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High Expectations

4 Oct

Everyone has their own ideas about the best way to do things and how we should accomplish our tasks. Sometimes we may be asked to do things for those around us. If we work for them or they have some authority over us we may be compelled to agree. If not, we may decide if we want to do what’s asked, and if we do, how we will go about accomplishing it. If those who ask us have high expectations about how quickly we’ll get the task completed or specific ideas about how we’ll take care of it and we aren’t in agreement, we may feel uncomfortable. If we’re pressed get through faster than we think we can, and are sure we can’t meet the deadline they’ve set, we may feel stressed and worried about the outcome. It’s possible to be asked to get something done in an impossible time frame. If we’re not the ones completing the task and going through all the details and complications to manage it, we won’t have a complete understanding of everything required. It’s easy to make decisions about how things should be done looking in from the outside, but there is no way to know what’s really happening unless we’re involved in the process. If we’re in a situation where the expectations given don’t match the reality we’re facing we may feel great pressure to do something that may not be possible. Expectations can always be set but reality will never bend to meet them. We can be confident in our progress despite what others think we should be doing.  If we do our best to accomplish the task we can be happy even if we don’t meet the time parameters given. We can set our own expectations about what can be done and logically and wisely continue forward.

When someone says we should be able to do something, they are basing their ideas on their own experiences and personal judgement. Our personal interpretations and understanding are unique to our own experiences. What works for one person is not feasible for another. When others tell us how they think we should do something, we can listen and take from their comments anything that will help us, but how we proceed is our decision. We are smart enough to figure anything out. We can move forward using the skills we’ve learned and do what works best for us.

Everyone sees the world through their own prism of understanding. Our life experiences color our perceptions and everyone has their own ideas about what is best. We know ourselves perfectly and we know what we want in our lives. We can make decisions that will take us where we want to go, in a time frame that works for us. Our lives are ours to design and every decision is ours to make. We know who we are. Trusting our instincts and choosing the roads we want will bring us fulfillment and happiness.

Today if you’ve been trying to do the impossible because someone has asked you to, step back and look at the situation openly and objectively. You are competent and intelligent enough to discern if you need to change your plans to reach the goal. Trust yourself to find the best way forward. You are amazing and capable, and can accomplish anything you desire. Be wise and move forward with confidence.

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Don’t Look

24 Sep

When children are young they don’t yet understand how the world works or what is real.  They hide their eyes and think we can’t see them, or tell us not to look when they’re doing something they aren’t supposed to thinking we won’t know what’s happening.  Very young children believe not seeing something means it isn’t there.  Of course, as we grow and begin to understand reality we learn that just because we can’t see something doesn’t make it disappear.  What is real remains even if we don’t look at it or pretend it isn’t there.  Most of the time we accept that but if something is happening that’s hard to face we may turn away and pretend it isn’t there.  Hiding out can never change reality.  Truth exists whether we face it or not.  There will be times when the truth is painful or what we’re seeing seems unbelievable but that cannot alter what is real.  Looking away or ignoring a problem or serious development will never help us move forward.  It may be difficult at first, but we can look at every situation openly and see it exactly as it is.  We can accept even very difficult situations and then determine what we must do to navigate through them.  Hard times will come, painful situations will arise, and we may feel confused and unsure at the beginning, but if we hold tight to our confidence and trust our ability to get through whatever lies before us, we will prevail.  We can see everything as it is and find our way through.  There is nothing too difficult for us to untangle and all the answers we need will always be there for us.

There are unlimited developments that may happen to us.  What seems impossible may become our reality.  Millions of things are happening all around us that we know nothing about that may affect our lives.  We can try our best to ensure the road ahead is clear and uncomplicated, and still things will go wrong.  If we are unwilling to bend when the road turns or cannot face what is happening we’ll get stuck where we are.  What has happened cannot be changed and becomes part of our experience.  We must move forward from where we are even if that isn’t where we want to be.  Denying the truth will only hold us in place until we’re ready to accept it and move on.

If would be great if we could simply make a wish and all our dreams would come true.  But wishes aren’t reality and when things go wrong and our situation is hard to navigate even our deepest wishes won’t change anything.  We are where we are now and nothing can take us back.  Choosing to see the situation clearly as it truly is and set our wishes aside will help us find the way through.  We are stronger and more capable than we realize.  We can do anything and do it well.  Every challenge brings us more strength and understanding, and helps us learn new skills to take forward.

Today if your situation has changed and you’re somewhere you never wanted to go, if you’re confused about what to do next and feel unsure, trust yourself.  You’ve faced many challenges already and prevailed.  You have everything you need to move ahead successfully.  Be confident.  All the answers are there for you.  Step forward and the road will open.  Every dream is still possible and you will find the way.

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The Pace

5 Sep

Everything we do has a beginning and an end.  Both are important but what goes on between them is generally where all the learning, and struggle take place.  There are often many things pressing on us and sometimes our “to do” list may be long and daunting.  As we navigate through it, we prioritize what is most important and try to do that first, and then hope to get as much of the rest done as possible.  If there are a lot of difficult items to address we may get weary.  If we’re exhausted it won’t really matter what is next to do, we may decide it isn’t worth the effort and simply stop.  We may reach a point when fatigue takes over and we’re done – whether the list has been completed or not.  Running out of steam and feeling the pull of exhaustion is a clue that perhaps we’ve planned to do more than is reasonable.  It’s good to set goals that stretch us and help us learn new things but if those goals are beyond what we can physically manage, it may be time to regroup and make a new plan.  We don’t have to move constantly and do everything at once.  We’re in control of how we spend our time and can plan our days to accomplish what is most important and allow ourselves time recharge.  We set the pace of how we’ll go forward.  By being realistic about what we can do and honoring our personal needs, we will accomplish much and feel energized.  We can take care of business and take care of ourselves at the same time.  We are strong and can manage many things well.  There isn’t anything we can’t do with careful planning and effective time management.  Everything is within reach and we can accomplish anything we set out to do.

There may be pressure from those around us to do more, do it faster, and push ourselves harder.  There are lots of different opinions about how we should live our lives and we may certainly listen to all of them.  We know what we want and how we want to accomplish it.  Everyone may choose the roads they want to travel and the speed they want to run.  We know who we are and will find success when we are true to what works for us individually.  Deciding the direction and pace we will travel will take us to the goal.  We can go anywhere and do anything, and we can do it our way.

The world defines success in many different ways.  To some it’s how fast the goal is accomplished.  To others it’s how far we push ourselves to get there.  We can decide what determines our personal success and it need not agree with anyone else’s ideas.  We’re all unique and our interpretations are valuable and important.  We may not see things the way others do, and we may not travel the same roads.  But we can still reach success and accomplish anything we desire.  There are endless roads to every destination.  We can travel our own way and find the treasure.

Today if you’re being pressured to get things done more quickly or to change direction, decide what you want the most and plan the way forward to get there.  You can do anything you desire and nothing will keep you from your goals.  Set the pace that works for you and step forward.  You know what you want and you will get there.

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On the Inside

29 Aug

There may be times in our lives when we desire a big change.  Perhaps we’ve been through something difficult that has taken a toll on us, or we’ve been in the same place for a while and feel the need for something new, or we just want to start over.  It may seem when we’re down or things aren’t going well, a new place and a fresh start will do a lot to help us move forward.  We can always change our lives anytime we want to and there isn’t anything strong enough to hold us in place if we really want to move.  Change does help a lot of things but it can’t change what’s really going on inside us.  The fears, uncertainties, and worries we may be struggling with will follow us wherever we go and stay with us until we’re ready to face them and let them go.  A change in scenery can make us feel better for a while but real contentment comes when we’re honest with ourselves about everything we’re doing and are willing to do what is needed to address anything holding us back.  Happiness can only come from within and we have the power to be completely happy no matter where we are.  When we’re ready to face what is keeping us down and open all the doors to the secrets tucked away we’ll be able to begin on the road that will take us to contentment and peace.  Our lives are always in our control and if we aren’t happy we are the only ones who can change them.  We can remove the darkness that is keeping us from complete happiness and step into the light.  We deserve every happiness and when we’re ready to step forward we will have it.

When people are unhappy, sometimes they pull others down with them.  They say misery loves company but we don’t have to spend time with anyone who makes us miserable.  It’s nice to be helpful and offer solutions but everyone must face their issues on their own.  We will always have enough to manage in our own lives without trying to take on someone else’s troubles.  We can be compassionate and kind, and let them find their own way forward.

Guilt is a powerful tool some people use to get us to do what they want.  It’s effective but guilt is a self-inflicted injury and nobody can make us feel it.  We’re all responsible for our own decisions and there is never a need to feel guilty about anything we haven’t done.  Each day is a gift and a blessing.  Living it fully and choosing to do what we must to be happy will bring us joy and comfort.  Paying attention to how we feel on the inside and valuing our personal happiness will bring us great satisfaction and clarity.  Our lives belong to us and we can change anything we want to have the best life possible.

Today if you feel like changing everything because you’re stressed or things have gone wrong, look inside and think about what’s really happening.  Remember that your happiness comes from within and real change will come when you let yourself find it.  You deserve the very best of everything.  Open all the doors.  You are precious and valuable, and nothing is out of reach.  Trust yourself and step into the light.

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Living Well

30 Jul

We all live in ways that are unique to our personal desires and goals.  We make our own decisions and the lives we end up with are the lives we choose.  Some people are very successful and inventive, and do things that impact the world or change the way it works.  Some discover cures for diseases, or create things that alter the way we live, or serve in grand ways that embellish thousands and change the world for the better.  It’s amazing and wonderful to have such greatness among us, but we don’t have to do incredible or grandiose things to live well.  The world is blessed by things that amplify goodness and make it work more easily but we also bless it when we choose well in small ways.  By being kind, serving others, and showing charity to those around us, we change the world for the better and augment the environment around us.  We have far more influence over those we interact with than we may realize.  When we reach out to comfort sadness, or extend our hands to help lift a heavy burden, when we listen with compassion or offer a kind word when someone is down, we change the world for the better.  Like ripples in the water after a pebble is tossed in, our influence can move forward indefinitely.  When we choose well we bring glory to the world around us.  That glory brings light into darkness and joy where sorrow once prevailed.  We have the power to change the world.  By choosing well, and living in ways that serve not just ourselves but those around us we turn everything toward light and bring joy and comfort.  We are powerful and good, and our choices reflect who we most want to be.

No life is perfect and there will be days when clouds roll in and the skies of trouble darken.  We may face serious trials and difficult challenges as we push forward and there may be times when we feel doubt and fear over what will happen next.  Misery may overwhelm us and we may be uncertain about how to proceed.  When we’re struggling we can allow others to reach out to us and offer help and support.  We don’t have to do everything alone.  Allowing others to comfort us will bring light and lift us as we continue forward.  Letting others help us when we are overcome helps us live well.  When things settle again and we’re back on a more even keel we can reach out to others and share the gift we received.

The world is filled with billions of people but we are all important and valuable.  Reaching out in kindness, even in small ways, can change everything for someone who is struggling.  Cheering a crying child, helping lift a grocery sack, opening a door, or simply listening when others speak are simple and effective ways to serve.  We can turn sadness into peace, sorrow into comfort and grief into hope.  We are more powerful and influential than we realize.  The whole world is blessed because we are here and we can share that blessing every day.

Today if you feel like your life is small and inconsequential and don’t think you’re important, remember your influence is greater than you know.  You are amazing and powerful and we all want to share our lives with you.  The whole world is better because you are here.  Be joyful.  Your light brings happiness to us all.

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