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What They Have

29 Jul

We share the planet with lots of other people. They constantly come in and out of our lives, and unless we live on a deserted island, they are all around us. Every person is unique and we all have our own ideas about how things should go and what we should do. We make our own decisions along with all the others around us. When we see someone with a life we think we want, we may wish to be like them. We might watch them and begin to copy what they do, thinking it will bring us what we want. If someone at work is more successful than we are, we could follow their lead and it may bring us greater success. It’s true that if we do everything someone else does, we may get what they have. If it turns out that’s what we really want, we’ll be happy, but seeing just what’s on the outside can never tell us the entire story. Seeing someone with lots of money and influence may look appealing, but doesn’t expose the long hours of work, missed chances for a family and time with friends, or the loss of connections from intense ambition that may also be part of the package. Following another person’s choices will only take us where they want to go, and will never take us to the life we want the most. Our dreams and goals are specific and personal to us. There isn’t anyone else like us in all of creation, and we have gifts to offer the world that nobody else can give. Being true to who we are, and honoring our own choices will bring us great satisfaction. Our happiness is important. By choosing our own journey, we can make all our dreams come true.

If we’re dissatisfied with what we have or what we’ve accomplished, we may struggle with low self-esteem. If we see someone who has more of what we want, we may envy their lives, and feel diminished by their success. Envy is a powerful emotion that never brings happiness. We can step away from it by focusing on the good we’ve accomplished, and reminding ourselves that nobody has everything. Instead of feeling envious, we can celebrate the success of others, focus on our own goals, and move forward with confidence toward the dreams we want to accomplish.

There are endless ideas about life and what is means to be successful. We may have pressure from family or friends to live a certain way, and accomplish certain goals. We can always go along, and take their suggestions, but if they don’t lead us to our own destinations, happiness will elude us. Our lives belong to us. We can listen to any advice given, and then choose the roads that will take us where we most want to go. All our dreams are there for us. We can do anything. By creating our own individual journeys, and reaching our personal goals, we will find happiness and great success. Everything is possible, and we will win.

Today if you’ve been following someone else because what they have is attractive, remember there is always more to the story. Chart your own course for the future. You know what you want, and have everything you need to succeed. Be confident, and step ahead with clarity and focus. Every dream is there for you, and you will make them yours.

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Blue Oranges

3 Sep

Our lives are ours to design and we have control over every decision we make. We are valuable and worthwhile, and can be confident in ourselves and the lives we’re living. However, there may be times we don’t feel we’re good enough or that we lack some attribute that would make us more beneficial and a greater asset. Nobody’s perfect and we all have personal traits we want to improve, but no matter what we want to change, we’re important and meaningful just the way we are now. We have gifts to offer the world nobody else possesses and each day brings an opportunity for us to show others who we are. There is no need to wish we were different or think we aren’t good enough. Oranges are a delicious fruit and are beautiful in their unique coloring and flavor. Nobody wishes oranges were blue. We don’t think they’re insignificant or meaningless because they are orange. They are perfect just as they are, and so are we. We can change anything we like, but as we’re pressing forward and working on making our lives better, we can be happy where we are. We have so much to offer and the whole world is blessed because we are here. Our lives are good and meaningful, and we can do anything we want. We can change anything we like, go anywhere we want to go, and create the lives we want the most. We are the only person exactly like us in all of creation, and our presence brings depth and flavor to the world around us. Nobody could ever take our place and we are more valuable than we realize. We can be confident and strong, trusting ourselves moving forward, knowing we are making a positive difference.

Change isn’t easy and sometimes takes a lot of time. As we’re working toward something we desire, we may be constantly reminded of how long it’s taking to turn the corner, and may feel overwhelmed and sure of failure. But while we’re pushing hard on trying to change, where we are is still working. We are able to do many things well, even in the midst of trial, and success is always in our future. We can be happy for what we currently have and grateful for every opportunity we enjoy.

There will always be another hill to climb and another challenge to conquer. No matter how far we’ve come down the road we want to travel, there will be endless miles ahead yet unexplored. We are always a work in progress. We learn as we go and with each step understand more about the world around us and our place in it. Our influence is great and with confidence and clarity, we can move forward toward any goal we desire and reach any destination before us. We are powerful and smart, and nothing is beyond our reach.

Today if you feel like you don’t count and aren’t valuable enough, remember blue oranges, and think again. Change is always possible but you are incredible and amazing, just as you are right now. We’re all blessed by your presence, and your influence reaches further than you can imagine. Be confident and trust yourself. You are the only one like you. You have so much to offer and bring light to those around you. Step forward and stand tall. You are amazing and we’re all glad you’re here.

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Enduring Greatness

30 May

Everyone has their own ideas about life and the choices they make.  There will always be some bad players, but most of us are good and try to do our best most of the time.  Our excellent personal choices and individual humanity make life easier for all of us.  We are precious and valuable but when we get caught up in the things we must get done, or the responsibilities that press us, we may begin to feel insignificant and because there are so many of us, hardly noticeable.  It’s true there are billions of people on earth and sometimes others don’t see us but that does not diminish our personal importance.  We are all part of the whole and where we are and what we’re doing can only be magnified because we’re there.  Even at times when we’re only going through the motions and simply completing tasks that need to get done, our personal impact on the world around us may be great.  We have far more influence over those around us than we may realize.  People watch us and notice when we do things well, when we’re kind, when we give, and when we sacrifice our own comfort to help others.  We have tremendous power to impact the world for good simply by living well.  We don’t have to be loud, and we don’t have to be famous to bring about change.  By being the very best we can be in everyday circumstances we exhibit greatness.  Everyone near us and every situation we’re in is embellished when we choose well.  By sharing with those around us we have incredible potential to bring about goodness and light.  There is no end to the blessings we can bring and the world is better because we’re here.

It’s easy to feel small and insignificant when we compare ourselves to those who are doing big, impressive things the world values and applauds.  We may never find some great cure that changes the world, or discover something amazing but that doesn’t mean the impact we do have is insignificant.  Making choices that bring goodness can change lives and bring great happiness to those around us.  As we choose to share our light and bring joy we lift not only ourselves but everyone with whom we connect.

Having personal greatness does not mean we are perfect.  We all have bad days, we all make mistakes and sometimes we choose things that don’t work out.  Every time we choose to keep going instead of giving up, every time we reach further than we think we can, and every time we stay on the road when it gets dark and hard to see, we magnify who we really are.  We are stronger and more powerful than we realize and when we choose to keep moving forward we magnify the greatness within us.  There isn’t anything we can’t do and do well.  We have all the gifts and tools we need to find incredible success and happiness.

Today if you feel insignificant and unimportant, remember you are the only one who can give the world your personal gifts.  Your influence is greater than you realize and we need you.  The whole world is blessed because you are here.  You are amazing and wonderful in your own perfect way.  Be the best you can be and show us who you are.

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Miracles

30 Dec

A lot of things happen in our lives every day. Many of them are expected and explained and we often feel confident in anticipating much of what comes. But sometimes something unusual happens. Sometimes something unexpected and amazing occurs we can’t explain. Perhaps someone suddenly shows up we haven’t spoken to in a long time, and they bring the perfect answer to a problem we’ve been trying to solve. Or driving home we somehow escape a very dangerous situation we couldn’t avoid. Maybe out of the blue the extra money we desperately need is suddenly provided. We’ve all experienced extraordinary events like these at one time or another in our lives. Miracles happen every day and they are not just for parting big seas or creating a new star in the heavens. They are available to all of us. Sometimes when we get a miracle we try to explain it away or find rational explanations for what happened. But miracles are gifts to us. We don’t have to explain them, and we don’t have to know why they came. It’s enough to receive them, and allow them to bless us.

We all dream about all kinds of wonderful things we think we want. We want to meet Mr. or Miss Right – finally. We want to come into a lot of money. We want to land our dream job or travel somewhere we’ve always wanted to go. Some of these dreams are within our reach and with enough planning and work we can make them come true. Others are more elusive and the only way we can imagine getting them is if we get a miracle. However, most of our personal miracles are just that – personal. They reach something inside us we’ve been trying to understand or fulfill a need we are frantic to obtain. When the unexpected breakthrough comes it’s a wonderful feeling. We can’t control much in life but sometimes the things out of our control are exactly what we need. And when they happen we may be in the presence of our own personal miracle.

Many of us are great planners. We plan what we want to get done each day, where we want to go, and what we need to do. When everything goes according to our plans we feel like we’re accomplishing things and moving forward. But sometimes something gets in the way and blocks our path. We have to stop and rethink the way forward. During those moments, we may get inspiration to turn in a new direction. We may completely revise what we thought we wanted to do because we had to stop and think again and were inspired to go another way. Inspiration is a magical thing. It may come to us at any time and when it does if we listen to it our direction often becomes clearer and we achieve more than we thought we could. Personal inspiration brings the miracle of understanding we need. Miracles come in different ways to all of us. If we pay attention, we’ll see them everywhere.

Today if something special has happened, something you can’t explain that has helped you move forward, be grateful. You deserve every happiness and there are miracles available to you all the time. Look for them, listen to them and be thankful for them. Your life is a blessing to share with others. Embrace the miracles that come to you and extend them to those around you.

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Our Gift

14 Sep

“The past is your lesson.  The present is your gift.  The future is your motivation.”  Unknown

While we’re navigating our lives and doing everything we need to accomplish we often think about our futures.  Where are we going?  What do we want to do?  How will get there?  There are questions to explore, ideas to formulate, and plans to make.  If we’re highly ambitious we may spend a lot of time planning for what lies ahead.  There is nothing wrong with making plans for the future and everyone has dreams they hope to accomplish.  But the real gift in our lives is our present.  What’s happening right now is the most important thing in our lives.  The past is behind us and we can take all the lessons we’ve learned from our previous experiences forward with us but we can’t go back.  The future lies ahead and although we may try to plan for it, nobody really knows what it will bring.  Today is the most important day of our lives.  What we’re doing right now is the only thing we have any control over.  What we’re doing, how we’re living, and what we’re learning today is the gift that helps us move forward.  We may forget how important today is if we’re heavily invested in plans for tomorrow, or grieving over something that has passed.  But today, right now, is the most precious gift we have.  If we pay attention and apply ourselves to this moment we will gain as much as possible from our experience.  Without today there would be no tomorrow.  We can honor our lives today and grab hold of everything it has to offer.

When we’re busy and have a lot to get done our time flies by.  The hours seem like minutes and before we know it the day is gone.  If we’ve rushed through it we may have missed some of the blessings available to us as we hurry to the next item on the list.  We may not even see those who pass us or hear others say hello.  Having a singular focus is helpful when there is a lot to get done.  But if we look up and pay attention as our lives rush by we will have a richer experience and deepen our connections to those around us.  It doesn’t take long to acknowledge someone and say hello, or offer a smile as we walk by.  If we take our eyes off ourselves for a moment and interact with others our days will be augmented and enhanced.  This day will be gone quickly and there is nothing we can do to get it back.  Seeing it as a gift and opening ourselves up to receiving all its blessings will bring us happiness and contentment.

They say when we’re dying we don’t regret the things we did, but the things we didn’t do.  If we knew today was our last day on earth, how would we change things?  Who would we see, and what would we do?  This may not be our last day here but if we lived our lives as though it were, how different would it look?  Would we take more time for those we love?  Would we pay more attention to those around us?  Would we offer more care and compassion?  We can change anything about how we’re living our lives at any time.  We can make each day a priority.  This life is precious.  Living each day to the fullest will bring us the most satisfaction.

Today if you’ve been rushing around to get things done, remember what a gift today is.  It’s just for you.  This is the best day of your life because it’s the only day you have.  Live everything to the fullest today.  This is your most precious gift.

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