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Turn Around

13 May

Many times as we’re pushing forward in our lives and trying to accomplish the next thing, all we can see is what lies ahead.  We rejoice when things go well and we move forward, and struggle when we get hung up.  There is a lot to learn and do and as we continue on the road we focus on getting to the next thing.  As time passes if we stay focused and work hard we accomplish many things but there will always be something more to do.  There are limitless options available to us all the time.  Because of the endless things we could do there may be times when we feel we haven’t done enough, or haven’t accomplished as much as we had hoped.  If all we can see is the road ahead it’s easy to forget where we started and how far we’ve come already.  We can stop at times like those and turn around.  If we look back and see how much we’ve changed and done already our true focus will be restored.  The road is long in both directions – both going forward and going back.  Turning around and seeing where we’ve already traveled will remind us of how much we’ve accomplished, and give us the confidence and courage to continue on.

Ambition is a wonderful thing.  It gets us moving to learn and do new things, and sharpens our desire for change.  Being ambitious prevents us from falling into complacency.  Without it we may choose to coast along and let things play out the way they will.  Unfortunately, if we do that we don’t always end up where we want to be.  So having the desire to shape our own lives and create our own futures drives us to achieve the things we want most.  However, blind ambition isn’t always helpful.  If all we can think about is getting to the next place and everything we do depends on it, we may lose our connection with other things that make us happy.  Most things can’t be achieved overnight, nor do they generally need to be.  But if we’re impatient our ambition to get where we want to be can push us beyond our limits.  Finding a balance between achievement and happiness is important and will ensure that our days are not only successful but happy as well.

Accomplishment in the eyes of the world and in our own perspectives may differ.  What we want to do with our lives may not match what the world values.  But value is defined by what we want to achieve and not what it looks like to others.  Working hard and doing our best in all our endeavors are the most rewarding things we can do.  Remembering how far we’ve come and what we’ve already done will give us the assurance we need that we’re already successful and capable of doing anything we like.  The road is long in both directions.  Remembering how far we’ve traveled already will bless us going forward.

Today if you feel you haven’t done enough or accomplished all you wanted, turn around and look back.  You’ve come a long way and done many things well.  See them and acknowledge all your achievements.  You have everything you need to do anything you want.  You are a great success already.  Keep your eyes on the goal going forward but don’t forget where you’ve been.

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One Thing More

10 May

We can all live our lives any way we choose. We can be ambitious or lazy, motivated or complacent, and we can do our best or just get by. But if we really want to get the most out of our experiences, we need to strive for excellence in all we do. That requires considering more than what is obvious. It means taking a moment before moving on to be sure we’ve done things the way we really want to. If we’re rushing around and checking things off a list, sometimes we don’t do everything as well as we might like. When we’re busy it can be hard to do everything with excellence. Sometimes we just want to accomplish the task and finish. But if we take just a moment to think before leaving what we’re doing, we can consider if there is more that could be done. If there is, we can accomplish it and be confident that we did our best moving forward. Great accomplishments and achievements don’t always mean excellence. Sometimes excellence is achieved merely by doing one more small thing. If we stop and think before moving on we may see something that could change a good outcome to a great one. If we want to do our best, taking a quick look before finishing anything and making sure we’ve done all we can, will allow us to do that.

If we want to achieve excellence, we must do our best in all our endeavors and be the best people we can be. But we’re also busy people and generally have a lot on our minds. There is a lot to accomplish in our lives and though we want to do it all well, sometimes the time crunch pushes us to move along even if we haven’t done everything exactly as we’d like. If we rush from task to task and fail to really look at what we’re doing, we may accomplish a lot but it may not be at the standard we are seeking. If there is one more thing we can do to complete the task with excellence, and we stop for a moment to see it, we can address it and then move on.

Most things we want to accomplish have many layers. If people are involved there will be lots of individual opinions and advice and it’s important to hear them. If the task is complex and takes many steps, and we skip something in an effort to move along more quickly, the job will get done, but may not be done as well. We’re all capable achieving excellence in our activities. But glossing over details, rushing and skipping what we feel is insignificant doesn’t always allow us to get there. No matter what we’ve done there may be one thing more we could do to improve the outcome. It might be a phone call, or maybe a re-check of something, or perhaps a conversation to gain another perspective. It doesn’t have to be time consuming but taking a moment to consider what we could do before we finish can mean the difference between doing a job well, and doing it excellently.

Today as you go about your routine and all the things you need to accomplish, take the time to see if there is one thing more you could do to bring the best outcomes. You have everything you need to accomplish anything you like. Do your best to be your best. Excellence is within your reach. Grab it and make it yours.

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City Hall

25 Apr

There are times in our lives when things don’t go like we want them to.  Sometimes it’s because we haven’t accomplished something, sometimes it’s because someone else is involved, and sometimes it’s for reasons we can’t figure out.  When we want to do anything, often there are a lot of parameters that must come into play and be considered.  If it’s possible to get everything lined up and ready, we can succeed, but there are times we can’t control what’s going on.  There are situations that block us no matter what we do, and things just won’t work.  Even if we know what needs to occur to fix the situation, we may be powerless to make that happen.  It’s very frustrating to want something badly and face a road block so wide and high we can’t get over it.  If the goal is good and we’re motivated, it’s very disappointing when we can’t make it happen.  But if there is no way forward we have to make a new plan.  There is an old saying, “You can’t fight city hall,” meaning sometimes there is no way to succeed where we are.  We know we can do anything we set our minds to but sometimes we may have to change our course and go the long way around to get there.

Planning for success is important.  We can set a goal, look at what’s needed and make the best plan to achieve it.  We can start out and begin moving closer to the goal and with each step learn something new.  If we’re on our own and the achievement depends only on what we do, it’s just a matter of persistence.  But few situations in our lives only touch us.  Most of the time other people and other parameters will have some influence over what we’re trying to do.  We can sometimes work around them, but not always.  If the goal is something we really want, a road block on the path we’ve chosen doesn’t mean we have to give it up.  It just means it’s time to look for an alternate route.  There are limitless ways to accomplish anything.  If we are motivated to continue forward, we can find the road that will take us there.

There may be a thousand reasons why we can’t get to a goal, and we may never know them all.  We can keep trying despite the resistance for as long as we want, and we might make incremental movement.  But if the goal is unattainable right now, we can set it aside and try again later.  We can accomplish other things and return to it.  When we do, we will have more experiences from which to draw, more information to use going forward, and more keys to open the lock.  Sometimes it’s all about timing and what is out of reach today may be within our grasp tomorrow.  We don’t have to give up on a goal we can’t get to today.  We can continue on with our lives and revisit it when things are different.

Today if you’ve been striving for something you really want to accomplish and it’s still out of reach, perhaps set it aside for a time.  Move forward in other ways and try again later.  You can return to anything at any time.   You have everything you need to accomplish anything you choose.  Work with where you are and continue to grow.  Soon you’ll have the right key and the door will open for you.

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At the Edge

13 Apr

Most of us want to do our best in all our endeavors.  We try to learn the things, and seek the best outcomes for everything we do.  Sometimes something new is intimidating and although we are motivated, we may not be sure we can accomplish it.  If we push forward we may eventually get to a place where the next step is outside our comfort zone and we are at the edge of mastery.  We haven’t stepped over the line yet, but it’s right there.  When we reach those moments we may stop, unsure if we can really manage going forward.  Sometimes if we succeed in taking that next step it will change everything, and even if the change is something we want, we may feel tremulous and nervous about taking it.  When we’re at the edge, at the very end of one thing and the beginning of another, it can be unnerving.  We wonder if we can really do it.  We wonder what will happen if we do.  And what will happen if we don’t.  Every time we change there is uncertainty.  We know where we are now and even if we really want the change, it’s new territory.  But we can do anything we want, and we have the courage to push through any challenge.  When we reach the edge of something new, we can step right over it, and keep going.

There are lot of reasons to keep things the same.  We know what to expect, we know how to manage our regular routine, and we’re comfortable with the way things are.  But reaching out for something new enhances us and makes our lives richer and more meaningful.  We can learn and do things we’ve always thought about trying, and we can succeed.  If we stay in the same routine throughout our lives we miss the chance to see how far we can really go, and what we can do when we put our minds to it.  We are all capable of far more than we think we are.  There really isn’t anything that is too hard or difficult for us to manage if we work at it.  And when we gain new skills, learn new things, and go new places, our confidence rises and we understand more about our lives and ourselves.

Fear is something we all deal with.  For some of us it’s a rare experience, but for others it’s a constant issue.  It can keep us from trying new things and hold us back.  If it’s strong enough it can cripple our lives if we give into it.  Courage isn’t the lack of fear.  Courage is going forward despite it.  New and unfamiliar territory carries with it a level of uncertainty and if we focus on that instead of the goal we’re seeking, we may never take the first step toward changing.  But if we want something new in our lives, we can look beyond the uncertainty and any fear associated with it, and move forward anyway.  We are capable of doing amazing things but first we must believe we can.  If we have faith and take the first step into the unknown it will lead us to the next.  Each step we take will bring us more confidence and the fear will lessen as we get closer to the goal.  We can do anything.  It’s all within our reach.

Today if you’re at the edge of something you want, and aren’t sure about stepping over it, go forward.  You are worth more than you realize and you can do anything.  There isn’t anything too complicated or daunting for you.  Go forward with confidence.  You have everything you need to succeed.

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Turbulence

11 Apr

When we’re traveling by air and take a seat on an airplane, we hope for a safe flight that is smooth and without complications. We want to get to our destination without undue stress or unnecessary excitement. Generally that’s what happens. We fly from place to place without incident or worry. But sometimes because of weather conditions we have turbulence. When that happens, the pilot puts the seat belt sign on and we’re asked to stay in our seats. If there is only minor turbulence most travelers endure the small bumps without concern. But if there is a ferocious storm or high winds, things may get intense as the plane is bounced around, and sometimes falls for what seems like forever before correcting. When that happens, turbulence is a completely different experience. Although air travel is by far the safest mode of transportation, it can be unnerving and frightening to sit belted in during severe turbulence. Although we may feel confident that everything will be fine, we may also feel worry and fear. We can have turbulence in our personal lives as well.  Everyone wants their lives to go along smoothly, and we don’t want difficult times to come upon us.  However, chances are they probably will, and things will get bumpy.  We may feel concerned and unsure.  But just like being on a plane, we can buckle in, sit tight, and get through.

No matter how pro-active we are, no matter how we prepare and plan, sometimes things go awry. There are a lot of people in our lives and they often impact what happens to us either purposefully for inadvertently. There is an old saying that if you want to see God laugh, make plans. It can feel that way sometimes. But all we can do is make the best decisions possible and hope things work out the way we want them to. When they don’t, we have to find another way. There are endless opportunities to change our minds and there is never just one way to do things. If we’re facing a storm, and the plane starts to fall a little, we can regroup and correct our course.

Because this life is all about our relationships with others and a lot of what we do depends on their decisions, there will be times when we’ll be hurt. It’s not possible to live our entire lives without being hurt from time to time. If the pain is extensive and we feel devastated, it can be like trying to navigate through strong winds in a horrible storm. We may slip, we might fall, it may be difficult to see the road ahead, and we might think we can’t survive. But there isn’t anything too hard for us to overcome. There is no storm so powerful that it will leave us hopeless. We can find a seat belt by focusing on our abilities, and we can sit tight as we figure out what to do next. We don’t have to go into the storm alone either. We can get help from those we trust and we can find our way. Turbulence isn’t pleasant. It’s upsetting when things get tossed around and we lose our footing. But no storm lasts forever, and no wind can blow without stopping. We have everything we need to make it through.

Today if things are bumpy and you’re unsure, and if there are problems that are making it hard to navigate, hang on. This is just turbulence. Sit tight and take your time. You have everything you need to find solid ground again and there are clear skies ahead. Keep your focus and trust your instincts. You will make it to the other side and find your way. You are stronger and smarter than you realize.

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