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Super Highway

3 Mar

When we’re on a road trip and want to get to our destination quickly, we may choose a super highway to get there.  They are generally wide with several lanes, often in good condition and well paved.  Although there may be many cars traveling along with us, there are no stoplights to slow us down as we go.  Highways are popular, well-traveled and often busy.  In our lives when we’re deciding what we want to do and where we want to go, we can choose the path most people travel.  We can take the popular road and walk forward along with others doing what is expected.  There is nothing wrong with going with the flow but if we want to, we can turn off the main road and take an exit.  We can choose a path that isn’t well traveled, where the terrain is rocky because it hasn’t been worn down, and opt for a destination that is different from the norm.  Sometimes the most beautiful places are hidden away, and the most desirable outcomes are those that are hard to reach.  Super highways are great and we can always travel them.  But if we want our lives to be different, and prefer to travel someplace higher, we can take a turn off the highway.  We may design our own road forward, and choose a destination that is off the beaten path.

Some people prefer everyone to be the same, look the same, make similar choices and have common goals.   It’s often easier to relate to others who are like us.  We understand them because their choices are similar to ours and we may feel comfortable around them because they feel familiar.  But we aren’t clones of one another and we have the power to design our lives any way we want.  Even if we’ve been going along with the ideas of others for a time, if we decide we want to change course, we can.

As we travel on busy highways sometimes the scenery doesn’t change for hours.  Highways tend to be somewhat generic and it doesn’t matter where we are, they look about the same.  After some time we may not even notice what we’re passing as we move forward.  But every mile we travel is time we’re spending and once gone, can never be replaced.  We can look up and really see what’s around us and decide if we want to continue or make a change.  If we see something interesting off the road, we can choose to move toward it and leave the busy lanes behind.  There may be brambles in our way because nobody has cleared them, there may be things we must climb over to go forward, and we may need to turn a few times to continue forward.  But if the destination ahead is where we want to go we have everything we need to overcome anything to get there.  We can chart our own courses, and create our own paths.  We have everything we need to succeed and once we decide on a destination there is nothing strong enough to keep us from it.

Today if you’ve been traveling the same road with others and have decided you want something different, look around and decide where you really want to go.  Chart your own course forward and begin.  Every destination is there for you.  Choose what you want most and head toward it.  You will succeed and arrive exactly where you want to be.

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Singular

22 Feb

Our birth and death are singular experiences.  No matter who is with us at the time, we experience them alone.  That singular experience remains with us throughout our lives but we may forget it as time moves forward.  Most of us are born into families who love us and care for us, and as we grow we learn to interact with people in our circle.  We extend ourselves beyond our personal spheres and touch others we don’t commonly share our lives with but with whom we come in contact as we proceed forward.  We make connections, learn to communicate, find resolutions to conflict and understand our place in our world.  Much of the time we may be in the company of others but no matter where we are or what we’re doing, our lives are singular to us.  We have personal goals and desires, thoughts we keep to ourselves, and as we pass each day we decide how we will live and who we will be.  It’s easy to blame circumstance or the influence of others when things go awry or we end up on the wrong road, but ultimately everything we choose we decide on our own.  Our lives belong to us completely and we are responsible for everything we do.  We can recognize our singular responsibility to ourselves and accept every choice we make, and confidently go forward to any destination we choose.

When we’re busy and have lots of responsibilities the time rushes on as we push forward to accomplish whatever tasks are before us.  It’s easy to forget the big picture when there are dozens of details capturing our attention.  If we aren’t careful, we may find years have gone by as we’re distracted by one thing or another and we haven’t accomplished what we most wanted to do.  We have limited time in life to do the things most important to us and nobody knows when their time will end.  If we make our personal goals a focus and every day consciously move forward a little closer to them, no matter when our time ends we will be happy with our accomplishments.  It’s not the things we’ve done that we’re likely to regret but the things we didn’t do.  No matter where we are or what’s going on we can set aside personal time to do the things we most want.  Our lives belong to us and we can manage them in ways that are best for us.

Learning to live on purpose requires planning and thought.  There will always be others around us who will want our time and talents and we can share them.  But we don’t need to give away everything.  We can reserve what we need to ensure we are moving forward on the path we’ve chosen for ourselves.  We can accomplish anything we want but we must choose to get it done.  We are the most important people in our lives.   We can make sure we have everything we need to be successful and happy.  We are responsible for making our dreams come true and if we keep our eyes on the goal we’ll achieve them.

Today if you’ve set aside the things you most want to accomplish, reset your plans going forward.  Make time for your personal goals.  You can manage your life in ways that will bring you happiness and joy.  This is your time.  Make the most of it and your dreams will follow.

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Call the Dance

16 Feb

There is an old saying that says if we call the dance, we must pay the piper. It means we are responsible for the results of all our decisions, even when they don’t turn out the way we hope they will. There will be consequences to every choice we make and no matter what they are, they belong to us. If we’ve been dishonest, childish, foolish, or unwise, whatever results from our actions is our responsibility. Of course, if we make good decisions and act well we will also gain the reactions to those choices. There is no way to skip out on our accountability and nobody gets to dance for free. We may try to ignore our part in our decisions, we may dodge the ramifications or try to hide, and we may even deny we’ve done something. But as in cards, once we’ve played our hand it cannot be changed. We can’t always predict the results of our choices and sometimes things will go awry even if we’ve tried our best. But if we are noble and honest we will manage what comes. We can call any kind of dance we want. We can choose wisely or foolishly, we can help or hurt, but whatever we choose the piper will require payment.

Selfishness never leads to happiness. If we selfishly make choices that only consider our wants or needs with no regard to how they will affect the lives of those around us we may get what we’re seeking but the price may be high. If we pretend to be something we aren’t or lie or cheat, we may fool those around us for a time. But truth is powerful and in the end, it will rise and if we’ve been dishonest our deception will become clear. Those who have trusted us and believed in us will see the truth of what we’ve done and who we really are. If we’ve hurt them badly they may turn away from us and we may lose our connections to them. It’s always wise to make the best decisions we possibly can and when we do, even if we falter, those involved will understand our objectives were noble even if our results didn’t work out.

There are times we might believe we can escape accountability by keeping our actions secret. Secrets only work when nobody figures them out. The problem is there is no secret so perfect or locked up that it won’t be revealed. Time has a way of opening the doors to truth. We might be able to hide for a while but nobody can hide forever. It’s better to make our choices out in the open. We can be honest about our motivations and choose boldly. If we decide to make a bad decision, we may make it and face the consequences. If we decide to embrace wisdom, our road will often be easier. If we choose well, when the piper comes for payment we’ll be ready. There isn’t anything we can’t do well. We deserve to be happy. Living honestly and making good choices will bring us happiness and peace.

Today if you’ve made a bad decision and must now face the consequences, face them bravely and openly. You can resolve any problem you must face and correct your course. Choose wisely going forward and live honestly. You’ll be happier knowing you’re on the right road and you’ll become the person you want most to be.

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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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Shooting the Moon

9 Feb

We all have goals we want to achieve and in our zeal to accomplish them we might make plans that very aggressive and challenging. We may decide we’ll make great changes overnight in order to achieve something quickly that often takes time. It’s good to have lofty goals and creating a plan that’s workable will help us find success more easily than one that’s extreme. For instance, if we seek personal wealth we may decide we’re going to work hard and in a year double our salary. If we want to change our fitness level, we may plan to go to the gym for two hours every single day. Or if we want to improve our diets we may swear off all sweets – forever. While these plans are certainly impressive we may not be able to adhere to them simply because of the intense changes needed to make them work. Finding the right method of accomplishing our goals is the first step. We can shoot for the moon and hope we make it, or we can determine what we can reasonably do each day to move us closer and make a plan we can more easily adapt to. Change never happens overnight. The important thing is to arrive at the destination, not how fast we get there.

Every small step forward we keep is a victory. We don’t have to change 100% right away and each step forward takes us closer to the goal. Even small advances are victories and if we are consistent will bring us success. If we only advanced a quarter of a percent each day we tried, and then only tried half the time, in a year we will have advanced almost half way to the goal. Small steps move us forward and each time we step forward our confidence will rise. Aiming too high too quickly often ends in failure. If we push too hard it may be difficult to accomplish the task. Understanding change and not speed is the goal will help us be more successful.

There may be times we feel we should have come further than we have in the time we’ve been pressing forward. We may feel we should have been able to get more done, or become more masterful at something. When we’re starting a new goal, or beginning a new behavior it’s impossible to know all the changes we’ll have to make to incorporate it successfully into our lives. We can imagine some of the work we’ll have to do but until we’re actually in the process of making the change we can’t see everything. While we’re striving to achieve, we can keep our eyes focused on making small adjustments that will move us forward. We can determine to continue despite any setbacks and if we don’t stop we will reach the goal. Life is long enough for us to accomplish anything. Step by step, making small successful moves will get us to every goal we desire. We have everything we need to succeed and there isn’t anything too difficult for us to achieve.

Today if you feel frustrated that you haven’t yet reached your goal, look back and see how far you’ve come already. Every step you take gets you closer to where you want to be. Continue forward. You know where you want to go and you have everything you need to get there. Move the dial a little closer today and tomorrow do the same. You’ll reach the goal and find success.

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