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Information Please

10 Dec

We’re all unique and our perceptions vary depending on the life experiences we’ve had. We might all live in the same place, and speak the same language, but that doesn’t mean we really understand each other. It’s possible to misinterpret what others are saying, or frankly have no idea what they mean even though they are speaking clearly and using words we understand. Misunderstandings happen but the problem is we don’t know what we don’t know. When interacting with someone else we may agree to do something we are sure they are requesting, and end up going a completely different direction than they asked for. How is this possible? We all have our own paradigms and viewpoints. What is obvious to one, may be completely invisible to another. That doesn’t mean anyone is stupid or wrong, it just means we’re looking at the situation through a different window. There are endless ideas and interpretations of every situation. We can always just plow ahead and hope somehow, we’ll get it right, or we could stop before we start, and ask for clarification. Asking for more information isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s hard to see through fog, and if we aren’t clear of the expectations, instead of bumbling forward, we can ask for more information until we’re sure what’s expected. Once we know where we’re headed and what the goal is, we can proceed, confident we’ll reach it and achieve success. Life is filled with challenges and trying to find our way in the dark will only make the journey longer and harder than it needs to be. We can pave the road ahead by getting all the facts before we start and ensuring we understand the objective. We are intelligent and capable and can accomplish anything we set out to do. Every goal is possible and with clarity and focus, we can reach any destination.

If we’re concerned about the opinions of others, and want to appear smart and capable, we might rush to accomplish a goal without getting all the information we need beforehand. Looking good is one thing. Being successful is another. It does no good to look confident and capable, and then fail at the task because we didn’t ask for help. The destination is the goal, not how we look accomplishing it. By getting all the facts before we begin, we can make all our dreams and goals reality.

Everyone gets lost from time to time. Losing our way or going in the wrong direction doesn’t mean we’ve failed. Taking the wrong road gives us more information and teaches us what doesn’t work. We can use that information moving forward to find the best road to the destination we seek. Nothing is complex enough to keep us from our goals. We are intelligent and can achieve anything we desire.

Today if you’re struggling to figure out which way to proceed, get all the information you can and look at all the possibilities. Every option is there for you, and you will find the right way forward. You have already accomplished so much. Nothing is too difficult for you to manage. Be confident. Success is waiting, and nothing can keep you from reaching it. Step forward and proceed. You will prevail.

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Down A Peg

30 Oct

There are all kinds of people in the world, and we’ll interact with many of them as we navigate through our lives. Some will be nice, and easy to talk to, others may be aloof and standoffish, and some may be mean and hateful. The spectrum of behaviors and expressions is unlimited and varied, but building friendships and connections help us pave the road ahead. Finding others with similar beliefs and common life patterns encourages us to form alliances and strengthen bonds. It’s good to have a network around us filled with people we can trust and honor, who offer us the same in return. But not everyone is interested in getting close. Some people are highly competitive and see those around them merely as stepping stones to get closer to what they want. If we’re in their way, they may push us aside and storm past without looking back. It’s impossible to befriend someone who only sees themselves. If they are only interested in what the world can give them and don’t care about anyone else’s feelings, it will be difficult to form any kind of lasting bond. If we must work with them it may be hard to get our opinions and ideas heard. We can try to speak up and stand strong, but they may do everything in their power to knock us down a peg, and keep us quiet. We all have something of value to offer. Nobody knows everything or has all the best ideas. We’re entitled to our own views and opinions, and can be confident in expressing them. They are not worth less because someone doesn’t want to hear them. We are never devalued just because someone thinks they are better or more important than we are. We can be confident and strong in expressing ourselves in every situation. Every dream is possible, and every success can be ours. No one can stop us from achieving our goals, and nothing can keep us from any destination we desire.

Some people believe they are somehow more essential and meaningful than the rest of us. They are confident that they have the right answers to whatever questions may arise and don’t really care about anyone else’s viewpoint or opinion. It’s good to have a strong self-image and high standards, but if we minimize the importance of others, we will miss the chance to hear new ideas, and expand our understanding. Nobody has all the answers. We can be sure of ourselves and still recognize contributions from those around us.

If we are timid or unsure, we may hesitate to speak up and share our thoughts when problems arise, but we are unique, and nobody sees the world exactly as we do. Everyone’s perception is different, and we alone may hold the keys that show the way to success. We can share our opinions and trust ourselves to find the answers we seek. We are wise and capable, and the whole world is embellished because we are here.

Today if someone is trying to hold you back and keep you quiet, remember your ideas and opinions are valuable and important. Speak up and step forward with confidence. Nothing is strong enough to hold you in place. Every success you desire is there for you. Be confident and sure. You are amazing and powerful, and all your dreams are possible.

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Doing and Saying

27 Aug

There are all kinds of people around us every day. We see them at work, at the store, on the road and just about everywhere we go. We’re all busy living our lives and accomplishing whatever we want or need to get done. What we do defines us, and lets people know who we are, and where we’re headed. As we interact with others, we can say anything. We can tell the truth about ourselves, or make up any story we like. If we wish our life was different, or that we were further down the road than we are, we may embellish and fabricate our situation to present the image we want to portray. Talk is cheap and easy to manipulate. But what we say doesn’t identify us. We are defined by what we do. Our actions tell the world who we are and what we stand for. If they don’t match what we’re selling, it will be hard for others to trust us. They might fall for lies at the beginning, but the truth will always rise, and when it does, we might lose more than we can imagine. Nobody wants to be fooled, and if we discover we’ve been manipulated, we might walk away from the relationship, and never return. Good, strong relationships are a great blessing in our lives. They enrich our experiences and bring us comfort and satisfaction. If we’re deceptive and purposely misleading about who we are or what we’re doing, we may end up burning every bridge behind us. Nobody has a perfect life, and we’re on the road to somewhere. Choosing wisely and being honest about ourselves will open doors, and move us closer to our goals.

Sometimes what people say doesn’t exactly match what they do. Someone may say they love us but can never find time to spend with us. Or they might say they’re honest, but their ethics at work are slippery at best. We can say anything at any time, but what we say will never determine who we really are. That can only be defined by what we actually do. We are capable of making excellent decisions, even when they’re inconvenient or difficult. We can choose the road ahead with clarity and integrity, and reach success.

There may be times when due to external pressures or expectations, we say we’ll do something we aren’t sure we can achieve. Once we agree to whatever we’ve been asked to do, we are committed and must follow through. If there is no way to do what we’ve agreed to, we can go back and discuss other possible options. We are wise and intelligent, and can be clear about our capabilities and desires. By being honest in our agreements, and openly communicating our plans, we will move ahead with great confidence and success.

Today if you’re tempted to pretend to be something you’re not, or embellish what you’ve done to impress someone, remember what you do defines who you are. Be clear and honest in everything you do, and those around you will honor and trust you. There is greatness inside you. Trust yourself, and step forward with confidence. Every goal is possible, and you will achieve great success.

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Beige Paint

11 Aug

There are billions of people on Earth, and each is individual. We all have our own ideas about what’s right and how things should go. Every choice is ours to make and if we make them honestly, staying true to who we really are, we have a better chance of getting the results we desire. But we share our lives with lots of other people, and some of them are strong willed and powerful. They may tell us what to do, where to go, and how they think we should live. If we’re timid and unsure, or lack self-confidence, and our choices differ, we may struggle to stand up and defend them. We might try to blend into the background to go unnoticed, and stay out of the way. By keeping our heads down and our eyes averted, we may think we’ll be overlooked. Beige paint is very neutral. It’s used a lot because it basically goes with everything. It doesn’t stand out, and is often just a plain background that few people notice. When we’re in uncomfortable situations with others, we can try to be like that – we can try to be beige paint. We might succeed in hiding, but ducking down and pretending we aren’t there will never help us reach our goals. We don’t have to fit into anyone else’s model or conform to any idea. We don’t have to shout, and get attention, but we can stand firm. We can show our true colors, red, blue, hot pink, or whatever, even if they don’t match what others are doing. Our gifts are ours alone to give, and we can express them in ways that are unique and specific to us. Beige paint has a place, but it doesn’t need to be part of who we are. The whole world is blessed by our presence, and we bring great light and variety to those around us. We can be confident in choosing our own road, and move forward toward any goal we desire.

It’s easy to work in a group when everyone has the same ideas and agrees on the same things. Conformity can pave the road ahead, but going along with others when we want something else rarely takes us where we want to go. Everyone has something to offer and insight nobody else possesses. By speaking up and sharing our thoughts with those around us, we will enrich everyone, and deepen our understanding.

There may be times when we have an idea but aren’t sure it’ll work out. What if we speak up and others think it’s stupid? What if they adopt our plan and it fails? Nothing in life is certain, and there will be times when things won’t go the way we want them to. But if we keep every idea to ourselves afraid that it might not work out, we’ll never get the chance to succeed. If the first plan falls apart, we can come up with another. There are many roads to every destination and with patience, and courage, we will find all the answers we need to reach success.

Today if you’ve been keeping a low profile, trying not to be noticed, remember you are important. Your ideas have value and you can present them with confidence. You have so much to offer. Speak up, and share your thoughts with those around you. Every success is possible, and with courage and determination, nothing can keep you from your goals. You are amazing and capable, and we’re all blessed because you are here.

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Getting Caught Up

10 Jul

We’re all individuals with unique talents, ideas, and gifts we share with the world. Some people are passionate and outspoken about what they want and where they’re going. If we’re around someone who is loud and charismatic, and intent on making everyone believe in their cause, there may be a lot of excitement and activity. Before we realize it, we may get caught up and join in. We might follow along just because others are doing it, and go wherever the group is headed. We can certainly do anything we like, and take any road we want to. But our lives are ours to design, and if we don’t stop to examine exactly what we’re going along with, we may end up somewhere we never wanted to go. We are important and our dreams are ours alone. Following someone else’s dreams will never take us to our own. Our lives are unique to us and we can design them any way we choose. Every destination we desire is there for us, but we’ll never reach them if we follow someone else. Charismatic people may be influential and powerful, but we are always in control of our own decisions. We can listen to anything that’s being offered, and then choose the path moving forward that takes us where we most want to go. We know what we want, and are powerful enough, and wise enough to achieve it. We are responsible for creating our own destiny, and can do anything we desire. Nothing is too far away or too difficult for us to accomplish. Every single dream is possible, and with determination and focus, we will succeed.

We live in a monetary world. People with a lot of money often have a lot of power. If we admire financial success, we might believe wealthy people somehow know more about life than we do, and defer to their decisions. Money is a great tool, but it isn’t wisdom. Being rich doesn’t translate into being wise, or intelligent, or intuitive or anything else. We know ourselves completely, and don’t need to rely on anyone else’s opinion of what we should be doing with our lives. We know what we want, and we know how to get it. By moving forward with confidence, and trusting ourselves, we can reach every goal and every destination.

We may be in a situation where others around us have chosen a specific road moving forward, and are encouraging us to go with them. If all our friends and family members are going along, we may feel great pressure to conform. We can do anything we like, and sometimes just to keep the peace we may acquiesce. But our lives are ours to design and they never need to fit anyone else’s model. We are smart and capable, and can choose for ourselves. Nothing can keep us from the goals we desire, and every dream is possible.

Today if you’ve gotten caught up on someone else’s road, stop and think about what you really want. You are in complete control of your life, and don’t need permission or agreement to do anything you desire. Be confident, and move ahead with purpose and clarity. Every dream is already there for you. Step forward, and claim it.

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