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Looking Back

7 Jul

“True nobility lies in being superior to your former self.”  Ernest Hemingway

Life is a process of continual learning and every new situation brings with it parameters we must figure out and find our way through.  Sometimes we get the answers right the first time, and other times we may take a wrong turn that takes us somewhere we don’t want to go but teaches us something new.  There is no life manual with an answer key to help us through.  We find our way as we go step by step.  Sometimes our choices are complicated and take us through situations we’d rather avoid but each turn, right or wrong, gives us tools to go forward more effectively.  Constant change occurs not only in the world around us but within us and moves us a little further down the road to our destination.  As time passes we may look back at our former selves and the decisions we made.  Because we have additional wisdom and understanding we might wonder what we were thinking when we chose the wrong road.  But we are where we are at every moment.  If we do the best we can with each step, even if we falter, we will find the way ahead.  True nobility comes as we gain the attributes we desire most and continue to move forward.

There are moments in our lives that are nearly perfect.  Things go well and we are happy.  Those moments cannot last forever but while we’re in them we can’t imagine how things could go wrong.  But life is ever changing and nothing stays the same forever.  When our situations change and we face difficulty or challenges that feel beyond what we can manage we may lose our confidence in the future.  Even in our darkest hour when it seems nothing will go right we can have faith that things will change.  We are stronger than we think we are and there really isn’t anything so powerful that it will overcome us.  We can endure difficulty, even disaster, by taking it one step at a time.  Nothing can keep us from prevailing and as we struggle we gain strength and wisdom to take forward on the road ahead.

Looking back we may see decisions we made that cause shame and heartache.  We may struggle to forgive ourselves for choices that brought hardship to us or those around us.  Nothing can change the past and it’s better to see the situation as it is, accept the choice we made, and learn as much as possible from the experience.  Then we can let it go and move forward with renewed confidence carrying with us all the knowledge we’ve gained and increased insight for the road ahead.  Life is complex and nobody is perfect.  We will all falter at some point.  We may forgive ourselves and move forward with renewed confidence learning all we can from the past.

Today if you’re looking back and are disappointed in a decision you’ve made, learn all you can from the experience and let it go.  You are wiser now than you’ve ever been and you can make excellent decisions.  Leave the past behind and look ahead to the destination you seek.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and do well.  You have everything you need to succeed and find joy.

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One Tiny Seed

29 Jun

Seeds are amazing things. They carry within them great possibilities for growth and impact on their surroundings. Even very tiny seeds can produce large plants capable of creating fruits or vegetables, or hundreds and hundreds of blooms. It’s incredible to see them in their perfect small form and imagine what they will become. Of course, seeds don’t produce anything unless they are planted, watered and protected. They will sit dormant and all their potential will wait until they find a place to sprout and grow. All our ideas, dreams and plans for the future are like tiny seeds. We think about them and hold them close but until we begin to put them into action and do what is needed to make them a reality they will sit dormant. It’s fun to imagine what our lives may become and to think about our dreams coming true. We can hold onto our seeds for as long as we like. We can tuck them away safely and keep them to ourselves. If we want them to become real we must bring them forward and take the first steps toward making them grow. We have all the tools we need to accomplish anything we desire. There isn’t a dream we can’t work toward or a goal we can’t achieve but first we have to plant the seeds to allow them to grow. We can be confident in our ability to succeed at any task and overcome any hurdle that stands in our way. There really isn’t anything too daunting or difficult for us to manage. We have all the courage we need to proceed. All we have to do is begin and all our dreams can become reality.

We can spend years imagining what could be and where we could go. Dreaming is wonderful and it helps us define what we really want, but dreaming is like blowing feathers in the wind. They are delightful to see as they float upward but eventually they settle and fade. Until we begin to make our dreams come true they will always be out of reach, something nice to think about but nothing we can hold onto. We can change our imaginings into reality and accomplish anything we truly desire. When we stop dreaming about what could be and begin doing what is needed to make our dreams come true everything will come to us.

Some people spend their entire lives hoping for things to happen. If they are unhappy they hope something will change their situation. If they are bored they hope someone will come along to bring them excitement. Hope springs eternal and we may be filled with it but if we really want to change it’s up to us to make it happen. Hope is not action and action is the only thing that moves us forward. We can do what is needed to change our lives, we can plant our seeds and make all our hopes and dreams come true.

Today if you’ve been holding tight to a dream you really want to come true, begin doing what is needed to make it real. You can do anything you want and achieve anything you desire. Take action and begin moving forward. There isn’t anything too far away for you to reach. All your dreams can come true. Today take the first step and you’ll achieve everything you desire.

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Seeking Diligently

26 Jun

As we travel through our lives we may come upon many complicated situations, problems, confusions or obstacles we must navigate and solve.  There is an answer to every question we encounter but sometimes those answers may elude us.  Although we know we can solve any problem we face, finding the solution may take serious work and thought and we may find ourselves stumped from time to time.  When looking for answers, often how quickly we find them depends on how seriously we seek them.  If the issue isn’t too bothersome we may half-heartedly look for the solution or we may even ignore the problem hoping it’ll just fade away.  When the problem is serious or impacts our lives greatly we may be more motivated to look for the answer.  It’s unlikely we’ll find any answer we aren’t looking for and if we really want to find it, seeking diligently will help us get there as quickly as possible.  To be diligent means to be steady and energetic.  Solutions we need won’t just appear out of nowhere.  We must make the search for them a priority, and seek them earnestly and seriously in order to find them.  Complications come to all of us and the only way to live in harmony is to find the answers we need so we may navigate them effectively and with as little stress as possible.  Seeking diligently will allow us to find the solutions we need as quickly as possible to solve any problem we are facing.  We have everything we need to live our lives well.  We can resolve issues and find peace and comfort going forward.

There may be times when things go wrong we feel the problem is too intense or too complicated for us to face.  When that happens we may purposely look away and refuse to see what is really happening.  But looking away will never change the facts and until we decide to see things as they really are we will be stuck.  Nobody want’s trouble in their lives but when trouble comes to us, looking away and ignoring it will never help us get through it.  We can see everything clearly and begin the process of openly and diligently searching for answers until we find what we need to move forward.

Sometimes a quick fix or a temporary patch feels like an option to help us resolve a difficult situation.  They may work for a time but because they are not permanent the problem will return and we’ll have to solve it again.  Instead of facing the issue over and over again it’s better to take the time we need to really examine it and find a permanent solution.  Being able to move forward without dragging along complications from the past will enable us to live more fully and successfully.  We have everything we need to live happily.  Seeking diligently and then applying the answers we find will enable us to move forward with confidence and clarity.

Today if you’re facing a difficult situation that is complicated and daunting, look at it clearly.  You have everything you need to solve any problem you face.  Seek diligently and the answers will come.  Move forward with confidence.  There isn’t anything you can’t do and do well.  Success is there for you.

 

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Refusing to Go

22 Jun

We all face times when questions of ethics and honesty come into play. Some situations are so obvious we easily decide which way is right and continue forward without much notice. However, there may be times when it’s a bit harder to choose. Our conscience will guide us if we’ve been cultivating honest and honorable decisions and have chosen to do what’s right in the past. But if we’re easily swayed by the promises of others or what we may gain in the short term, we may choose paths that are less noble. When we purposely make a bad decision the first time we may feel pangs of guilt and regret. But if we return and make another bad decision, and then another, over time we may become inured to the situation. After a while guilt and remorse may not even appear and our conscience may become numb. Our lives reflect every choice we make and bad choices rarely bring lasting happiness. We may find immediate gratification from them but they cannot bring us peace in the long run. We deserve to be happy and if we find we’re going the wrong way – no matter how long we’ve been on the road – we can stop and refuse to go any further. It is never too late to correct our direction and make better choices. The road ahead is ours to choose. We can choose what is best instead of what is easy, what is right instead of what is convenient, and what will bring us happiness. We can trust ourselves going forward and cultivate a strong and valiant conscience.

The world is filled with compromises. We can’t always have things exactly the way we want them and we learn to give as we move forward. Compromise is an important skill but it rarely works to compromise our ethics or values. There really is nothing worth the price of our honesty. We may be convinced that if we bend a little in the wrong direction just this once it will move us forward and we won’t have to do it again. We may tell ourselves we must be dishonest in order to get something we need but there is no way to justify dishonesty no matter what is at stake. Our integrity is our most valuable possession. If we abuse it we will lose the trust and respect of those around us, and in time, will lose it for ourselves.

A strong and noble conscience is a priceless asset that will guide us through many complicated and difficult choices. If we always choose the right in every situation we will gain the strength we need to make difficult decisions wisely. When we choose integrity and wisdom over ease and complacency we find happiness. Refusing to take the wrong road will bring us continued happiness and peace. It’s not always easy to choose wisely and we may be sorely tested but we have everything we need to prevail.

Today if you’re facing a hard choice and there are immediate benefits to choosing poorly, stop and look at the long road ahead. Your choices define who you are. Choose nobility and refuse to go down the path of dishonesty. You have everything you need to be happy. Make your decisions carefully. Be wise. There is so much joy and peace waiting for you. Good decisions will bring them to you.

 

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Shaking it Off

6 Jun

We live in a big world with lots of problems and many conflicts. It’s sometimes difficult to see how everything will ever work out where there is so much strife and contention everywhere. We may feel afraid or nervous about our futures not sure of how secure we will be or what will happen. There are a lot of problems and sometimes it seems all we hear about and see are the things that are going wrong. We may feel unsure of our own personal safety, uncertain about what will happen to us, and lose confidence in our ability to succeed. There are a lot of influences in the world, and some of them may threaten us. It’s hard to see around them and fear may encompass our lives as we face them. While it’s true there are many problems and there is no way to see our future, it’s also true that we have everything we need now to be strong and confident and face whatever we must. We can hold onto faith in our ability to succeed no matter what forces stand in our way. We are smart and capable and if we trust in ourselves and hold firm to what we truly believe in we will succeed. There will always be winds blowing against us and reasons to quit and give up. But nothing can stop us if we are determined to continue forward. We can shake off our doubts and hold strong to the faith we have in ourselves. We are capable of doing anything we set our minds to. We have more courage and strength than we realize and if we trust ourselves going forward nothing will stop us.

Fear is something we all must face from time to time. Some of us are tenacious and rarely succumb to it and some of us struggle with it every day. But fear is just an emotion triggered by feelings of threat or the belief that something dangerous may be upon us. Often there is no real evidence that disaster is headed our way. The trick is to see things as they really are and not merely as they seem to be. If we clearly look at our situation objectively we may find we are more secure than we thought and can shake off any uncertainty. Fear is irrational but we can make rational choices. We can decide to be courageous and clear in our direction and continue forward with confidence.

There are no guarantees in life. We can plan effectively and ponder every possible complication and still things may go awry. There are limitless things that might go wrong and if we worry about them instead of focusing on the goal we may get stuck standing still. It’s impossible to move forward and stand still at the same time. Even if everything goes wrong and the bottom falls out we can still step forward. Nothing is strong enough or complex enough to hold us in place. We can shake off the doubt, push through the wind, and keep going.

Today if you’re facing something that is making you afraid or there is something you’re worried may happen, take a step forward anyway. No matter what goes wrong you have everything you need to keep moving. You are stronger than you think you are and there isn’t anything too big for you to face. Shake off your doubts. You have everything you need to succeed. The whole world is there for you and you will have it.

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