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The Way Out

3 Feb

We make millions and millions of decisions as we go through our lives and many times our choices take us exactly where we want to go and everything works out.  But there will inevitably be times when we make a bad decision that brings us disharmony, pain or confusion.  There are limitless reasons why this may happen.  Maybe we didn’t have all the facts beforehand, maybe we chose out of anger, maybe we got lost, or any of a number of other reasons.  No matter what caused the bad decision, once we’re in it and realize we’re headed for trouble we may look for a way out.  We might try to find an escape hatch to let us step away before everything falls in.  The desire to escape when trouble is on the horizon is a normal response to threat and if we know disaster is just ahead we may try to divert our course, hide behind something else, or pretend we aren’t involved.  Even if we’re successful in escaping the first wave of trouble, if we caused it, it will catch up to us eventually.  We can look for a way out but the only real way through our problems is to face them head on, and walk right through them.  It will take determination and it may take courage, but there isn’t anything we can’t manage and no problem we can’t solve.  We can admit to our part in the problem and then begin to do what is needed to correct our way forward.  Happiness comes when we live our lives effectively and purposefully.  We all make mistakes and when they result in additional problems we can do what we must to fix them.

Some people hide when they make choices that bring hardship.  They may pretend they weren’t involved, deny their participation, or ignore the problems that arise.  We can dodge the truth but the truth is what is real and will always surface.  If we deceivingly deny our part in the issue we may lose the respect of those around us and create more complications.  It’s best to step forward and honestly admit what we’ve done, and then work to correct the situation.  Everyone makes mistakes but there are no mistakes so terrible we can’t face them.  We have all the courage and wisdom we need to correct our course and turn onto the right path going forward.

If we’re in situations where the choices we need to make are unclear, we can wait until we get the information we need.  We don’t have to rush into decisions if we aren’t ready.  We can prepare ourselves before we decide.  All the information we need to choose wisely is available and we can take time to find it before we make our choice.  We are in control of our actions and even if there is pressure to hurry, if we are not ready to move forward we can step back until we feel confident.  We know how to make good decisions and we are wise enough to choose well.  Success if often a matter of timing.  We can take our time and make the best decisions possible.

Today if you’ve made a mistake and the results are troublesome and difficult, do what you must to fix the situation and move forward with confidence.  If you have a big decision pending and aren’t sure which way to go, take the time you need to get the information that will help you decide.  You have everything you need to make excellent choices.  You are wise and thoughtful and you will choose well.

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Clean Paper

2 Feb

Our lives reflect everything we experience as time passes.  We aren’t perfect and sometimes we do things that don’t work out or make a mistake that affects us or others.  When we’re carrying around the results of a negative experience it’s sometimes hard to get a fresh perspective and feel we can begin again.  But every single day is a new beginning like taking a clean sheet of paper with nothing written on it and starting a new story.  There may be some writing in the margins where we have things we need to work out or finish, but the main page is blank and ready for us to start anew.  Researchers say we make about 35,000 decisions each day.  With so many options the stories we can write are limitless.  We are never constrained or restricted by anything but our own choices.  There may be pressure from those around us to go one way or another and there may be restraints on our time, but ultimately we decide what we will do.  No matter what has happened in the past we have a new piece of paper to write on each day, and we can be confident in writing the story we want most.  Today we can write it any way we like, and tomorrow we can start again.  Life is all about our experiences and we can determine what many of them will be and where they will take us.

Although we all know our lives belong to us, there may be times when we allow the pressures of those around us or situations to control what we do.  We may go along and travel down a road we don’t want because someone we care about thinks it’s best for us.  Or in an effort to face a difficult situation, we might choose an option that takes us away from where we want to go in order to solve a complicated issue.  We can do whatever we want but each time we trade what we want most for something else we lose some control over our future.  We have the power to live our lives in ways that make us truly happy but that requires us to make choices that create happiness.  If we give our lives away, others will take them.  We deserve to determine where we’ll go and what we’ll do.  We have everything we need to create the lives we really want and when we do, happiness will follow.

There may be times when we feel we need to trade something we want for something else in order to keep the peace, or to get along, or change a situation that isn’t working.  If we make the trade, we must accept where the decision takes us.  However, no road is permanent and we can always change our course.  We can make decisions well and if we’re headed to a destination we don’t want, we can reroute our way forward.  We have a new piece of paper every single day.  We can start a new path and change our story until it fits us perfectly.

Today if you’ve been carrying around the remains of a negative situation and it’s holding you back, leave it behind in yesterday’s story.  You have a new day you may design any way you want.  You have so much to offer.  You know the road you want to travel and it’s perfect for you.  Choose your way forward and let your story reflect who you really are.

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Surprise!

1 Feb

We have a lot of different relationships throughout time. Sometimes they are long term and we spend years sharing our lives with someone else. If things go well, we may have a lifetime of mutual experiences and many memories. However, sometimes our relationships end. The reasons are many and if the reason is very painful or we’ve been hurt badly, leaving the partnership may cause us serious discomfort. As time goes by we will heal from the disappointment of the loss, the sting of betrayal, or the sadness of grief. At some point, we may unexpectedly run into the person we’ve lost. Maybe we see them in passing or they show up where we are. If we’re still healing from the break it may take our breath away. The surprise of seeing someone who has hurt us deeply when we’re trying hard to heal may stop us in our tracks. Our feelings from the original event may come rushing back and we may believe we haven’t moved forward at all. Unexpected surprises with bad memories may shake us but we can regain our footing. Nothing changes just because we see someone again. We are still on our way forward and in control of our lives. If we’re not ready to engage them and aren’t compelled to, we may simply walk away. If we must speak to them we can be polite and keep our exchange brief. We can do what feels right and remain in control. We know what we want and where we’re headed. There is no surprise sufficient enough to stop our progress forward.

When we have a seriously bad memory from which we are trying to recover and it involves someone else, we may wish we could move to another planet to ensure we would never see them again. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible and even if we move there is no guarantee they won’t show up at some point. Life has a way of circling around and the odds of running into someone from our pasts isn’t always as remote as we may wish. Instead of hoping we’ll never see them again, it’s better to simply plan for what we’ll do when and if that happens. We can prepare ourselves for that possibility so if it does occur we’ll be better able to manage it. Preparing for it will help us navigate it more effectively if it happens.

Our lives are ours to direct and design. There will always be bumps along the road and unexpected events that sometimes stop our progress for a time. It really doesn’t matter what complications arise. We have everything we need to manage any obstacle and find our way around it. There is nothing strong enough to stop our progress forward. We are strong and capable, and we know what we want and where we want to go. We can continue forward and achieve greatness, and there is nothing sufficiently strong enough to keep us in place. We are in control and we will find success.

Today if you’ve been surprised by a blast from the past that has upended your progress forward, take a moment to regroup and see the situation clearly. You are strong and capable and no matter what you face today you will be successful. Look forward. The road is there for you. You have everything you need to continue on and win.

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Listening and Hearing

31 Jan

In our personal conversations, sometimes what we’re listening to isn’t the full meaning of what is being said. We can listen and listen and still miss the message. There are a lot of distractions, sometimes our personal opinions color what we’re hearing and sometimes we only hear part of the information being communicated. There is a big difference between listening to someone and really hearing what they are saying. Although we may hear the words it may take a while to fully understand what they mean. People are complex and if the message is difficult or painful they may color it with words that muddle the situation. If we want to understand anything and make good decisions, we need all the information. If the message is confusing we can take it apart, ponder it, and get to the truth. Even in complicated situations if we are careful we can hear what’s really being said and then take the time we need to understand the full message. Knowing the complete truth of any situation helps us navigate it more successfully. We can be clear on the message by not only listening but really taking the time to hear it.

Some people talk in circles. They struggle to speak clearly and may go around and around an issue. Perhaps they have an unclear understanding of the message or are intimidated by it and afraid of speaking too plainly. When we encounter these situations, we may get lost as they go here and there, speaking around the information they are trying to relay. We may ask for details but often we must rely on our ability to discern the true message and extrapolate the real meaning behind the conversation. No matter how confusing the story may seem at first, if we take time to think about what’s being said we can find the answers. Once we decide we know what the real message is we may ask for clarification and verify our conclusions.

There may be times when someone speaks to us in ways that are confusing because they are trying to accomplish something and don’t want others to know. Maybe they feel they need to share part of the story but don’t want to give all the details. If they have an agenda that is dishonest or in some way will impact us negatively their words may be convoluted and confounding. If they will not clarify the message we need to find the answers on our own. We don’t have to blindly follow something we are unsure of and we can do what is needed to fully understand any situation before proceeding. We can listen and then discern truth to fully hear what is being said. We are capable of understanding many things and if we are careful we can move forward confident we know the full story.

Today if you’re confused by something that is being said and are struggling to understand, take the time to really hear the message. You are an excellent listener. You will find the truth and the way forward with confidence. There isn’t anything you can’t comprehend. Be confident and be wise. The answers are there for you and you will find them.

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Try After Try

26 Jan

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison

When we’re trying to find our way through something complicated, sometimes the first road we choose doesn’t take us to resolution. If the situation is very complex and there are others involved, we may try several options before we find our way through. Day after day if what we thought would take us to the answer doesn’t work, we must try again. Try after try can wear on our patience when nothing changes and we may begin to believe we are stuck forever someplace we don’t want to be. It’s like having our tires stuck in the mud, spinning and spinning trying to break free but going nowhere. Our patience may be tested, our reasoning may be challenged and we may become exhausted trying to find our way. If we’ve tried and tried and haven’t found success, sometimes we may need to step back for a moment to regain our perspective. Being in the middle of a problem may influence our vision and make it hard to see all the options available. Stepping back from the issue, clearing our minds and looking at it objectively may open new ideas and help us see a way forward we hadn’t considered. Problems come and go and we can find our way through anything. Stopping and stepping away from the fray for a moment may open doors we didn’t see before and help us solve whatever has held us captive.

Feeling overwhelmed won’t help us find answers. If we believe the problem is too big to solve and doubt we will ever find answers we may get stuck. If we don’t think we can solve the issue, or lack the confidence to continue when things go wrong, we will fail. We can give up at any time and refuse to continue but if we do, we will never find success. The willingness to try one more time, no matter how many times we’ve tried before, will open the way forward. Although it may take time, there are no answers too difficult for us to find. We can solve any problem if we keep trying until we find our way. There is nothing too difficult or too complex for us to figure out. We have what we need to succeed as long as we keep trying.

There may be others around us who may encourage us to give up. They may tell us it’s too hard or it’s not worth the trouble. We may certainly take their advice and quit but if we do we guarantee the goal we are seeking will not be met. If we decide we no longer want to proceed, we may stop. But if what we’ve been trying to accomplish is important to us and we really want to achieve it, we may continue forward. Success is always possible and we can have it. We can try one more time, and we will find our way.

Today if you’ve tried and tried to make something work and you’re still struggling, decide if the goal is still important to you. If it is, step back to see things objectively, and then try again. You are worth every success you are seeking. Try one more time. The doors will open and you will find your way.

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