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Stepping Out

27 Mar

There are billions of people on earth and unless we live on a deserted island or on top of a remote mountain, some of them will be right next to us. It’s great to have company as we go through our lives but we’re all individuals and sometimes we bump into each other as we move along. Conflict is a normal part of life and we all experience it from time to time. When it erupts and escalates, even if we aren’t the key players, we may find ourselves swept up in the melee. When ideas clash and tempers rise, we may be caught up in the struggle and carried along simply because we are there. We can remain in the fight and try to help resolve the conflict, or we can step out and allow those involved to find the answers without us. We all want to be there for those we care about but it’s important to understand where the lines of responsibility lie. We can be supportive and still stay out of the fight. We all have enough personal battles of our own and we can step out of those that belong to others. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It’s simply a way to respect the right of others to disagree and work out their problem themselves. Learning to resolve conflict and find answers in the midst of struggle are valuable tools to carry forward. We can be supportive and kind, and still allow those around us to find answers on their own. We are all responsible for our own lives. We can stand on our own, face our personal struggles, and find the way forward. There isn’t any problem too complex for us to understand and even in difficulty and duress, we can find the way ahead.

Everyone deals with conflict their own way. Some people can step back from their feelings and easily see things objectively and openly. It’s easier to find answers when our emotions aren’t involved, but sometimes if our feelings have been hurt or we are being influenced by others around us, looking at the situation impartially may be more difficult. It’s hard to find the right road ahead when we’re looking in another direction. We can take our time and evaluate what we really want moving forward. The best answers will always be there for us. When we’re ready we will find them.

We all want to make the best decisions going forward but life is complicated and there are often many factors to be considered. When there are many options going in different directions it can be hard to find the right answer. Weighing all the possibilities and seeing where each will take us will clarify our choices and help us choose the best road ahead. There isn’t any puzzle too complex for us figure out. We have all the wisdom and insight we need to resolve any issue and continue toward success.

Today if you’re involved in a struggle that belongs to others, step out and allow them to resolve the conflict together. You need not adopt any issue that isn’t yours. Be supportive and kind and let those involved find the answers they need. You are wise and helpful and can be an example of strength and understanding. Show us your confidence and courage, and continue to move forward toward success.

 

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Focused

21 Mar

“I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request.  Means no.”  Captain Barbossa, Pirates of the Caribbean

There are a lot of ways to spend our time.  We can try to plan our days around the things we want most to accomplish but we aren’t alone and others may ask us to participate and complete assignments they need help with.  It’s good to be helpful and involved but sometimes outside requests may become burdensome and take more time away from us than we are comfortable with.  There is no limit to the time others may ask us for and it’s up to us to control the situation so we are available but still able to do the things we want to do most.  When we’ve given all we can and another request is upon us, it’s appropriate to say no.  We may disappoint those asking and they may not be happy, but we are in control of our lives and must choose what is best.  We cannot move forward if we spend all our time accomplishing someone else’s goals.  We can share our time effectively and still stay true to the course we’ve set for ourselves.  There are endless opportunities available every single day and if we take advantage of every one of them we may accomplish many things but they may not take us where we want to go.  It’s possible to spend our lives doing lots of interesting things that lead us nowhere.  Some things are interesting, but other things are important.  We can do many different tasks and still keep our eyes and efforts focused on the important goals we want to achieve.  Our lives are ours to design and we are in control of every decision we make.  Staying true and focusing on the road ahead will bring us success and satisfaction.

Guilt is a powerful tool that may be used when something is intensely desired, but guilt is a self-inflicted emotion.  Nobody can really make us feel it.  We may be coerced into believing it, but the decision to let it control us is ours.  No matter how convincing the other party may be for why we must do as they ask, the choice is always ours to make.  We can do our part and still stay on our course going forward.

They say our greatest sorrow comes from giving up what we want most for what we want at the moment.  When we give away time that robs us from accomplishing what we want most in order to do what others ask, we may feel great sorrow for the time we’ve lost.  We know what we want and what we need to do.  We can be in control of our time and decisions, and choose the best road going forward.  There isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we keep our eyes focused on the road ahead.

Today if you’ve been asked to give your time for something that will take you away from the goals you’ve set, examine the situation carefully.  You know where you are and what you need to do.  Help others and be involved, but stay true to the course you’ve set and keep your eyes on the road ahead.  All your dreams are possible and with careful planning will come true.

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Branded

5 Mar

How we are perceived by others is sometimes the result of what we’ve done in the past.  Our personal behavior as we move through different situations may color what other people think of us and how much influence we carry.  We often hear about personal branding and how important it is to make sure ours represents what we want it to portray.  It’s a complicated issue and people may use all kinds of measuring factors regarding it.  We may have no idea how we’re being judged, and who we really are may have nothing to do with the impressions others may assume.  It’s dangerous to label people, and although we can’t prevent anyone from assuming things about us, we can refuse to judge those around us the same way.  Branding is important in business, and how successful we are managing it will sometimes decide whether we are entitled to some opportunities.  But in our personal lives, branding may be harmful and destructive.  Although we need information to make good decisions, basing any judgement on hearsay, or rumor, or assuming people will do anything before they have the chance to try will never bring us success.  We learn about people as we interact with them.  Every time we meet with them, talk to them, or work with them we learn more about them and as we get to know them can decide how our relationship will be defined.  The world is a big place and there are infinite human expressions and experiences.  Instead of believing what we hear, we can allow others to show us who they are, and trust our personal wisdom moving forward to make the best decisions.

Everyone judges situations and those around them.  It’s a natural reflex and when we see someone who is very much like someone else we’ve known we may make assumptions about who they are.  We may instinctively assign all kinds of traits to them simply because they remind us of a previous situation.  If we don’t have much interaction with them, those reminders may stay in place indefinitely.  But everyone is different.  Even people who look alike or act alike are not the same.  Assumptions are dangerous and are sometimes based on fiction.  We are wise enough to set aside any pre-conceived ideas about anyone and let them show us who they are.  We can be open to building relationships going forward.

There may be times in our lives when we may be judged or excluded from something we desire because of a previous situation.  Perhaps we didn’t manage something the way others felt was best, or we got caught up in some drama where there was no way to win.  Life is complicated and sometimes we end up in places that convolute our path for a time.  We all go through unexpected situations, but nothing is permanent.  Change is constant, and we learn as we go.  No matter what has happened in the past, we can be confident moving forward that we will make excellent decisions and choose the right road.  We can find success ahead and achieve any goal we desire.

Today if you’ve judged someone without knowing them, let them show you who they are.  Be welcoming and keep the doors open.  There is great blessing in sharing our lives with others.  Refuse to brand and label those around you, and learn about them as you go.  Your life will be richer, and your relationships will be stronger.

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Digging In

13 Feb

Nobody is right all the time. We all make mistakes and choices we regret. Sometimes we go the wrong way and have to correct our course, sometimes we go too far and have to back track, and sometimes we just bomb completely and have to start over. It happens. We’re only human and can only know what we know at any given time. When things go wrong and we discover we’ve made a mistake, we can acknowledge the error and then do what is needed to correct it. But there may be times when although we know we’re wrong, refuse to accept it and dig in, pushing forward defending a position that will not work. Maybe we’re embarrassed or prideful, or think if we keep going the wrong way somehow, magically it will turn into the right way. Whatever our reasons, if we continue moving ahead on the wrong road we will never find success. It’s hard to face any kind of failure but looking at it completely, and determining to correct what is needed is the best way forward. We are always in control of our lives and can change focus at any time. As soon as we see we’re going the wrong way we can turn in a new direction. The world is filled with endless possibilities. Limiting ourselves to only one road and holding fast to it  headed somewhere we don’t want to go, will only bring us sorrow. We can let go of pride and control, and change our lives. Everything is possible if we’re willing to be flexible. Happiness is always there and we can reach it.

Traditions are powerful motivators. If we’re doing something that has been done the same way for a long time we may hold onto it even if it’s not working. We may believe if we stay the course a little longer it will correct itself and we’ll find success. That might happen but if something truly isn’t working, it’s better to step back and find a different option. Things change and what worked in the past may not be feasible anymore. Being open to trying something new or opening a different door may be all that’s needed to take us forward. We have everything necessary to succeed, and embracing all possibilities will help us get there.

Confidence is a great attribute that will carry us through many complicated and difficult times. If we’re confident in our ability to overcome trials we have greater strength moving forward. But confidence in the midst of continual setbacks may keep us from finding new solutions that will take us where we want to go. We can be confident and still humble enough to recognize when things aren’t working and modify our plans. Every option is available and there are endless choices to make. We can change direction when necessary and create a new plan to move us forward. We are capable of great success, and being willing to be flexible will help us achieve it.

Today if you’ve been stalled despite your efforts to push forward, look at all the options available and find the road that will move you ahead. Modify your plans to find success and start again. All the answers are there for you, and you will find them. Redirect your course and you’ll reach your goal. Be open and see everything clearly. Nothing will keep you from the prize.

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Agreement

18 Dec

We have control over every decision we make. If we are careful and thoughtful, our decisions will take us where we expect to go. We may have times when we think about a decision that is outside our moral or ethical standards. Perhaps we believe stepping a little off the road will get us to a goal more quickly, or we may intensely desire something that can only be gained by going out of bounds. When we are pondering those decisions, we may reach out to someone else to explain why it’s important to do this. Getting agreement from others for bad decisions may give us more confidence and make us feel we have permission to stray, but agreement never changes the parameters of any situation. Even if everyone around us agrees with us, a bad decision is still a bad decision. The choice is ours to make, and we will suffer alone when all the balls fall, as they inevitably will. Truth always surfaces. If we’ve chosen badly and done things that have hurt others, broken a law, or in some way cheated, all the facts will come forward. And when they do, no matter how much company we had racing down the road to destruction, we will stand alone. If we are tempted to do something ignoble, we can take a moment and consider all the consequences that may come. Every decision brings a result. We have control to choose anything we desire but we have no control over the consequences. We can choose wisely even if being unwise is more attractive. We have all the strength and wisdom to make choices that will bring us happiness and peace, and have lives filled with glory and success. It’s all up to us. Our lives will be the reflection of every choice we make.

Pressure to conform may be very strong. If those around us are comfortable making decisions that are not completely honest or moral, and they are powerful and convincing, we may be influenced to join them. There may be pressure to follow along with questionable ideas or plans. If our connections to those involved are very strong we may feel we have no choice but to do as they suggest. But we always have the power to say no. We don’t have to agree with anything that isn’t right for us no matter who is involved. Our lives belong to us and we may protect them and guide them according to our own standards.

Agreeing to go along will not make a bad decision good. We don’t have to agree with anything that goes against our core beliefs and we may politely and graciously decline to participate. When we know we are doing what is best, we will be confident going forward. Our lives are ours to design and every choice is ours to make. We can choose our personal best and when we do, will find success and happiness.

Today if you’re considering something that will take you off the road that’s best for you, think again. There is no reward worth seeking that takes you away from the person you want to be. You have greatness inside you. Choose well and take the path that brings you complete success. You are a great blessing to us all. Show us your best and you’ll find joy and happiness.

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