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Walking a Tightrope

24 Nov

Our lives can sometimes get quite complicated. Perhaps our personal relationships are strained and we are unsure of how to go forward. Maybe our jobs have changed and expectations are now higher than we’re comfortable. Or perhaps our financial situation has shifted and made planning more difficult. When we’re in situations that are stressful and precarious, and we’re trying to figure out how to navigate them, it can feel like we’re walking on a tightrope. One quick turn the wrong way and we could fall. It’s unsettling when things aren’t stable or are more difficult than we feel we can tolerate. But tolerate them we must until they change. The wire may wobble as we try to move forward. We may feel unsettled or nervous, but with patience and care we can keep our balance, even if the ground is far below us. Instead of looking down and imagining the fall, we can keep our eyes trained ahead and take a step forward.

When we’re struggling to find our footing, it’s helpful to take things more slowly. If we take a little more time with our decisions and think about them a bit longer, we may be more successful. Running full speed is great when we’re on firm soil, but when we’re suspended in doubt and uncertainty, it’s helpful to go a little slower. Unless we’re facing a deadline of some sort, we may take as much time as we need to figure things out. The important thing isn’t how fast we find the answers, but to reach the right ones so we can gain a firmer foundation. Before we take a step in any direction we need to be sure there is enough rope to hold us. If there is, we can move forward. If not, we need to ponder the situation a little longer and find the answer that works. We can make excellent decisions if we give ourselves the time and consideration we need.

In order to move ahead when we’re in precarious situations it’s important to focus on the end goal. We need to visualize where we want to go and see it clearly in front of us. It’s impossible to navigate difficult situations effectively if we have no idea where we want to end up. Once we have our direction, we can plan our steps going forward. We may stumble, the ground might shake, and the wire may twist a little, but if we focus we can regain our balance and begin again. Slowly moving forward we can hang on through the fog and find our way. There isn’t anything we can’t figure out. Step by step, watching carefully, we can navigate even the most difficult of challenges and succeed.

Today if you’re in a complicated situation and you feel unsure, take your time. Stop for a moment to regroup and see where you need to go. Let yourself have time to think and you’ll find your way. There isn’t anything you can’t conquer. There is nothing you can’t do. See the destination before you and begin going forward. You’ll reach it at the right time and everything will be strong again.

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Digging Deep

21 Oct

When we go through situations in our lives that are difficult, and are really struggling to get through them, we sometimes think we can’t do it. We might think it’s just too hard, and we can’t manage. If there’s a way, we may try to run from the problem and avoid it. But oftentimes, there is only one way out, and that’s straight through it. We have to face where we are and find a way to navigate forward. At those times, we have to dig deep inside ourselves, pull all the strength and courage we have, and muster all our confidence to push through. Those situations are never easy and we may suffer while we’re navigating them. But while we’re pushing ahead, while we’re trying everything we can to move forward, we are learning more about ourselves and gaining strength even as we expend it. The harder the situation is, the stronger we get as we navigate it. It’s difficult to see the blessing when we’re struggling, but it will be apparent when we turn the page.

There are things that come into our lives that shake us, situations that seem insurmountable at first, and they can make us question our ability to survive. But each challenge, no matter how difficult, brings with it the opportunity to grow and learn more about who we are, and what we’re made of. If life was always easy, and nothing ever went wrong, we would never learn the skills we need to become fully aware and capable. The blessings that come to us when we are struggling are generally equal to the intensity of the struggle. If the situation is moderately difficult, we’ll learn a little. But if it’s very hard, and if it tries us deeply, we will grow and learn more about ourselves than we may have thought possible. We can always do more than we think we can, and we’re far stronger than we often recognize. It’s during times of great duress that we find our true strength and valiance. When everything is seemingly against us and we endure, we find out who we really are.

Knowing what we can do and how much we can overcome brings us confidence. When we’re in a situation that is frightening, and threatening, and our hearts are pounding because we’re unsure, we can still go forward. We can face the situation, and push through it to the end. When we do, we feel invincible when it’s over, knowing we faced the hardships, and despite them, got through. The confidence that comes on the other side of the trial is priceless, and teaches us more about ourselves. As we go through life and face one problem after another, navigate one seemingly impossible task at a time, and discover we can conquer them, we learn there is nothing we can’t face. There is nothing that will stop us. There is nothing that will overcome us. And that knowledge will guide us through anything that comes our way.

Today if you’re facing a situation that seems impossibly difficult, be confident. You can conquer whatever you’re facing. You will find your way through, and in the end, you’ll defeat every obstacle. You are strong and capable of facing anything that comes to you. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Keep moving forward.

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Learning to Fly

30 Sep

There is so much we can experience in this life.  We try different things and learn a lot as we go along.  Sometimes there are things we dream of doing, things we want to do but aren’t sure we can manage.  We may be afraid we won’t succeed, or it’s frightening to begin.  We may dream about doing those things for a long time and because we’re unsure we may not try.  But we can accomplish far more than we believe we can.  We are capable of managing great changes, and we can master new things if we want to.  While some things may elude us, we can accomplish just about anything.  But it takes courage to begin.  The first step is the hardest when we’re hesitant.  We have to venture into uncharted territory, take action seemingly in the dark, and proceed with confidence even when we’re unsure.

Baby birds are very tiny and extremely fragile.  They begin their lives safely tucked in a nest that keeps them secure and they have a mother who protects them, feeds them, and watches over them.  But eventually they must stand on the precipice of the nest and make their first attempt at flight.  They can’t stay in the safety of the nest forever, and they must jump.  They have to push off the sturdy edge of the nest, and leap into the air with nothing to support them but their wings – wings they have never used.  Although it’s instinctual, and they are compelled to move forward, it must be with some trepidation that they jump.  It’s the same with us.  We get comfortable in our lives and our routines, and if we want to try something new we have to take the first step.  We have to take the leap of faith and believe we can do it, and we have to jump.

It’s easy to go through life doing the same, comfortable things.  It’s easy to make our lives predictable and simple.  It’s reassuring when are days are constant, and we can, if we choose, keep things in the same order all the time.  But if we really want to experience all this life has to offer, we need to take some risks, and try new things.  We don’t have to put ourselves in danger, but we can stretch to learn something new, something that takes us out of our comfort zone and gives us a new and refreshing perspective.  Often when we chance it and push ourselves into situations and experiences that are new and exciting, we start out tremulous and unsure.  But soon we find we are capable of managing the experience and when we’re on the other side having succeeded, we’ll be amazed and thrilled at what we’ve done.  We overcame the fear and accomplished something we didn’t think we could.  It’s extremely rewarding and helps us understand that just like those baby birds, we can jump, and we can learn to fly.

Today if you’re thinking about trying something new, something you want to do but aren’t sure of, go ahead and jump.  Take the first step.  Be brave.  You can do anything you want.  You can accomplish all your dreams.  There isn’t anything that’s too scary or too difficult for you.  Today is the day to open that door, and push into something new.  You’ll be amazed at what you’ll accomplish.  You’re a rock star.  Go for the gold!

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Looking Up

19 Sep

We go through trying times in life and sometimes when they stack one on the other, or the trial is extreme we can feel overwhelmed, and down and out. We may be so discouraged we can’t see the end of the trouble and become completely disheartened. At times like these we can feel like we’ve hit bottom. There is no hope left, and we feel used up and done. We’re sure we’ll fail, but then something happens unexpectedly that gives us a bounce. Something actually goes right and we are buoyed up once again. We begin to believe things may improve. We begin to look up. We start to see the end of the tunnel and the light beaming in. The skies clear, and we realize all is not lost after all.

Nothing is permanent in life. Everything changes continually. The only real guarantee we have is that whatever we’re going through now will change. But when we’re daunted and feel hopeless, we may forget that. It can seem like the trouble will never end, and if we believe that, it’s hard to go on. But nothing we face will last forever. No matter how bad it gets, no matter how hard it is to face, it’s going to change. Eventually we will solve the problem or it will work itself out. If we can keep that in our minds when we feel down and out, it will help restore our hope and give us the courage to go forward.

When we’re struggling and something good happens it can be hard to trust it. We may be suspicious that it’s not really a blessing but rather a fluke that fools us. But along with trouble, we all experience blessings as well. When they come, we should embrace them and bask in all the joy they bring. Life can bring us down but it can also lift us up. When the up times come, when things go well, when we see the sunshine we should take in as much as we can. The good experiences give us resilience for the times when the bottom falls out. If we focus on the lift we’ll be stronger in times of trial knowing we have the reserves to carry us through.

Today if you feel hopeless, if you’re discouraged and can’t see how to move forward, try to remember the other times you’ve overcome difficult obstacles. Remember the moments when you’ve succeeded and relive the experience again. You will gain strength and courage as you go through this trial. You have everything you need to get through it. You will prevail. You have come so far. Hold on. There is sunshine just around the next bend.

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Deflecting

12 Sep

Things go wrong in our lives and sometimes we get upset. We may be angry about some development or problem that has arisen and struggling to figure it out. When we’re going through the disappointment, and processing the problem, we can get confused when other complications arise. We may be overwhelmed, and frustrated, and feel bad. At that point, if someone comes to us over something small, we might forget our place, lose our temper, and blast them fervently. We displace the anger we’re feeling over the problem we’re facing, and dump it all over an innocent bystander. We’ve all done it and it’s embarrassing, and uncomfortable. We feel bad for making them a target, and need to apologize. It happens when we let our troubles, and not the solutions, become the focus. If all we can see is the problem we may feel there is no hope for success.

Everyone has problems and complications. It’s the nature of life. We go through them on a daily basis. Some are small and need little effort to navigate, and some are all encompassing, and heavy. When we’re going through a difficult time, it’s easy to lose our focus and forget that it’s not the end of the world, nor is it something we can’t face. The road through some issues is long, and arduous, and sometimes we get tired and afraid we may not be able to get through it. But there is nothing we will face that we cannot overcome. It’s often just a question of time and patience. We can’t force the answers to come, but if we try to relax and gain our perspective, we open the door to see them more clearly.

When we’re overwhelmed with an issue, sometimes it’s all we can think about. It consumes us day and night. We can’t sleep, we can’t eat, and we’re stuck. But we can handle it more effectively. We can recognize that the problem probably won’t kill us, although we may think we’re going to die. We can remember all the other times we’ve faced difficulty and managed to get through it. And we can have faith in ourselves. We will find the answer, no matter how obscure, no matter how long it takes, and no matter if it’s complicated. We will solve the problem and be successful. We can take it one step at a time, and minute by minute until we find the answer.

Today if you’re overwhelmed with something difficult, something that is consuming your thoughts, take a moment to breathe. There is nothing you can’t face. You have all the tools you need to solve this, whatever it is. You are strong and capable. You’re intelligent and able to find answers. This is just a moment and it will pass. You will be successful. And on the other side you’ll be wiser, and more confident. You’ve got this, and you will overcome it. Be strong. Keep moving forward. You’ll get there.

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