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When it Hurts

14 Feb

We make millions of decisions as we go through our lives. Some of them are easy and we process them quickly and move on. We want to make good choices and choose the best possible options available so we can be happy with the results that follow. That’s sometimes quick and easy but there are other times when our decisions are more difficult. It’s hard to make the best decision when that choice will take away something we want or move us in a direction we don’t want to go. We may be in a situation where the best path forward in the long run hurts us right now. The best things in our lives are worth working for and sometimes in order to get to a goal we must endure uncomfortable situations along the way. It takes courage to choose well and even more courage when those choices hurt. Sometimes in order to accomplish our dreams we must sacrifice something along the way. We can weigh out each choice, see the road ahead and choose the best option going forward. If it’s a hard decision and creates discomfort we can walk through it, learn all we can and use that knowledge to navigate the way ahead. We know what we want most and we can do what it takes to get it.

Life isn’t always a bed of roses. Sometimes it may seem that everything works against us and no matter what we do we can’t make any headway. In those complicated times when things get difficult and we’re inundated with issues and problems, we may consider giving up on the goal altogether. It’s hard to keep trying when everywhere we turn there’s another wall in our way. But nothing is impossible and if we’re facing obstacles it only means we need to find another road forward. There are countless ways to any goal we set. If one road doesn’t get us there, we can choose another. If that one ends in a detour we can turn again. We can modify our course as many times as it takes to get to the destination and as long as we don’t quit, we don’t fail.

There is no way to know all the complications we may face when we begin a journey. We can make excellent plans for how we’ll proceed, do all the research we can to make sure our plans will work, and still things may go wrong. If we really want to reach the goal we can prepare for any eventuality no matter how complex, and determine that we will persevere and continue forward. If we are determined we will more effectively navigate any disappointments or problems we encounter and even if we must back up for a time, will be able to continue moving ahead. There really isn’t anything we can’t do if we are determined. We can keep stepping forward in the face of trouble and if we refuse to quit we will win. Temporary setbacks are only opportunities to re-focus. We can do anything. There isn’t anything we can’t face and overcome.

Today if you must make a decision to move forward that is uncomfortable and difficult, keep your eyes on the goal ahead. There is nothing too complex for you to overcome and you will find the answers you need. Success is there waiting for you. Choose well and you will reach it.

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Shields Up

7 Feb

When we’re trying hard to accomplish a difficult task and face complications, we can press forward with determination and courage. If the odds are against us and we have little support from those around us, continuing the struggle alone may make the trial harder. But if we really believe in what we’re trying to accomplish and are unrelenting in our pursuit, we can continue on no matter what challenges we must face. A shield is anything that protects us. There are physical shields we can use to be safe but we also have personal shields inside us that give us courage and help us move forward confidently. They include our determination, our stamina, our unwavering dedication and our willingness to try. We can hold our invisible shields in front of us and press forward when we’re facing difficult challenges. They are endless and strong, and with their constant availability we can accomplish almost anything. But we must be diligent to keep our shields up against the barriers in our way. If we let them fall and lose our confidence the chances of success will diminish. We have everything we need to find success and we can navigate anything before us and manage it well. We can use our shields to help us along and be confident we can succeed.

There is nothing we can’t try and if we are determined to win it will always be too early to quit. We can stay the course and continue for as long as we choose. If we get stuck, we can stop for a time, regroup and rethink our plans forward and then begin again. Some things take a long time to accomplish but if we’re dedicated to making them happen we can keep moving forward. If we quit, we are destined to fail. There is no way to win if we stop trying. If the challenge becomes too great, we can pause for now and wait until things change. Success if often about timing. What we want to do may not be possible right now but life is always changing and our circumstances change as well. What didn’t work before may work later. Setting a goal aside doesn’t mean we’ve forsaken it. We can take a break and let things roll forward without us and then return to our objective later.

Our regrets often reflect what we didn’t try. Our willingness to try for all our dreams is what brings us happiness. Some things won’t work no matter what we do, and some things will come easily. There is no way to know what we can accomplish until we put ourselves out there and give it our best. We can often do far more than we think we can. We have unlimited personal resources. We have the confidence we need, our shields to help us go forward, and our desires to lead the way. There really isn’t anything we can’t do. The world is there for those who take it. We can make our dreams come true, accomplish the seemingly impossible and find great success. It’s all there for us.

Today if you’ve been pushing hard to make something happen and you feel overwhelmed by the struggle, keep your shields up. Take another step forward. You have all the wisdom and strength you need to win. You are invincible. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Keep moving forward. Success is just ahead.

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One Wrong Move

6 Feb

Every single day we make thousands of decisions and most of the time things go as planned. We try hard to make choices that bring us the results we want and don’t complicate our lives with problems. But nothing ever goes perfectly and there will be times when our decisions turn out badly. We might choose unwisely, or decide to do something for the wrong reason and experience sorrow or discomfort. Even if we’ve made 10,000 good decisions before we erred we may allow one mistake to ruin our confidence. If we focus on what we’ve done wrong instead of all the things we’ve done right, we may end up feeling like failures. It’s illogical to base our success on one botched decision when we put it up against the thousands of good decisions we make, but sometimes that’s exactly what we do. One wrong move doesn’t diminish all the good we’ve done. We can keep our focus and remember we are capable and strong and generally do things well. Everyone takes a step backward from time to time but taking a step back doesn’t prevent us from stepping forward again. We can correct any mistake we make, keep our eyes pointed ahead, and continue on with confidence.

There are few mistakes that are so damaging we can’t recover from them. Most of the time whatever we’ve done can be corrected and amended. We may feel great disappointment if we’ve faltered but that will give us added determination to rectify any problems that result. We don’t have to stay anywhere we don’t want to be and we can modify whatever is needed. No matter what we’re facing today, it will change and we can make sure it changes in a way that is positive. We all make mistakes but focusing on them, obsessing about them and allowing them to rob us of our confidence will not correct them. We can be objective, remove our feelings from the situation long enough to find workable solutions, and then proceed ahead sure that we will win.

Everyone has opinions about everything. If we’re in trouble, we may seek the advice of those around us in an effort to find answers. We may listen to all the suggestions and counsel we receive, and determine the best way forward. We can take any advice we’ve been given or after hearing other ideas we may uncover the answers we’re seeking from within. There really is no complication too difficult for us to figure out. Even if we’ve caused a problem we can solve it. There are many roads in life. Sometimes we choose one that ends in a detour or takes us to a ditch too large to cross. But we can turn back around and find another way. We are smart enough to figure out anything we face and wise enough to choose the best way forward.

Today if you’ve taken a step back because of a decision you’ve made, turn around and find your way forward again. You have everything you need to solve any problem before you. You are wise and capable and no matter what the situation is, you’ll find the answers you need. Success is always waiting for you. Walk toward it and be confident.

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Surprise!

1 Feb

We have a lot of different relationships throughout time. Sometimes they are long term and we spend years sharing our lives with someone else. If things go well, we may have a lifetime of mutual experiences and many memories. However, sometimes our relationships end. The reasons are many and if the reason is very painful or we’ve been hurt badly, leaving the partnership may cause us serious discomfort. As time goes by we will heal from the disappointment of the loss, the sting of betrayal, or the sadness of grief. At some point, we may unexpectedly run into the person we’ve lost. Maybe we see them in passing or they show up where we are. If we’re still healing from the break it may take our breath away. The surprise of seeing someone who has hurt us deeply when we’re trying hard to heal may stop us in our tracks. Our feelings from the original event may come rushing back and we may believe we haven’t moved forward at all. Unexpected surprises with bad memories may shake us but we can regain our footing. Nothing changes just because we see someone again. We are still on our way forward and in control of our lives. If we’re not ready to engage them and aren’t compelled to, we may simply walk away. If we must speak to them we can be polite and keep our exchange brief. We can do what feels right and remain in control. We know what we want and where we’re headed. There is no surprise sufficient enough to stop our progress forward.

When we have a seriously bad memory from which we are trying to recover and it involves someone else, we may wish we could move to another planet to ensure we would never see them again. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible and even if we move there is no guarantee they won’t show up at some point. Life has a way of circling around and the odds of running into someone from our pasts isn’t always as remote as we may wish. Instead of hoping we’ll never see them again, it’s better to simply plan for what we’ll do when and if that happens. We can prepare ourselves for that possibility so if it does occur we’ll be better able to manage it. Preparing for it will help us navigate it more effectively if it happens.

Our lives are ours to direct and design. There will always be bumps along the road and unexpected events that sometimes stop our progress for a time. It really doesn’t matter what complications arise. We have everything we need to manage any obstacle and find our way around it. There is nothing strong enough to stop our progress forward. We are strong and capable, and we know what we want and where we want to go. We can continue forward and achieve greatness, and there is nothing sufficiently strong enough to keep us in place. We are in control and we will find success.

Today if you’ve been surprised by a blast from the past that has upended your progress forward, take a moment to regroup and see the situation clearly. You are strong and capable and no matter what you face today you will be successful. Look forward. The road is there for you. You have everything you need to continue on and win.

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Cut and Paste

20 Jan

Life brings us all kinds of experiences.  Whether they are good or bad depends on what’s happening and where we are.  We learn something new with everything we experience and decide as we move forward what we’ll take with us.  We don’t have to carry everything along as we go and can cut the things we don’t want.  If we experience something that won’t benefit us we can simply leave it behind.  However, if we learn something that helps us get to our goals we can hold onto it and incorporate it going forward. The trick is to accurately discern between the two.  Sometimes there may be things we’ll want to forget, especially if there are moments we don’t feel we did our best, but there will be other things we learned that strengthen us and give us additional courage.  We can hold onto new behaviors that help us or make us more confident.  As each challenge comes and goes, if we’re careful and pay attention, we will find things to take with us that enrich us and deepen our understanding.  Life is a great educator.  There really isn’t anything we’ll go through that won’t teach us something and no matter how much we’ve learned, there will always be more waiting for us.  Learning to cut and paste the things we experience will help us get the most out of each lesson and move us forward more effectively.  We are capable of changing and learning many things and as we travel through our journey can find our way to where we most want to be.

Some experiences stick to us because of their intensity or difficulty.  If the experience was very painful, even after it changes we may have trouble letting go and moving on. If the process created a permanent change in our lives or our relationships have been affected, we may grieve for what has been lost and it may be difficult to find our footing again.  If we’ve been hurt deeply we may need time to heal.  Even very good changes that are intense may take time to adjust to but we have everything we need to manage our lives well and no matter what happens we’ll find our way.

Life changes constantly and no matter how we may want things to stay the same, everything will eventually change.  If we are attached to keeping our lives in stasis, if we are intimidated by the process of change or are afraid of what the changes will bring, we may struggle to let go.  But we can cut what is no longer useful.  We can leave the baggage behind that we don’t need to carry.  We can let go of anything that is holding us back.  There is a long road ahead filled with promise and expectation and we can walk forward unencumbered by pain from the past.

Today if you’ve experienced something that has changed you in some way and you feel different than before, move forward with confidence.  You can let go of the things you no longer need, hold onto to what is helpful, and find success.  You’ve learned so much already and you know where you want to go.  You are courageous and wise enough to create a brilliant future filled with happiness.

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