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Setbacks

16 May

It would be great if everything we chose went well and the desired outcomes always came to us. But life is filled with unknowns and surprises. Others may make unexpected decisions that impact us or there may be unseen forces affecting our plans and suddenly the road ahead is blocked and we have to turn around. Setbacks come and when they do we have to start again and find another way. We aren’t defined by them and we don’t need to be stopped by them. They don’t prevent us from accomplishing our end goal but they may prevent us from continuing forward on the road we’re on. We only fail if we stop moving forward and we never need to stop if we want to achieve the goal. If we suffer a setback, we can start again. If we have another one, we can start again once more. Some goals take time and we may need to work around several obstacles to get there but we can take our time and continually readjust until we find the way. There is rarely a straight line to success. Often, we move forward by turning left here, right there, backing up a bit and starting again. We know what we want to do and we have all the wisdom and patience we need to accomplish anything we choose. If we get stalled, we can start again and succeed. There is nothing too complex or difficult for us to achieve.

When salmon are spawning, they must swim upriver against the flow of water. It’s hard work, there are other fish in the way and if the river is powerful it takes enormous strength to swim against it. But the goal is life and the motivation is powerful enough to push them forward despite how difficult it becomes. We aren’t salmon but there may be times when what we want to do goes against the easy flow forward. We may have to press against the tide and we may suffer setbacks. If we quit the first time things go wrong we have no hope of success. We can keep our eyes focused on the goal and when things get in the way we can find a way around them and keep moving forward.

If others don’t agree with the road we’ve chosen they may try to convince us to revise our plans. They may believe they know what we need better than we do and pressure us to give up the journey. Nobody will ever know us better than we know ourselves. We know what we want to accomplish and we know what we need. Even if everything stands in front of us our motivation is sufficient to take us through. Our lives are ours to define and we deserve every success. If we are focused and determined, setbacks will not stop us, opinions will not deter us and we will win.

Today if you’re moving toward a dream you want to accomplish and there is something in your way, step around it and re-chart the way forward. You can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do. There is no setback strong enough to stop you. Keep your eyes on the goal and take another step. Success is right there for you. One more step and you’ll reach it.

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Getting Power

11 May

Life can be complicated. Some days we sail through without a care and then in an instant everything changes and what was true becomes completely false and we stumble. We may experience doubt and frustration trying to right ourselves again, and if the situation becomes very difficult we may wonder how to find a way through. There are countless things that can go wrong every day and when they do we may feel temporarily confused and lost. Fear may encompass us as we try to navigate forward and we may not know what to do. We might wish for power to overcome the issue but power doesn’t come at the beginning of a trial. We gain it as we move forward through the problem. Taking action even when we’re unsure brings us confidence. If we remember all trials are temporary and keep the long view in mind we will conquer our fears and have the courage needed to press forward. We have everything we need to succeed even in complicated and difficult times. We can rely on our strength and trust in our faith to move forward. There is nothing too difficult for us to unravel. No life is without problems and challenges. We have the courage and the wisdom to find our way and gain all the power we need to succeed. We’ve come through problems before and prevailed, and the power we’ve gained so far will help us do it again.

When we’re in the midst of a personal struggle we may only see our own lives. It can be hard to see others when the pain of what we’re dealing with is intense. We may withdraw for a time, keep our heads down and try to hide out until we feel more confident. Taking a break from other pressures while trying to solve a problem can be helpful but we must not bury ourselves so deeply we don’t come out again. The world is filled with all kinds of pressures and problems and hiding from them will never solve anything. If we need a break we can take it but as soon as possible we can return to the situation and do what is needed to move forward.

Some problems are very personal. We may not wish to bring others into the situation because we are embarrassed or concerned about what they may think. However, if we’ve been struggling for a time and still can’t find the way forward we may reach out for help. Those who care about us will listen with compassion and do what they can to offer assistance. There isn’t anything we can’t overcome no matter how hard it may seem at the beginning. We can find the power we need to prevail through any complication.

Today if you’re facing a difficult issue and aren’t sure how to proceed, if you’re afraid you can’t find the way forward and feel powerless to continue, remember all the times in the past you’ve prevailed and overcome. Take your time, get help if you need it, and be strong. You will overcome any issue you must face, gain power as you move forward and find your way through. You have more courage than you realize. Trust in yourself and stand tall. You will succeed and be stronger in the end.

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Finding David

28 Apr

We’ve probably all heard the story of David and Goliath. David was a normal sized man who came up against Goliath, a mean and vicious giant. Goliath tried to kill David and if were only a matter of size and strength would have succeeded. But David was skilled with a slingshot and in the midst of being pursued, sent a rock sailing through the air that hit Goliath in the head and killed him. When we think about this story we may marvel at David’s ability to keep his wits about him while being chased by a murdering giant, and being able to steady himself enough to make the shot that saved his life. While it’s unlikely we will ever be in the same sort of circumstance, we may face times in our lives when we feel we are being pursued or overtaken by something far bigger than we are that is threatening and making us afraid and unsure. It might a person who has power over us or a situation we can’t control. Whatever the threat, we may feel it’s too big for us to overcome. No matter what the issue or how powerful the other players are, we always have choices about what we will do. We can run and hide if we decide the fight is too strong but hiding from our problems will never solve them. We can pretend the issue isn’t a big deal and look the other way, but ignoring issues doesn’t solve them either. In the end, the only way to address whatever is disturbing our peace is to face it head on. Like David, we have to stop and turn around, and look right at the head of the problem. There isn’t any issue too hard for us to face and solve. We have enough courage and wisdom to manage anything that comes. We can find the David within us, face our problems, consider our options and find the way forward that brings us success.

There are some people who want to control others and situations. They need to have the final say, they demand their way be honored and they want to be in charge of where things are going. When we must work with them we may find it hard to be heard and if we push against them, they may aggressively constrict our efforts and exert pressure upon us. If we strongly believe in our views we may struggle with them before decisions are reached. Although it may be uncomfortable to disagree, our opinions are valuable and we deserve to be heard. We can state our case and press for what is important. We have all the strength and courage we need to proceed and win.

We may face a painful situation where we have little or no control over the outcome. If there is nothing we can do to mitigate the problem we may need to simply endure. It’s hard to wait through hard times when we have no control. But even as we wait we can exercise the courage to be still, and the wisdom to listen. If our only option is to endure well, we can still choose the best course forward and succeed.

Today if you’re facing a threatening situation and you feel apprehensive, find the David within you. You have all the courage you need to face anything you must. Reach for it and be strong. You are secure and capable. Look ahead, aim high, and push forward. There is nothing too big for you to overcome.

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Straight Lines

24 Apr

When we want to be successful at something and are working hard to make things happen and push us ahead, we may expect our progress to move forward in a straight line.  If we’re diligently focusing it seems feasible to expect to make continual progress toward the destination.  It would be great if the line from where we are to where we want to go was straight and pointed up all the time.  We can achieve any goal we set our minds to but expecting to get there without delays or detours may not be what we experience.  Things happen, people make decisions, plans change and we may have to go sideways or even turn back a few steps to get back on track.  Success rarely comes easily and generally requires us to rethink, retool, and redirect from time to time.  We can plan and prepare and even if we’re sure the way forward is paved and clear, problems may arise that stop us in our tracks and force us to change our plans.  If the goal we’re seeking is important and we are determined to succeed, we can continue on no matter what complications come.  It may not come easily, the road may not be straight and the way forward may get dark from time to time.  We have enough courage and wisdom to find our way when things go wrong, and we are smart enough and strong enough to do what is needed to find success.

Some goals seem simple when we begin.  We know where we want to go and the road to get there is obvious and clear.  As we plan our way forward we may believe the goal will be easy to achieve.  Sometimes we are right, everything goes exactly as expected and we get to the destination with little struggle or time.  But other times, even if we’ve planned well and are sure the road we want to travel is available and ready for us, things may go awry.  There may be someone making decisions that block our way forward, or things change and the road we planned to travel is no longer available.  We may have to stop and find a new way to get to the destination.

Roadblocks and detours give us the opportunity to stop and think about our way forward again.  Sometimes when we stop in the middle of a journey we find better and easier roads to travel than we saw at the beginning.  We may find the detour points us in a direction previously unknown that gets us to the goal more quickly.  Every problem brings with it information that helps us going forward.  If we embrace the situation and take time to evaluate everything while we’re stopped, we may find answers we’ve been seeking.  There isn’t any goal we can’t achieve.  We have everything we need to find our way forward no matter how complicated the road becomes.  We are wise and powerful, and nothing can stop us from the success we desire.

Today if you’ve been pushing forward and there have been complications that stop your progress, take a moment to look around and see the whole picture.  There are answers there and you will find the way forward.  You can do anything.  There is nothing too complicated or difficult for you to overcome.  Rethink the road ahead and keep going.  Success is waiting for you and you will have it.

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Hesitation

14 Apr

We have a lot of decisions to make as we live our lives.  Every day we must make choices about what we’re doing and where we’re going.  Some of them are inconsequential and once we’ve made them we move on.  But others may be difficult to discern and we may struggle trying to figure out the best way forward.  If the question is difficult or requires us to change something in our lives we may get stuck, unable to move as we try to figure out how we want to handle it.  There are few decisions that must be made immediately and have life or death consequences.  Generally we’ll have some time to look at the situation but if we don’t want to make the decision or are concerned about where it will take us we may hesitate.  Taking time to think is always important in making good choices, but hesitation can freeze us in place.  Going backward is never an option and if we can’t make needed decisions we won’t move forward.  We can take time to think but eventually if we want to move ahead we will have to choose.  We are certainly smart enough and capable of choosing well but if we aren’t sure about what we’re doing we may pause for a time.  A pause may be helpful but it is never a full stop.  We can evaluate what’s before us and decide.  Nothing is permanent in life and if the choice we make doesn’t work out, we may choose again.  There are always many options for our decisions and if we carefully and courageously evaluate them we will make the best choice possible.

Life is fluid and every day brings change.  What looks solid and sure one day may seem different going forward.  We can’t read the future and there is never any way to know everything about every situation.  When we make decisions we can only work with what’s available to us.  If we don’t get all the information our choice will be affected.  If our decisions falter because things are different than they seemed or something changes we can find another way forward.  There are few things that can’t be fixed or re-directed and we can be confident in revising our way if needed.

Fear can be a paralyzing factor if we must make a choice we are unsure of.  If the results of our decision are far reaching or will affect others we may hesitate.  Even if the situation is extreme and we can’t know all the parameters, we can still choose wisely.  We have all the tools we need to look at the situation clearly and objectively and decide on the best way forward.  We can be confident in our ability to choose wisely and move forward with the assurance that we have done our best.  If modifications need to be made later, we can make them.

Today if you’re facing a decision and you are hesitating because you aren’t sure, look at all the options available to you.  Evaluate your way forward and make the best choice you can.  If things change you can navigate a new path and find your way.  You have all the wisdom and insight you need to choose well.  Trust yourself and step forward.

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