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Happy or Sad

26 Apr

We go through a lot of things in this life. Sometimes all runs smoothly and we feel happy and content. Other times things go wrong and we’re stressed and unsettled. There is no way to predict what each day will bring and even if we try our hardest to ensure things go well, sometimes there’s a ringer we didn’t plan on and we fall flat. We can’t control a lot of what comes to us but we can control how we react to it. If we’ve had a disappointment it may impact how we feel and what we do. But we can control our behavior and our attitude can affect how we see things and how we go forward. If we want to fall into despair and believe that things will never be right again, we can. Or we can see our disappointments, no matter how great they are, as passages leading to something new. We may not feel content, and we may be unsure, but we can still find joy no matter what we’re going through. If we want to, we can choose to be happy despite any disappointment. Happiness doesn’t just come to us. It’s often a choice we make. No matter what comes we’ll handle it, and as we do, we can find comfort. Since there isn’t anything we can’t manage, we can go forward with confidence and grace, and we can do it with joy.

This life has a lot of ups and downs. Situations and other people affect our lives continually. Those influences can be both a benefit and a detriment. When things go wrong and we’re struggling it can be hard to find joy. But we can be genuine in our disappointment and still look forward with confidence. We can go through hard times, face them head on, and find peace knowing we’re doing the best we can. No matter how difficult the trial, no matter how upset or sad we are or how disappointed we feel, we can still decide to find happiness going forward. No problem is permanent and everything shakes out eventually. We may end up on a completely different road than we thought we were headed for, but that just means the journey has taken a turn. It isn’t over, and we’ve only modified our direction. The twists and turns in our lives take us to new places we may never have dreamed of and wherever they take us we will find our way.

We are often more capable than we think we are. There really isn’t anything we can’t do. When we face difficult trials and serious disappointments, we have the resources within us to manage them. At first we may not believe we can get through but as time passes we’ll see we are coping and moving forward. If we focus on the goal instead of the journey, and the destination instead of the rocky road we’re on, we will get through more easily. And if we determine to find happiness in each day no matter what comes, the journey will be brighter and easier to navigate. Happy or sad, it’s often up to us. Our shoulders are strong enough to bear whatever burdens come. And the sun will continue to shine. If we focus on our strength instead of the heavy load we’re carrying, we will find joy and comfort.

Today if you’re feeling sad or disappointed, if the road seems impossible to navigate, look up. You’ve come so far already and there isn’t anything you can’t do. You have more blessings than you can count. Think about those and focus on the road ahead. Take control. There isn’t anything you can’t do, and you can do it with joy.

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At the Edge

13 Apr

Most of us want to do our best in all our endeavors.  We try to learn the things, and seek the best outcomes for everything we do.  Sometimes something new is intimidating and although we are motivated, we may not be sure we can accomplish it.  If we push forward we may eventually get to a place where the next step is outside our comfort zone and we are at the edge of mastery.  We haven’t stepped over the line yet, but it’s right there.  When we reach those moments we may stop, unsure if we can really manage going forward.  Sometimes if we succeed in taking that next step it will change everything, and even if the change is something we want, we may feel tremulous and nervous about taking it.  When we’re at the edge, at the very end of one thing and the beginning of another, it can be unnerving.  We wonder if we can really do it.  We wonder what will happen if we do.  And what will happen if we don’t.  Every time we change there is uncertainty.  We know where we are now and even if we really want the change, it’s new territory.  But we can do anything we want, and we have the courage to push through any challenge.  When we reach the edge of something new, we can step right over it, and keep going.

There are lot of reasons to keep things the same.  We know what to expect, we know how to manage our regular routine, and we’re comfortable with the way things are.  But reaching out for something new enhances us and makes our lives richer and more meaningful.  We can learn and do things we’ve always thought about trying, and we can succeed.  If we stay in the same routine throughout our lives we miss the chance to see how far we can really go, and what we can do when we put our minds to it.  We are all capable of far more than we think we are.  There really isn’t anything that is too hard or difficult for us to manage if we work at it.  And when we gain new skills, learn new things, and go new places, our confidence rises and we understand more about our lives and ourselves.

Fear is something we all deal with.  For some of us it’s a rare experience, but for others it’s a constant issue.  It can keep us from trying new things and hold us back.  If it’s strong enough it can cripple our lives if we give into it.  Courage isn’t the lack of fear.  Courage is going forward despite it.  New and unfamiliar territory carries with it a level of uncertainty and if we focus on that instead of the goal we’re seeking, we may never take the first step toward changing.  But if we want something new in our lives, we can look beyond the uncertainty and any fear associated with it, and move forward anyway.  We are capable of doing amazing things but first we must believe we can.  If we have faith and take the first step into the unknown it will lead us to the next.  Each step we take will bring us more confidence and the fear will lessen as we get closer to the goal.  We can do anything.  It’s all within our reach.

Today if you’re at the edge of something you want, and aren’t sure about stepping over it, go forward.  You are worth more than you realize and you can do anything.  There isn’t anything too complicated or daunting for you.  Go forward with confidence.  You have everything you need to succeed.

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Turbulence

11 Apr

When we’re traveling by air and take a seat on an airplane, we hope for a safe flight that is smooth and without complications. We want to get to our destination without undue stress or unnecessary excitement. Generally that’s what happens. We fly from place to place without incident or worry. But sometimes because of weather conditions we have turbulence. When that happens, the pilot puts the seat belt sign on and we’re asked to stay in our seats. If there is only minor turbulence most travelers endure the small bumps without concern. But if there is a ferocious storm or high winds, things may get intense as the plane is bounced around, and sometimes falls for what seems like forever before correcting. When that happens, turbulence is a completely different experience. Although air travel is by far the safest mode of transportation, it can be unnerving and frightening to sit belted in during severe turbulence. Although we may feel confident that everything will be fine, we may also feel worry and fear. We can have turbulence in our personal lives as well.  Everyone wants their lives to go along smoothly, and we don’t want difficult times to come upon us.  However, chances are they probably will, and things will get bumpy.  We may feel concerned and unsure.  But just like being on a plane, we can buckle in, sit tight, and get through.

No matter how pro-active we are, no matter how we prepare and plan, sometimes things go awry. There are a lot of people in our lives and they often impact what happens to us either purposefully for inadvertently. There is an old saying that if you want to see God laugh, make plans. It can feel that way sometimes. But all we can do is make the best decisions possible and hope things work out the way we want them to. When they don’t, we have to find another way. There are endless opportunities to change our minds and there is never just one way to do things. If we’re facing a storm, and the plane starts to fall a little, we can regroup and correct our course.

Because this life is all about our relationships with others and a lot of what we do depends on their decisions, there will be times when we’ll be hurt. It’s not possible to live our entire lives without being hurt from time to time. If the pain is extensive and we feel devastated, it can be like trying to navigate through strong winds in a horrible storm. We may slip, we might fall, it may be difficult to see the road ahead, and we might think we can’t survive. But there isn’t anything too hard for us to overcome. There is no storm so powerful that it will leave us hopeless. We can find a seat belt by focusing on our abilities, and we can sit tight as we figure out what to do next. We don’t have to go into the storm alone either. We can get help from those we trust and we can find our way. Turbulence isn’t pleasant. It’s upsetting when things get tossed around and we lose our footing. But no storm lasts forever, and no wind can blow without stopping. We have everything we need to make it through.

Today if things are bumpy and you’re unsure, and if there are problems that are making it hard to navigate, hang on. This is just turbulence. Sit tight and take your time. You have everything you need to find solid ground again and there are clear skies ahead. Keep your focus and trust your instincts. You will make it to the other side and find your way. You are stronger and smarter than you realize.

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Today

26 Mar

Every day we live we have the chance to do anything we want to do. Every day brings with it the promise of happiness. Even if today doesn’t not turn out to be the best day of our lives, it is the only day we have. Yesterday is gone and will never return, and tomorrow is out of our control. All we have is today. We can decide how we’ll live it, what we’ll do, where we’ll go, and what we’ll learn. If we make the most of it, today may bring untold blessings and countless benefits. If we squander it just going through the motions it will pass, and nothing will be gained. We cannot stop the march of time. We can’t make it last longer or slow down. We can only navigate it as it comes and do our best to make the most of it. It’s easy to close our eyes and drift through the hours, mindless of what we’re doing and oblivious of what’s available. But our chance to live right now is fleeting, and the hours will be wasted if we don’t pay attention and live wide awake.

Today is a good day to start. If we’ve been thinking about something we want to do, somewhere we want to go, or someone we want to see, today is the perfect day to begin. We can take the first step on a new journey, or begin the plans we’ve been making and putting off. Sometimes just taking the first step is the hardest but once we’ve set our foot in the direction we want to go we can be off and running. Every dream is a possibility. Every goal is achievable, and today is a good time to start making them happen. We can set time aside and really begin to move in the direction we want to go. We can reorganize our priorities to make sure we continue moving forward, and we can succeed. If we aren’t quite ready, today is the day to start making a plan. Unrealized goals often bring with them frustration and unhappiness. If we are consciously working toward where we want to be and actively pursuing what we want to gain, we will find contentment even before we reach the goal. When we’re on the road moving forward we will gain the confidence we need to succeed.

If we’ve been grieving or hurting from something in the past, today is a good day to start letting go. No matter how many tears we’ve cried, no matter how many sleepless nights we’ve endured – it’s enough. Maybe we can’t let go of all the hurt but today we could look up and let happiness creep in just a little. Pain sometimes has its own timetable and we can’t rush it, but we can give ourselves a breather. We can take a day off from the worry and sorrow. It will still be there tomorrow if we return to it. But if we’ve had enough, we can choose today to let it go and move forward. Happiness is a gift we give to ourselves. Nobody else can give it to us. We have to decide to take it and make it a reality in our lives. This life flies by in an instant. We can choose to be happy and make the most of each day, and today is the perfect day to start.

Today – if you’ve been wanting to do something and haven’t begun, start. If you’ve been suffering and are ready to move forward, let it go. You are worth more than you know. The world is blessed because you are here, and your presence brings light to us all. Choose today to move forward and be happy. You deserve every happiness. You can have it. Today is the perfect day to get it.

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Tadpoles

25 Mar

Tadpoles are interesting creatures.  They are generally water creatures, and have gills, no legs, and a tail.  But their form is transitional.  Their quest is to become frogs – an entirely different creature that looks and lives completely differently.  As tadpoles mature, their gills are replaced by lungs so they can breathe air, their tails disappear, and they grow legs.  Their mouths change and become very wide, and their diet changes as well.  The metamorphosis from one creature to the other is dramatic and amazing.  The change is extreme and occurs naturally without intervention.  We aren’t tadpoles but we change as we grow as well.  We aren’t going to grow another set of legs, but the metamorphosis we go through as we change into our unique and genuine selves can be dramatic.  But our changes don’t always happen without intervention.  Life gives us challenges and trials, and as we navigate each one we change a little.  Our changes may not be dramatic, although they can be.  Change is a constant in our lives, and if we are wise the changes we go through will take us to who we really want to be.

When we stretch our abilities and push ourselves to move forward, we may feel discomfort.  It’s like deciding to start running to get into shape.  There are lots of benefits to getting more physical exercise, but getting to those benefits means we have to go through a transition.  At first we may struggle to get through the run.  The next day we may feel pain because we’re doing something new.  It may be difficult to manage, but if we stick to it and continue day after day, we’ll become stronger and gain the benefits we are seeking.  Change isn’t always easy.  At first turning another way may feel foreign and uncomfortable, but as we practice we’ll find our rhythm and the behaviors we want will become routine.  But it doesn’t happen overnight.  The tadpole needs time to change into a frog, and we need to time to change as well.

Like most situations in our lives, the big changes generally take longer to adjust to than the smaller ones.  If we want to change our route to work it will take little effort, but if we want to stop smoking it will be much harder.  No matter what it takes, if we want to change anything, we can.  Our lives are not carved in stone and we aren’t pre-determined to do anything.  We can change anything we like.  There may be pressure from those around us to keep things the same because it’s comfortable and rocking the boat can unbalance things.  But if we want to we can push forward and once on the other side, our balance will return.  There isn’t anything we can’t do and we don’t have to live a life we don’t want.  We are in control and can choose any path going forward.

Today if you’ve been thinking about a change you really want to make, take a step toward it.  You know where you want to go and how you want to get there.  The first step will open the door to the destination.  You can do anything.  You can decide how your life will go.  Begin today moving toward where you want to be.  You’re only steps away.

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