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Time to Stop

29 May

Everyone has goals and dreams they want to pursue. We all have our own desires and dreams about what we want to accomplish. We can do anything we like, but not everything will always be possible. We may dream of running a marathon, but because of circumstances beyond our control may not be physically able to accomplish it. Maybe we imagine being a super model but we’re far too short to make the cut. We can dream and wish and hope, but if we aren’t physically able to run the distance, or meet the standard, there will be no way to succeed. Nobody gets a perfect life with only paved roads to success. Everyone one has their own issues and limitations. If we’re determined, we can try to do everything in our power to overcome whatever is in the way, but if all the trying, and working, and pushing doesn’t help, it may be time to stop. Although every dream is possible, there will likely be times when what we want isn’t available to us. If it’s something we really desire, it’s disappointing to realize and hard to accept the goal is not within our reach. If we can’t actually run the marathon, or walk the runway, there will be other ways to be involved. It’s possible to modify our plans when we must, and still find fulfillment. Recognizing what is truly possible, and then moving forward with clarity and wisdom will help us find success. There are endless dreams and opportunities and if one road is closed there will always be another to take. We can decide how we want to proceed and by looking at everything openly and honestly, will find great satisfaction and happiness.

When a child is born with a talent, their family may push them to pursue it to perfection. They may see any other possibility as a waste. Talents are wonderful gifts, but just because we’re born with an innate ability to do something doesn’t mean it must define our whole lives. A gifted musician may push toward concert performance, and endure endless hours and years of practice to reach that goal. Or they may instead decide to use their gift in other ways. There is no one perfect way to do anything. We can decide how we want to express and share whatever gifts or talents we possess and find personal contentment our own way.

Tunnel vision may help us effectively reach a goal, but if all we see is the road ahead, we will miss the enrichment and embellishment of what’s happening around us. Everyone around us has something unique to offer, and different perspectives give us a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us. We can pursue the goal, and still take time to look around and interact with others. There are answers everywhere, and when we’re open to seeing them, the road ahead will be easier and more joyful.

Today if you’ve been trying and trying to reach a goal but because of things you can’t control it has been unattainable. Look at everything objectively and decide if it’s time to stop and go in a new direction. There are endless destinations possible and the inability to reach one doesn’t mean you’ve failed. You can choose another way forward and find success.  You are amazing and more powerful than you realize. Choose your next step forward and proceed with confidence. There is great success just ahead, and you will reach it.

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Choosing for Ourselves

2 May

Everyone has their own ideas about life. Some people are free spirits, taking things as they come and just going with the flow. Others are more disciplined and like to make plans each day, modifying as needed while keeping the destination in mind. However we think about things, we must be confident enough to choose the way forward for ourselves. There will always be plenty of people around willing to give us advice, whether we ask for it or not, and they may think they have the answers we need to find happiness and success. Well, they will have answers but there is no way they could possibly know what we need and want better than we know ourselves. Even if they’re highly educated, very successful, and strongly opinionated, they still won’t know us better than we know ourselves. Every decision is ours to make, but if we’re unsettled, or timid, or unsure, we can rely on others for guidance. We can listen to lots of ideas and plans, but in the end if we want to find real happiness and satisfaction, we need to make the decision ourselves. We can’t possibly know everything, and there is no way to see the end of any road at the beginning so we might falter from time to time. We might get stuck or even get lost for a time, but we are intelligent, and no matter where we are, can find the way forward. Even if we’re headed into foreign territory and the road ahead is complex, we can trust ourselves and be confident that we will prevail.  There isn’t anything we can’t do if we are determined and willing to accomplish whatever is needed to make it ours. The world is full of possibilities and every success awaits. We can step forward and make them ours.

There will rarely be a time when what we want to accomplish has only one way to get there. There are generally many roads to every destination. We can objectively review all the options possible, and then choose what works best for us. There is no time limit for success and there is no need to rush. If we need to take our time to see everything clearly, we can. If we get tangled up in complications and need to step back for a time, we can. Lots of things may go right, or they may go wrong but whatever happens, if we stay focused on the goal, we will reach it.

Our lives belong solely to us and we can design them any way we like. Others may not agree with our choices, and may try to discourage us. They may think the goal is too hard for us to reach, or it’ll take too much time, or it’ll take time away from them. Whatever their reasons, their opinions belong to them. We don’t need agreement of permission to do anything we like. We are free agents unto ourselves and can make any decisions we like. There is greatness inside us, and we already have all the wisdom and courage we need to reach any destination. Nothing is beyond our reach, and with focus and clarity, we will succeed.

Today if there’s something you want to do, but you’re unsure about how to proceed, stop and review all the possibilities. If you need guidance, you can get it. If you need more information, it will be there for you. Every answer necessary to pave the road ahead is already waiting. Choose the way forward and confidently take the first step. You are amazing and highly capable, and can do anything. Success is just ahead. Keep moving forward and it will be yours.

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Means to an End

20 Mar

We all have things we dream about, goals we want to accomplish and dreams we want to realize. Some of them come easily and others are difficult and complicated, and take a lot of effort and time to achieve. We may face a time when someone offers us the possibility of a shortcut to a destination we really want. Maybe we want a promotion at work, and our current boss tells us if we work on a special project we’ll likely get it. Generally, in cases like this, there isn’t an iron clad promise that the prize will be ours if we comply, but merely the hint that it’ll happen. If we believe it will help move us forward and take the bet, we may choose to do as we’re asked. It’s good to try new things, and work hard, but sometimes the cost is great. Suppose we must work a lot of overtime, and deal with difficult people, and do all kinds of unpleasant tasks to get the job done, and then suppose it takes far longer than we thought it would at the beginning. If we are convinced it’s a necessary means to the end we desire, we may continue on and stick it out. When we’re done, and the project is finished, we might actually get the promotion, but nothing is sure until it happens. If we do, the trials and struggles may have been worth it, but what if it doesn’t happen? What if something changes and the promise we believed in does not come to fruition? Then what? Once trust has been broken it’s very hard to re-establish, and if we must continue to work with someone who’s broken it, the situation may be very difficult to endure. We are in control of our lives and can make any decisions we like, but our we are important, and every day is a gift. Before we accept any suggestion, we can take the time we need to fully understand what is involved, what we’ll have to give up to accomplish the task, and what we’ll lose if things don’t work out. If it’s a chance we’re willing to take, we can proceed forward, but if the costs are high, and there is no guarantee of success, we may decide to wait. Whatever decision we make will take us somewhere. By taking our time and choosing wisely, we can ensure it will take us closer to where we really want to be. We are highly intelligent and perfectly capable of seeing things clearly and making excellent decisions. We can trust ourselves to make the best choice and find great satisfaction moving forward.

Families are complicated and although we love those involved, our relationships may be difficult and trying at times. There may be a lot of pressure to do things the same way as other family members, and if we want to take a different road, there may be conflict and hard feelings. We are entitled to live our lives any way we like, but going against the family norm can be difficult and stressful. If there is a lot of contention, we may buckle and simply decide to set our own desires aside and go with the flow to end the distress. We may be able to follow along for a while, but our dreams will continue to pester us, and if we really want to be happy, at some point we’re going to have to strike out on our own. Being different does not mean being less. We know who we are and what we want, and with courage and determination, we can have the lives we desire most.

We may be in a personal relationship with someone who has ideas about how we should live our lives which may be very different from what we really want. They may suggest what we should do, where we should go, what we should wear, and who we should be friends with. We’re all entitled to our own opinions, but nobody knows us better than we know ourselves. Even someone very successful doesn’t know more about what we want than we do. We can be confident with the decisions we make and trust ourselves to find our own way forward. Every destination is possible and with focus and clarity, we will reach success.

Today remember you are in control of your life. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Every single road is open and waiting, and all your dreams are possible. With determination and confidence, nothing can keep you from success. Decide how you want to proceed and take the first step forward. You are amazing and capable, and nothing is too difficult for you. Be sure and move forward. Every success is already there for you and you will reach them all.

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Looking Down

9 Mar

There are all kinds of people in the world with all kinds of cultures and ideas. We’re all different and our choices are unique to each of us. Because of our differences, there is sometimes conflict and we might think the world would be better if we were all the same. Well, it might be easier if everyone was on the same page all the time, but there would be no way to grow, and boredom would be constant. It would be like going to Disneyland and all the rides are exactly the same. It’s easy to spend time with others who share our values and opinions, but there will always be someone in our circle we disagree with. If the differences are hard for us to understand, we may think they’re odd and beneath what we’re doing. We can look down on anyone we like, but being different does not mean being less. Chocolate ice cream is very different from vanilla, but they are both delicious. The world is a big, busy place and there is no way to completely insulate ourselves from others who are different that we are. Nobody will ever be exactly like us and there is nothing to be gained by judging those with other expressions. They aren’t dumb or stupid – they are just different than we’re accustomed to. Instead of judging what we may not understand, it’s better to accept others for who they are. We don’t have to adopt their point of view, we don’t have to follow their lead, and we don’t have to change our lives to fit anyone else’s narrative. The old saying, “Live and let live,” is the best approach. We are intelligent and highly capable of managing any situation that comes. Life is full of variety, and we can be welcoming even when we don’t agree, and find enrichment in contrasting viewpoints. 

Some people are very confident and sure of themselves. They may believe they have all the right answers and anyone who disagrees just doesn’t understand the issue. If we don’t follow their line of thinking, they may criticize and ridicule us in an effort to get us to follow along. It can be difficult to deal with them, and hard to be patient if we must. No matter what anyone else is doing, we always have the power to choose our own way. Nobody is in control of our lives but us. There are many roads to every destination. We can go left when they go right, and still find our way to the goal.

Family pressures and cultural influences may be strong. When we’re young it’s easy to go along with whatever our parents are doing and what’s happening around us. But as we mature, we develop our own ideas about what we want to do and how things should go. Our ideas are important and our choices are ours to make. Just because something has been done one way for a long time doesn’t mean we have to continue on the same road. We know who we are and what we want, and with courage and determination, can live our lives exactly the way we desire.

Today if you’re dealing with someone very different from you, whose ideas and choices are foreign, remember we’re all unique. You can choose any road you want to travel. You know where you want to go and already have everything you need to reach any destination you desire. Decide how you want to proceed and begin your journey. Nothing can keep you from success.  The whole world is there for you.

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Burning the Boats

28 Feb

Everyone has their own ideas about what they want to do and how things should go. We can accomplish anything we want once we identify it, if we’re willing to do what is needed to succeed. If the goal is easy we can simply get it done, but we might want something that requires us to step away from our comfort zones. We may have to develop a new skill to accomplish the task, or need to do things that are foreign or intimidating. If we’re unsure, we may put everything off for now, thinking we’ll get to it when we feel more confident. Of course, we can wait as long as we like, but one thing is certain – nothing will happen until we start. It’s said that if we want to capture an island, once we arrive we should burn the boats so there is no way to retreat and return.  We may not be trying to capture an island but the message is clear. If we want to do something that we’ve avoided, we must remove every obstacle keeping us from starting. We can ignore any reservations we have about completing the goal, and take the first step forward. The first step in any new journey is often the hardest, and once we’ve begun our confidence will rise and we will confidently find our way. There isn’t anything we can’t do. We only need to decide what we want, how we plan to get it, and then start. We have all the courage and wisdom needed to reach any destination, and nothing is out of reach. We can trust ourselves to manage any complication and find the road ahead. The whole world is there for us and every goal is possible. 

When we begin a new journey, we may find ourselves on unknown roads. We don’t know what will happen and we can’t see around the next bend. Someone may stand in our way, serious problems may arise, or the road may be blocked, forcing us to start again. If we really want the goal, we will find a way to get there no matter what happens. There isn’t anything powerful enough to hold us in place indefinitely.  Detours may happen, we might get turned around and lose our way for a time, and there may be serious hurdles that must be overcome. But we are stronger and more powerful than we think we are, and nothing can keep us from success.

Nothing is permanent and if we don’t like what’s happening in our lives right now, we can do what is needed to change it. There will always be many options available to us in every situation. We can look at everything openly and objectively and decide how we want to proceed. We deserve complete happiness, and by deciding what we want the most, and then doing what is needed to get it, we will find it. Life is a great blessing and we have all we need to create the lives we want the most. 

Today if there’s something you want, but you’ve been putting it off for one reason or another, decide how you want to proceed and take the first step. You are smarter and more capable than you imagine, and nothing is too difficult for you to accomplish. Trust yourself and be confident. There is greatness inside you. Burn the boats and move forward toward success. Every dream awaits, and you will make them yours.

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