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Being the Turtle

22 Jan

When we decide to accomplish a goal, we may look at all the options before us and make a plan to begin. We can carefully look at where we want to go and decide how to get there. Once we begin working our plans sometimes the path takes longer than we planned on. It’s hard to wait for something we really want, and we may become impatient with continual delays and complications that keep us from moving forward. If it’s been a long time and we’re tired, we may decide it’s too much and abandon the idea altogether. But if we abandon a goal we cannot accomplish it. It won’t just happen because we want it, or simply appear because we’ve put energy into it. We can always change our plans and move on to different things but if the goal is something we really want, walking away from it out of frustration will not bring satisfaction. We don’t know what we don’t know and some things will take longer than we like, or be more difficult than we thought when we started. If the price turns out to be too high, we can let it go, but every goal is reachable if we’re willing to do what it takes to get there. Things won’t always go the way we want them to but we have all the wisdom and patience we need to continue forward if we desire the destination ahead. If we have to go slow, we can go slow. If we have to wait for a time, we can wait. The goal will always be there and it doesn’t matter how long it takes to reach it. There isn’t anything we can’t do. We can understand the road before us, weigh all the options, and make the best choice going forward.

There is no need for patience if we experience immediate gratification. If everything comes to us the moment we desire it we learn to expect life to work around our needs and may begin to feel entitled. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t revolve around any one person. Everyone has unique personal needs and desires. Nobody gets to go to the head of the line or get an extra measure of attention just because they want it. No matter what we want to do, we can decide how to get there and then work through anything that stands in the way. We are strong enough and smart enough to figure out any complication and find success. We can be patient when we must and still move ahead.

If we’ve been working on something for a long time and our progress forward has been slow we may decide to reevaluate our plans. Timing is important and if what we want to accomplish isn’t working out now, we can set it aside for a time and try again later. Our lives are always changing and sometimes the thing that held us up in the past works for us in the future. We can review our choices and decide how to proceed. We can continue to move forward slowly or we can try again later. Whatever we decide we will find success if we truly desire it.

Today if you’re frustrated with the complications and problems involved in a goal you’ve been trying to reach, step back and review the situation clearly. Decide if you want to continue or set it aside for now. Choose the best way forward. Success is there and you will find it.

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Time’s Up

20 Nov

There are times we might face a deadline with something we’re working on.  It doesn’t happen all the time and when it does there may be an added measure of intensity and focus on the project in an effort to comply with the required parameters set forth.  If we have all the information we need and are able to plan effectively, often we will meet the deadline.  But if there are surprise developments that block our way forward, they may uncontrollably delay our progress.  If the goal is very important to our personal or professional growth, any complication may increase our stress level as we try to proceed.  When there is much to do and time is short that stress may become quite intense as we try to push ahead.  If the situation becomes confusing or there are a lot of factors in play, we may feel overwhelmed and unable to focus clearly on what we should do next.  Time constraints add an additional dimension of pressure to any task we want to complete.  When there is a lot going on and much to accomplish we can find our way through more easily by stepping back for a moment and looking at the big picture.  It’s easy to get caught up in one detail and lose track of how far we’ve already come.  When we see everything objectively we can more clearly identify what we must do next and see the way forward.  We are capable of managing many complex things and can do anything we desire.  There isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we keep moving forward.  Our abilities are limitless and we have everything necessary to succeed.

Every story has many moving parts and interpretations.  If we are given all the information we need at the beginning of any task we have a better chance of completing it.  But often we only get some of the facts and additional information comes forward as we move along.  Although we may be grateful for the new details as they arise, they may cause us to change our direction completely which will cost additional time.  The best we can do is move forward with the information we have and when new developments arise do our best to modify our course as effectively as possible.

Nothing ever goes the way we think it will.  There will always be surprise developments or complications we didn’t plan for.  There are countless ways things that can go awry and when we encounter them we may struggle to discern what to do next.  There isn’t a destination we can’t reach.  We may need to revise and regroup, sometimes more than once, but with determination we can find the way forward.  There isn’t a goal too difficult to reach.  We can do anything we set out to do, be confident of success, and accomplish what is needed to achieve it.

Today if you’re under time pressure to complete a task and it seems impossible to reach, step back for a moment and look at how far you’ve come already.  The goal is only steps away.  Plan your way forward and keep your eyes on the destination.  You are strong and capable, and nothing is beyond your grasp.  Everything you desire is possible and you will reach it.

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It’s About Time

24 Aug

We often have many things to accomplish with our time and if we are overloaded we may dovetail items in an effort to get everything done.  Although we call this multi-tasking, current research indicates it’s impossible for us to concentrate on more than one thing at a time.  If we crunch everything together and push through them all at once we might get them done but we will never be able to pay attention to all the details needed to get everything done well.  When we’re pressed and feel pressure to finish projects we may believe we have no choice but to do them all at once.  Getting many things done is helpful when there is a lot to do but if we have to go back and fix things because we didn’t do them well the first time it may take more time in the end than if we had waited until we could do them right.  There is a balance between doing things and doing them well.  We live in an immediate gratification world.  Everyone seems to want everything right now and it can be hard to keep up.  We can acknowledge our abilities and recognize time constraints, and then make a plan that will allow us to move forward while still giving us the time we need to be successful.  No matter how much there is to do, we are in control of how we proceed.  We can be thoughtful and wise, and move forward effectively by carefully assessing what we need to do and the best way to get it done.  Success is always there for us.  We have everything we need to handle even very stressful situations and find the best way through.

Some people are very impatient.  When they want something done, they want it done immediately.  If they are powerful and task us with a project we may feel the need to drop everything else to address their request.  That may work sometimes but all our projects are important and if we stop in the middle of something to start another task we may lose our focus and momentum.  When we return to the first task we may have to start all over to find our way through.  Going backward will never take us forward.  Even if someone asks us to do something right away, we can decide where our priorities lie and make the best decision to manage everything.

We all want to be helpful when others ask us for assistance.  If we always agree to do everything we’re asked to do we may find our lives are filled with the needs of others and little time to live for ourselves.  If we are encompassed with chores and tasks we will likely burn out and feel frustrated.  We are in control of our lives and we never have to do more than we are comfortable with.  We can say no when we need to.  Our time is ours to manage and we can handle it in ways that bring us joy and happiness.

Today if you’re overwhelmed with everything you must accomplish, make a plan to get the most important tasks completed.  Be sure to schedule time for yourself to take a break and refresh.  You are capable and strong and can do anything you choose.  Remember how important you are and plan your time in ways that bring you confidence and joy.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and do well.  Take it step by step and you’ll succeed.

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Learning to Wait

23 May

When we want something, or seek an answer to a problem we often want it right away. It’s hard to wait for something we really want and if we need the answer to go forward it’s even harder. Learning to wait doesn’t always come easily. If we’re waiting for something to happen the resolution we seek will never be far from our minds. We’ll be on the lookout for the answers and have our eyes always focused on the goal. It’s hard to wait when we want something badly and it’s hard to be patient when we want a change to occur. We live in a world of immediate gratification and we may expect immediate action when there is something we desire. But life doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes we must wait. Learning to wait takes patience and the irony is we learn to be patient by having to wait. The two go hand in hand. In time as we learn to be patient we will find the wait easier to manage. Most things we want don’t come instantaneously. We can trust the answers to come and patiently wait for our situation to resolve. Learning to wait helps us navigate our lives more comfortably and effectively. It’s not always easy but we have everything we need to accomplish it.

If we’re in a group with others and we’re sure of an answer and confident we know the way forward but some aren’t convinced, we may have to wait until they come on board. If we are positive the answers are there and still we must wait it may be difficult to remain calm. Everyone reaches their personal conclusions in their own timeframes. We can explain our point of view, show the benefits of any options and express why we feel the way forward is the direction we’ve chosen. That may be enough to bring others on board, but sometimes the vision may not be convincing and we may have to continue to wait. There is often no urgency in our decisions and if we must wait we can take a step back. We can be patient until others join us.

Life is filled with distractions and sometimes they get in the way of what we want to do. Things get more complicated the more other people get involved. Everyone has their own opinions and reaching a consensus that allows us to move forward may take time. We can patiently express our views but we must also allow others the same benefit. Even if we’re sure we have the answers, everyone’s opinion is important. We can be respectful and offer whatever time is needed. Sometimes the best answers come after everyone expresses their viewpoints and we see a bigger picture to make the best decision going forward.

Today if you feel you know what needs to be done and you must wait, be patient. Allow others to join you and share the load going forward. You will accomplish your goal and get to the destination. There is no rush. When the time is right you will begin, and find success. There isn’t anything you can’t accomplish. Be patient. Everything will come.

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Listening and Hearing

31 Jan

In our personal conversations, sometimes what we’re listening to isn’t the full meaning of what is being said. We can listen and listen and still miss the message. There are a lot of distractions, sometimes our personal opinions color what we’re hearing and sometimes we only hear part of the information being communicated. There is a big difference between listening to someone and really hearing what they are saying. Although we may hear the words it may take a while to fully understand what they mean. People are complex and if the message is difficult or painful they may color it with words that muddle the situation. If we want to understand anything and make good decisions, we need all the information. If the message is confusing we can take it apart, ponder it, and get to the truth. Even in complicated situations if we are careful we can hear what’s really being said and then take the time we need to understand the full message. Knowing the complete truth of any situation helps us navigate it more successfully. We can be clear on the message by not only listening but really taking the time to hear it.

Some people talk in circles. They struggle to speak clearly and may go around and around an issue. Perhaps they have an unclear understanding of the message or are intimidated by it and afraid of speaking too plainly. When we encounter these situations, we may get lost as they go here and there, speaking around the information they are trying to relay. We may ask for details but often we must rely on our ability to discern the true message and extrapolate the real meaning behind the conversation. No matter how confusing the story may seem at first, if we take time to think about what’s being said we can find the answers. Once we decide we know what the real message is we may ask for clarification and verify our conclusions.

There may be times when someone speaks to us in ways that are confusing because they are trying to accomplish something and don’t want others to know. Maybe they feel they need to share part of the story but don’t want to give all the details. If they have an agenda that is dishonest or in some way will impact us negatively their words may be convoluted and confounding. If they will not clarify the message we need to find the answers on our own. We don’t have to blindly follow something we are unsure of and we can do what is needed to fully understand any situation before proceeding. We can listen and then discern truth to fully hear what is being said. We are capable of understanding many things and if we are careful we can move forward confident we know the full story.

Today if you’re confused by something that is being said and are struggling to understand, take the time to really hear the message. You are an excellent listener. You will find the truth and the way forward with confidence. There isn’t anything you can’t comprehend. Be confident and be wise. The answers are there for you and you will find them.

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