isn’t any puzzle too complex for us figure out. We have all the wisdom and insight we need to resolve any issue and continue toward success.

Today if you’re involved in a struggle that belongs to others, step out and allow them to resolve the conflict together. You need not adopt any issue that isn’t yours. Be supportive and kind and let those involved find the answers they need. You are wise and helpful and can be an example of strength and understanding. Show us your confidence and courage, and continue to move forward toward success.

 

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Focused

21 Mar

“I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request.  Means no.”  Captain Barbossa, Pirates of the Caribbean

There are a lot of ways to spend our time.  We can try to plan our days around the things we want most to accomplish but we aren’t alone and others may ask us to participate and complete assignments they need help with.  It’s good to be helpful and involved but sometimes outside requests may become burdensome and take more time away from us than we are comfortable with.  There is no limit to the time others may ask us for and it’s up to us to control the situation so we are available but still able to do the things we want to do most.  When we’ve given all we can and another request is upon us, it’s appropriate to say no.  We may disappoint those asking and they may not be happy, but we are in control of our lives and must choose what is best.  We cannot move forward if we spend all our time accomplishing someone else’s goals.  We can share our time effectively and still stay true to the course we’ve set for ourselves.  There are endless opportunities available every single day and if we take advantage of every one of them we may accomplish many things but they may not take us where we want to go.  It’s possible to spend our lives doing lots of interesting things that lead us nowhere.  Some things are interesting, but other things are important.  We can do many different tasks and still keep our eyes and efforts focused on the important goals we want to achieve.  Our lives are ours to design and we are in control of every decision we make.  Staying true and focusing on the road ahead will bring us success and satisfaction.

Guilt is a powerful tool that may be used when something is intensely desired, but guilt is a self-inflicted emotion.  Nobody can really make us feel it.  We may be coerced into believing it, but the decision to let it control us is ours.  No matter how convincing the other party may be for why we must do as they ask, the choice is always ours to make.  We can do our part and still stay on our course going forward.

They say our greatest sorrow comes from giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment.  When we give away time that robs us from accomplishing what we want most in order to do what others ask, we may feel great sorrow for the time we’ve lost.  We know what we want and what we need to do.  We can be in control of our time and decisions, and choose the best road going forward.  There isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we keep our eyes focused on the road ahead.

Today if you’ve been asked to give your time for something that will take you away from the goals you’ve set, examine the situation carefully.  You know where you are and what you need to do.  Help others and be involved, but stay true to the course you’ve set and keep your eyes on the road ahead.  All your dreams are possible and with careful planning will come true.

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Fair and Even

7 Mar

As we interact with others who come in and out of our lives, we will meet many different kinds of people.  Some will be nice and enhance our experiences, and others may be difficult.  Everyone has their own expressions and ideas about life. We may agree with them at times and or we may be at odds.  There is an old expression, “An eye for an eye,” which loosely means I will give you back what you give to me.  It seems fair to return what we’ve been given and we may want to keep the score even by doing so.  However, if someone does something mean or hateful to us, returning that to them may not serve us well.  We may feel better hitting back, but all we will have accomplished is proving we can go as low as they did.  Who we are is defined by what we do, not what is done to us.  What seems fair may not always be the best choice.  If we want to be the best we can be, we must be willing to reach higher when we’ve been hit below the belt.  When we’ve been betrayed, scorned, cheated on, lied to, or in any other way demeaned, we can step back and decide what is in our best interest going forward.  We need not continue relationships that don’t work.  We can keep a high standard for our behavior and walk away from those who choose another road.  We are always in control of our decisions and can choose the paths that take us where we want to go.  We can be fair and still move forward with grace and dignity.  We deserve the very best of everything.  By choosing well, we will achieve it.

The fight or flight reflex can have a huge influence over us when we’re in situations that are threatening or aggressive.  We may have an almost uncontrollable desire to run from whomever is involved, or we may feel anger rise in us and desire to smash our opponent.  This is a survival mechanism that warns us of impending danger.  However, most of the time we may not be in real danger, but threatened by a situation or person who is bullying and forceful.  If we take a minute to think about how best to proceed instead of simply reacting, we will find greater success moving forward.  We can take a deep breath, recognize the instinctive cues, and then calmly make a decision about how to proceed.  We can be in control of our lives even when things go wrong and choose the best paths ahead.

Sometimes people get ahead and win despite poor decisions and bad behavior.  It’s hard to watch someone succeed by cheating or bullying, and it goes against our ideas of fair play.  When those who are dishonest or unethical win, we may feel burned and angry.  But life has a way of looping around and in the end, there is no way to escape personal accountability.  We can ensure our peace and happiness going forward by making the best choices each day and choosing the paths that will take us where we most want to go.

Today if someone has done something to hurt you and you want to get back at them, remember who you are and what you really want.  Reach higher and choose the road that will take you to excellence.  You are amazing and powerful, and nothing will stop you from succeeding.  Make your best decisions and every road will open ahead.

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Branded

5 Mar

How we are perceived by others is sometimes the result of what we’ve done in the past.  Our personal behavior as we move through different situations may color what other people think of us and how much influence we carry.  We often hear about personal branding and how important it is to make sure ours represents what we want it to portray.  It’s a complicated issue and people may use all kinds of measuring factors regarding it.  We may have no idea how we’re being judged, and who we really are may have nothing to do with the impressions others may assume.  It’s dangerous to label people, and although we can’t prevent anyone from assuming things about us, we can refuse to judge those around us the same way.  Branding is important in business, and how successful we are managing it will sometimes decide whether we are entitled to some opportunities.  But in our personal lives, branding may be harmful and destructive.  Although we need information to make good decisions, basing any judgement on hearsay, or rumor, or assuming people will do anything before they have the chance to try will never bring us success.  We learn about people as we interact with them.  Every time we meet with them, talk to them, or work with them we learn more about them and as we get to know them can decide how our relationship will be defined.  The world is a big place and there are infinite human expressions and experiences.  Instead of believing what we hear, we can allow others to show us who they are, and trust our personal wisdom moving forward to make the best decisions.

Everyone judges situations and those around them.  It’s a natural reflex and when we see someone who is very much like someone else we’ve known we may make assumptions about who they are.  We may instinctively assign all kinds of traits to them simply because they remind us of a previous situation.  If we don’t have much interaction with them, those reminders may stay in place indefinitely.  But everyone is different.  Even people who look alike or act alike are not the same.  Assumptions are dangerous and are sometimes based on fiction.  We are wise enough to set aside any pre-conceived ideas about anyone and let them show us who they are.  We can be open to building relationships going forward.

There may be times in our lives when we may be judged or excluded from something we desire because of a previous situation.  Perhaps we didn’t manage something the way others felt was best, or we got caught up in some drama where there was no way to win.  Life is complicated and sometimes we end up in places that convolute our path for a time.  We all go through unexpected situations, but nothing is permanent.  Change is constant, and we learn as we go.  No matter what has happened in the past, we can be confident moving forward that we will make excellent decisions and choose the right road.  We can find success ahead and achieve any goal we desire.

Today if you’ve judged someone without knowing them, let them show you who they are.  Be welcoming and keep the doors open.  There is great blessing in sharing our lives with others.  Refuse to brand and label those around you, and learn about them as you go.  Your life will be richer, and your relationships will be stronger.

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Immovable

21 Feb

Change is the one thing we can always count on in life.  Our situations will change whether we’re doing well and things are going as planned, or our lives are in conflict and nothing is working out.  As we navigate through continual modifications, there may be times when we feel disconnected and lost trying to find the way forward.  We may feel uncertain as we navigate uncharted territory and push through a new situation.  If we are confident in what we want, and know who we are, the transition will be easier.  We can create a strong and immovable foundation in our lives that will hold us securely even if all our plans go up in smoke.  Understanding what our real focus is, and where we want to go will help us keep our feet steady when the sands start to shift.  Having a sturdy foundation is imperative when we build anything.  If the foundation is unstable and moves when the winds blow, whatever we have placed on it will fall.  The same is true in our lives.  If we are firm and secure in our direction and self-assured in our focus, our solid foundation will hold us together even if everything around us falls apart.  We can be immovable in our focus and resolved in our way forward.  Building a strong and solid foundation will help us get through any complication or problem that comes.  We have everything we need to manage anything.  Trusting ourselves and believing in our ability to succeed will move us forward and help us hold strong to the goals ahead.  We can do anything.  All our dreams are possible and we will reach them.

There are endless opportunities in life and limitless things we can do.  We can do anything and become anyone we want to be.  Before we build any foundation we must decide how we want to live and what we want to do.  If we don’t know who we are or where we want to go, we will continually vacillate from one thing to another, never staying long enough to establish success.  Like a bee flitting from flower to flower we may constantly try on new ideas and change our lives to fit another model.  While it’s important to explore all the avenues we’re interested in, at some point we must define what it is we truly want and where we want to go.  Then we can make a plan to move forward and focus on what we want to accomplish.

They say if you want to see God laugh, make plans.  Life is complicated and we only have control over what we do.  Sometimes the plans we make don’t go exactly the way we think they will.  Others make decisions that impact our progress, unforeseen complications arise, and sometimes the way forward is blocked and impassable.  But every plan can be modified and if we can’t get to the goal from one point, we can move on to the next.  If we are firm in our direction, nothing will hold us in place.  There isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we are determined and focused on the goal.  Success is always available to us no matter what is in the way.

Today if your plans have fallen apart and you aren’t sure what to do next, be strong and stand firm.  Your foundation is immovable and you know what you want.  Change direction and find a new road forward.  Every goal is attainable and you will find success.

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