Inch by Inch

25 Jul

Most of us strive to do the best we can every day. We try to make good choices and think before we act but sometimes we may get tangled up and due to confusion or frustration don’t make the best decisions. Life is complicated and there are a lot of things going on all the time. Others around us may be making a lot of noise and impacting us in difficult ways that make it hard to think. We may feel pressed for time or pressured to make a decision before we’re ready or we might be tired of trying to figure things out and simply choose the easiest path going forward. It isn’t always easy to do what’s best and sometimes we may take a turn that doesn’t quite go the way we wanted. One bad decision doesn’t determine our future and we can always correct our course. However, if we allow one bad decision to lead to another and then another the road we end up on may be far from where we want to be. If we embellish the truth one time to make things go more smoothly and then embellish again to support our position, one thing may lead to another and after a time our little adjustments to the truth may create a situation that is complicated and difficult. Inch by inch if we manipulate one small thing here and exaggerate one small thing there we may discover we’re going in the opposite direction we wanted to go. It’s not hard for things to get out of control if we aren’t mindful of the road ahead. We are certainly capable of making excellent decisions and can always choose the course we want the most. It’s far easier to make difficult decisions that keep us on track than it is to clean up a convoluted mess. We can decide not to waver when it’s hard to stay true and to take the time we need to make the best choices going forward.

Some people think honesty is fluid and flexible. When difficult situations arise, they may simply make up stories to explain them in an effort to pave the way forward. If they are caught in a lie, they may say they misunderstood and try to smooth things over. We can lie about what’s happening and manipulate every situation we choose but truth cannot be held down indefinitely and will always rise. There is no sliding scale for honesty. Every action we take will reveal the person we truly are. If we want to be noble and true we must hold fast to what is real and live our lives honestly no matter how difficult that may be.

If we find we’ve manipulated a situation out of duress or frustration and don’t want to continue to be dishonest, we can go back and correct our decision. If we see we’ve chosen poorly we can begin again. Others will respect us when we admit our mistake and redirect the way forward. There isn’t anything too complicated for us to figure out and no matter what road we’re on now, if adjustments are needed we can make them.

Today if you realize you’re headed down the wrong road because of decisions you’ve made, correct your way going forward. You know where you want to go and what you want to do. Choose the best path ahead and begin again. Be completely honest and choose wisely. Every goal is there for you and you will be successful. Be wise and you will reach any destination you choose.

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Filling the Tank

21 Jul

There are a lot of demands on our time and energy.  There may be a constant need to complete tasks that are sometimes pressing and urgent and we take care of things as they come.  If we keep up a steady pace and stay busy we will accomplish many things but as we move forward every activity may drain us a little and after a time we may feel exhausted and unmotivated.  When we’re driving our cars we’re well aware that when the gas needle starts pointing to empty we need to fill the tank or we’ll be going nowhere.  The same is true for our personal lives.  We sometimes forget that we don’t have unlimited energy or resources from which to draw as we move along.  We can give a lot but at some point the tank will creep close to empty and it will be time to fill the tank.  It’s impossible to give our best when we’ve been tapped out.  When we start to feel sluggish and our passion has waned it may be a sign it’s time to refuel.  Nobody has endless energy and we all face times when we’ll need to recharge.  It’s not hard to refill the tank when we’ve lost our power.  If we engage in activities we enjoy the most our spirits will rise and we’ll feel renewed energy.  If we like being outdoors, a short walk may lift us.  Or we could turn on our favorite music and take some personal dance time.  A break with good friends and time enjoying their company may refresh us.  It doesn’t matter what we choose to restore so long as we take the time to do it.  We have so much to offer and can be a positive influence on the world around us but if we want to make an impact we need to be sure we’ve filled the tank and are ready to go.

The demands to do more and accomplish more seem to press on us every day.  If we are asked to do more than we can, we may modify the request so we can be successful.  Others may do things differently, they may be faster or reach higher than we are comfortable.  Although it’s good to reach beyond our grasp if we want to find success we must also acknowledge our personal limitations.  Maybe we can’t get it done as fast as someone else but it will be done perfectly.  We can do an excellent job at any task and still be sure we’re doing it in ways that are best for us.

Stretching our capabilities gives us greater skill and confidence as we move forward.  We can embrace new ideas and projects and as we do we’ll learn more and move further down the road we’re traveling.  We can be as involved as we choose and each opportunity will open new doors for us.  We have everything we need to do anything we like and if we’re mindful of our personal needs we will find great success.  We know what’s best for us and how to manage our lives.  When we take the time we need to care for ourselves nothing will stop us.

Today if you’ve been pushing yourself constantly doing many things and accomplishing much, remember to take some time to nurture yourself.  You are a great gift to the world and we all want to share time with you.  Make sure you recharge and restore your energy when you need to.  You have so much to offer and we’re all blessed you’re here.

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What Matters

20 Jul

Our lives are often busy as we go from one thing to another, racing forward to accomplish something on time or get to our next appointment. We may have lists we check off as we finish one task and then quickly move onto the next. If we aren’t careful our days, months, perhaps years will fly by with little notice except for the lists we carry around to check off as we continue forward. We can become overloaded with tasks and forget about taking time for ourselves but we are the most important person in our lives. How we manage our needs, our time, our preferences and our desires is critically important if we want to be happy. There will always be many things that need our attention. We can address them one after the other but taking the time to notice what is most important for us personally at every moment will bring us peace and joy as we continue on. Taking five minutes to watch the sun rise before getting ready in the morning, enjoying a laugh with friends before we rush to the next appointment, or taking a short walk outside in the breeze in the middle of the day will refresh us and remind us how special and sacred our time is and how important we are. Life flashes by in an instant and every moment we’re here is a gift. We can savor the grace and pleasure of our lives and still accomplish all the things we want to do. We are precious and priceless. Honoring ourselves and taking time to hold onto what really matters will deepen our spirits and make our lives richer and more enjoyable.

Life is not a race although at times it may feel like one. We may be in situations where time is critical and we must hurry in order to accomplish something. But if we live all our days rushing and trying to go faster to get things done we may finish many things but lose ourselves in the end. There is no way to recapture time that has passed. We can plan to accomplish many things while still taking time to enjoy our lives through each moment.

It’s impossible to live in the moment when we’re thinking about what’s happening next. If our minds have already moved onto what’s coming we can’t possibly think about where we are. And if we aren’t aware of the moment we’re in we’ll miss everything happening right now. We can’t live in the past or the future. All we have is right now. This moment we’re in is exactly where we should be and deserves our complete attention. There is a lot to learn as we move along and much to see and enjoy. Keeping our eyes trained on where we are instead of where we’re headed will help us find greater joy and happiness as we move forward.

Today if you’ve been pressing ahead and concentrating on all the places you have to go, take a moment to enjoy where you are right now. You are standing in the perfect place for your life at this moment. See it, listen to it, enjoy it and embrace it. Live where you are and focus on what matters now. This is exactly where you need to be. You are precious and priceless and have so much to offer. The world is blessed because you’re here.

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What it Means

19 Jul

There are all kinds of ways to define success in life.  We all have ideas about what success means and how we manifest it in our lives.  Some believe it’s defined by money or position, or by those we know or over whom we have influence.  The outward appearances of success may involve many things but real success has little to do with what others see and more to do with how we feel.  Our personal success is intimately tied to who we really want to be and what we personally want to achieve.  Ultimately it must be defined by us and how we choose to live our lives.  No matter how we define it if we achieve what we determine is best for us we will find happiness.  The world has all kinds of ideas about how we should live and what success looks like but if want to be truly happy we must define it for ourselves.  We are always in control of our personal decisions and we may direct our lives any way we choose.  If we are true to the things we desire most and do what is needed to achieve them we will find great success.  Our personal successes will bring us great confidence and clarity as we move forward and help us define the paths we want to travel.  We know what we want most in our lives and who we want to be.  Every choice we make will either take us closer to those goals or move us in another direction.  As we move forward toward our personal success we will find great satisfaction in our journey and fulfillment going forward.

Outward success is essentially arbitrary and may be expressed in countless ways.  If we are convinced it’s merely a reflection of our monetary worth we may strive to acquire money in order to feel successful.  If we determine it’s how we are ethically and morally we may pattern our lives after the values we hold dear.  What it means is entirely up to us and has little to do with how others define it.  There may be pressure to conform to the definitions of success as determined by our social group, family or others and we may certainly follow any direction we choose.  In the end if we choose what is most important to us, despite the ideas of others, we will find happiness.

We must live with ourselves and our decisions every day.  If we choose to go along with others for the sake of convenience or conformity we may get the goals we want most or we may not.  When others are driving the train and we’re merely passengers we have no control over where we’re headed.  However, if we proactively direct our lives and make choices with our personal goals in mind we will reach the destinations we want most.  We deserve every happiness and reaching for our personal successes will bring it to us.

Today if you’ve been following someone else’s idea of what you need to do to be successful, decide what you want most.  Determine where you want to go and who you want to be.  You will reach every destination you desire and find great personal success.  There isn’t anything you can’t do.  Go forward with confidence.  It’s all there for you.

 

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Calm Waters

18 Jul

The weather can be unpredictable. When it’s calm and sunny we enjoy being outside, but things inevitably change and we will face times when storms rage and we need shelter. When the winds are blowing, or there is driving and unrelenting rain or snow, and it’s unsafe to be outside we will find refuge. There is great comfort being inside a sturdy structure that is tight and secure when the tempest is raging outside. We can relax knowing we are safe and no matter what happens we will be protected. In our lives, we may face tumultuous and difficult situations that rattle our security and make us tremulous. We may be in situations where although there is no physical danger, there is great emotional distress and we worry how we’ll get through. Life is complicated and there may be times when things happen that bring great disharmony into our lives. In the static and friction of the situation we may feel great anxiety and stress. But we have everything we need inside us to create a safe haven as we navigate through. No matter what is going on in the world or in our personal sphere, we can choose to have peace inside ourselves. There isn’t a problem that is too difficult for us to solve or a situation too intense for us to overcome. If we trust in ourselves and our ability to face whatever comes we will have the internal peace we need to find our way through. We can keep the waters inside still and calm even if there are storms raging around us. We are in control of ourselves and can manage anything carefully and effectively.

Some people are quick to anger. If things don’t go as planned or someone disagrees they become agitated and upset and may scream or rant to show their displeasure. It’s normal to vent when we feel upset but losing our temper and self-control will never get us what we want. We all face disappointments and nobody gets to have everything their way all the time. If our plans don’t work out we can find another way through. There is never only one way to do anything and our ability to be flexible and understanding when things go awry will help us find a solution and get to the destinations we seek.

Nobody wants things to go wrong. When we ‘re ready to move forward we never want an unexpected development to enter the picture and ruin our plans. But life is unpredictable and sometimes things happen and complications arise. Unexpected changes are just a time to revise our map going forward. We can be calm and find the way ahead and no matter what happens we will succeed. There isn’t anything we can’t do and with determination and calm we will accomplish every goal we desire.

Today if things are going wrong and it feels like there’s a tempest raging outside and you’re confused about what to do next, calm the waters inside and take the time you need to think. You know what needs to be done and you have everything you need to succeed. Have faith in yourself and trust in the way forward. Nothing is too far for you to reach. Every success is available to you and you will win.

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