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Perfect Brightness

11 Nov

During times in our lives when we really want something to happen or desperately want something not to come, we may feel hope. We don’t know what will happen and we want things to go our way. Hope is trust that our expectations will be met. It’s a feeling of anticipation that all will go well. Because we can’t read the future and there is no way to predict what others will do, we often have no idea what lies ahead. But we know how we want things to go and we hope they will be realized. Having hope is like having a float in the ocean. It can’t pull us out of the deep water but it can hold us up while we wait. Hope is the cushion that helps us through difficulty and we can hold fast to it and keep it bright even if our situation worsens. We may experience many difficult days as we navigate our lives. There may situations that confound and confuse us, desperate times when we’re terrified of what may come, or unsettling complications that make us lose our footing. No matter what comes to us or what we have to face, we can always have hope. We are stronger than we think we are and in every situation, the outcome we want is possible. Having a perfect brightness of hope – understanding we will not give up – will help us through.

We may face situations that seem insurmountable. We may feel beset by those around us and struggle to find our way. We might face extraordinary difficulty that makes us question our ability to survive, or makes us feel there is no reason to try. But in every situation, no matter how complex and hard, there is a solution. There is always a way out. We can look at the situation objectively, take time to catch our breath, and find the path that will move us forward and through whatever has captured us at the moment. Life can get complicated, and we may get lost for a time. But we have everything we need to find our way again, and we can trust our instincts and abilities to lead the way.

Hopelessness is the belief that a situation cannot change. If we are convinced that we are sunk, that we have been conquered and there is no way to escape, we may experience hopelessness. It is possible that we may face a situation so egregious and complex there is no way through, and we might face something we truly cannot change. In those moments, we can seek understanding and find a way to cope with the changes we may experience. Once we completely understand our situation hopelessness will be replaced with knowledge. And once we have the knowledge we need to face what is happening we will find the path forward. There isn’t anything we can’t do and nothing we can’t face. We are capable and smart and can accept anything that comes to us.

Today if you’re facing a situation and are hoping it will go your way, plan your steps forward carefully. There isn’t anything you can’t do. If things go awry and you must alter your course, you will do it well. You have all the courage you need to face anything that comes. Keep walking forward. The road is long and you will succeed.

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Standing Still

9 Nov

When we’re moving forward and pursuing a goal and things are going well we feel confident. When we have momentum on our side and everything is pushing forward we may see the end in sight. We may feel sure that nothing will stop us and happy about our progress. But sometimes out of nowhere something happens that stops everything. In a moment, we may find ourselves no longer moving forward but standing still trying to figure out how to get the engine started again. It’s like being in a sailboat with a strong wind pushing us through the water when suddenly the wind stops. If there is no wind, we cannot move and we are stuck until things change. In a sailboat, we may have to wait for the breeze to return but in our lives, we have options we can exercise to start moving again. We don’t have to wait for our situation to change around us. We can be the change we need. No matter what has happened we can do what is necessary to move forward. We can weigh all the options and choose a path that will move us toward our goal. We don’t have to wait for someone else to fix the problem, we don’t have to wait for something to happen, and we don’t have sit quietly. We are capable of untangling any complication and finding the answers to any issue. We can pro-actively plan and begin to move forward on our own and we can reach our destination.

Problems are a common part of life. Rarely do things go the way we think they will or the way we wish they would. Generally, there are complications, snags, unforeseen developments and other things that gum up the works. But we are smart enough and patient enough to figure out anything that stands in our way and we can determine what is needed to continue forward. If we get stopped in our tracks, we can stand still for a time and regroup. We can re-evaluate where we are and see where we want to be. And we can correct our course going forward so we achieve our goal. There isn’t anything too difficult for us to overcome or too complex for us to unravel. We know what we want and we will find a way to achieve it.

If we’ve been working on something for a long time and have faced several setbacks we may be begin to believe the goal is unattainable. There may be others willing to point up the problems and discourage us from continuing. We may start to doubt our ability to succeed. But if the goal is something we really want it doesn’t matter what others say or think, or what challenges we must face to achieve it. If we want to be successful we can find the way forward. We don’t need the approval or permission of others in our decisions. We can do anything we like and if things get complicated we can figure them out. We define our own success. We can do things our way and we can win.

Today if you’re facing a setback that has stopped you in your tracks, stand still for a moment and review everything before starting again. You know what you want and you will find the way forward. You are smart enough to achieve anything you desire. The road ahead is waiting for you. Step forward. The goal is just ahead.

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The Other Way

12 Oct

As we go through our lives we make countless decisions.  Many of them are of little consequence but some may have far reaching ramifications.  When we’re faced with an important decision we may take our time and consider all our options.  If we are careful and wise we will often come up with a solution that brings us the desired result.  But sometimes, despite everything we’ve done to make the best decision possible, things go the other way.  We may make a wrong turn and end up uncomfortable or worse.  There are risks with every decision and even when we try hard to be proactive and choose well we may be wrong.  It’s impossible to make the right decision every single time.  We are going to miss the mark at some point and when we do it may be hard to figure out how to go forward.

If we want to go on a road trip we often consult maps.  We look at the destination and find the route we most want to travel.  There are many, many roads to get to any destination.  We can take a super highway and cut some time off the journey or we may choose to take the side roads and visit all the towns we pass as we travel.  If there are problems with the road we’re on we can circumvent them by taking another one.  There isn’t just one way to get there.  The same is true of our decisions in life.  Although we may choose which way we want to go, sometimes the choice we make fails and we have to find another way.  And sometimes the destination we’ve chosen isn’t available to us at this time and we have to wait.  But no matter what happens, even if the road is closed for now, things will change.  We can re-route, make a new plan, find another way, and wait if needed.  We can go anywhere we want to go and do anything we want to do even if we have to wait.

When we’ve made a decision that fails and it’s important to us we may feel great disappointment.  We may be angry we didn’t get our way, and if others are involved we may feel it’s their fault.  However, the change in our plans may open a new door for us.  We may see something we missed at the beginning and we might find the new path we’re on is better than the original.  It is true that often when one door closes another opens.  We can always move forward, but we may have to alter our course to get there.  We are capable of being flexible and we can find our way no matter where we are now.  We can set the disappointment aside and see things clearly.  We can take a good look at all our options and find the best road.  There really isn’t anything we can’t accomplish if we keep our eyes on the goal ahead.  We can keep walking forward and we will find success.

Today if your plans have failed and you’re stopped at a road block, look around.  Consider all your options going forward.  You can re-route your course and find your way again.  You have everything you need to succeed.  Keep your eyes focused on the goal ahead and you’ll reach it.

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3:00 a.m.

30 Sep

When things go wrong in our lives, people hurt us, we are disappointed or worried, or have pressing complications on our minds, it can be hard to relax. When we’re processing a lot and have much to ponder it may be hard to let it go long enough to rest. We may fall asleep only to wake in the wee hours with our minds reviewing everything we’re trying to resolve. As we lie in the dark and all our worries and concerns roll around inside, despite our fatigue we may search for answers. What will we do? How will we get through? What’s our next step? What will happen? These thoughts may consume us and instead of drifting back to restful repose we may find the hours ticking by wide awake. Sometimes the answers come but other times our sleepless night doesn’t resolve anything. While we’re lying there and everything is knocking around in our heads, it is helpful to remember times in our past when we’ve resolved difficult problems and faced hard challenges. We’ve survived hard times before, we found our way through and we’ll succeed in doing the same this time. We can find comfort in what we’ve already overcome, and know we’ll conquer this situation as well. This life is filled with all kinds of complications and unexpected problems. We are certainly capable of handling anything that comes to us, and if we’re awake at 3:00 a.m. facing an issue we must resolve, we can remember that. We can relax and be strong knowing we’ll find all the answers we need.

When we’re young we have ideas about how life works and how our lives will go. We imagine what we’ll do and who we’ll become, and dream of all the things we want to accomplish. We never think about all the problems we’ll face or consider all the trials we’ll endure. But the problems and trials will come and with each challenge we’ll learn something new about ourselves and about our world. As we grow and face our days we may realize that some of our ideas about what is real are a little different than what we’re experiencing. Our plans don’t always work out and our lives don’t always reflect the image we thought they would. But we learn to adapt as we go and if we’re wise, day by day we begin to create the lives we most want. Sometimes the life we want now isn’t anything like the plans we made before. Each experience and each problem helps us fine tune what we want and teaches us how to navigate the road ahead.

The only control we have in this life is over ourselves. We can’t control what other people do, or what comes to us. We can only control how we manage our experiences and what we take away from them. Deciding to learn as much as possible and take those lessons forward will help us forge a path that is strong and defined. Overcoming problems builds confidence. This life is a blessing. Everything we experience can bless us in some way. Understanding and accepting that will make the journey easier.

Today if you’re worried or upset, concerned about a situation in your life, be confident. You’ve been through difficult challenges before and you have prevailed. You will find your way through this as well. You have everything you need. Be strong. Keep your eyes focused on the road ahead and you will find your way.

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Fences

2 Sep

If we live purposefully and with determination, our lives can be a great adventure.  We can try anything we want and push our limits as far as we wish.  There is nothing we can’t do.  But although we can make all the personal decisions we want, we’ll sometimes run into fences that block our path.  We may be able to see over them or through them to the other side but they stand in our way and keep us from going forward.  If they are tall enough and strong enough they may be impenetrable.  There may be no way to get over them from where we are.  However, no fence goes on forever.  Every fence, no matter how long or high, has a place to cross and if we look for it we’ll find it.  But we have to want to get to the other side badly enough to search.  It might mean going out of our way or even backing up a bit to get there but if we look hard enough and persevere long enough there is no fence that will stop us.  We just have to decide we’re going to get to the other side no matter what.  We can do anything we want.  If we want to cross over any barrier, we will.

Few things in life go as planned.  There are always unforeseen events and complications and sometimes it can seem what we want to do is impossible.  But often whether something is within our reach or not depends on how much we want to achieve it.  If we try to do something we aren’t really convinced we want, the first obstacle may end our journey.  But if there is something very important to us, something we can’t imagine not getting to, even if serious complications arise we will find a way to navigate them.  It’s easy to say, “I couldn’t do it,” and sometimes that may be true.  But often what we really mean is it wasn’t worth what was required to accomplish the goal.  There are times when after we begin a journey we realize it’s far more difficult than we imagined and we may decide to let it go.  That doesn’t mean we couldn’t do it, but that we’ve chosen not to do it.  We can make any decisions we like and we can change our course any time we choose.  If something doesn’t work, if the fence is higher or longer than we want to navigate, we can change our minds and move onto another goal.  We can choose where we go at every turn.

If we decide to change our course, the decision is ours and ours alone.  We don’t have to justify it, we don’t need permission, and we don’t have to feel bad for deciding to go another way.  Others in our lives may have ideas about what we should and shouldn’t do but their opinions need not control our decisions.  We can live our lives our way.  If we want to change our minds, we can.  But if we determine to stay the course despite the fences and obstacles in our way, each day we continue forward will bring us closer to our goal.  We can take the time we need to succeed.  We can do it our own way.  Our lives belong to us.  We are perfectly capable of managing them and doing what is most important to us.

Today if you’re on a path and there’s a fence in your way but you want to stay the course, keep walking.  Walk beside it until you find the opening you need.  If you want to change course and do something else you can.  There isn’t anything you can’t do.  Whatever you decide is best for you is the right decision.  You have everything you need to succeed.

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