No Eraser

2 May

“Life is the art of drawing without an eraser.”  John W. Gardner

Everything in our lives is continually changing. The situations we face today will be different than what we’ll face tomorrow. Some days are easy and full of fun, and other days are more complicated and try our patience. We can’t control most of what comes to us, but we always have control over how we react and what we do. We can do anything we like but once we’ve done it, it becomes a permanent part of our lives. There is no way to go backward and change something in our history whether it happened years or moments ago. Everything we do will be there forever. There is no re-do option, there is no way to rewind, and there is no eraser. Knowing that, the best we can do is think about our choices before we make them so we make the best decisions possible. If we react quickly to a situation without thinking we may create more complications and problems. Instead of simply reacting and jumping to an answer we can choose to step back for a moment and find a way forward that will bring true resolution. No matter what we do our choice will stay with us from that point forward. We always have the opportunity to change our direction if we’ve chosen the wrong path and to amend our decisions if we’ve chosen what doesn’t work. What’s done is done and will remain but we can modify our way forward and re-direct our course.

If we’ve made bad decisions in the past and have been continually reminded of them, we may believe we won’t ever be able to move forward. Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes those mistakes have far reaching consequences. When that happens, we may struggle trying to untangle what we’ve created and our confidence may suffer. If we’ve made a mess, we can clean it up. If we’ve chosen badly, we can choose another way. Although we can’t change the past, the future is wide open and ready for any decisions we desire. Nothing can stop us from being successful and finding the right road going forward.

Guilt and shame are heavy burdens to carry. They grow heavier if we’ve negatively impacted not only our lives, but the lives of those around us. When we feel bad about choices we’ve made, when we’ve hurt ourselves and those around us, we may believe we will never be able to fix the mess we’ve created. But life is fluid and every day brings the opportunity for change. There isn’t any problem too difficult for us to solve and we can find the right road when we’re ready. Success is always there for us and we can find it.

Today if you’re dealing with complications from a decision you’ve made and aren’t sure how to go forward, take your time and think about what you really want. What’s done is done and if you need to re-route your way forward you can. There are lots of roads available to you. There isn’t anything you can’t do. Decide what you want most and plan your way forward. You have everything you need to be successful.

Tags: , ,

Best Friend

1 May

Most of us are probably pretty good friends.  We’re supportive when others need help, we listen when they are concerned, and we try to be there when they need us.  It’s good to be a faithful friend and we all need them in our lives from time to time.  Sometimes we are better friends to others than we are to ourselves.  If we don’t do something well we may criticize our actions and disparage our decisions.  Our reactions to our shortcomings may be far more condemning than we would ever offer someone else.  When others come to us with concern over a wrong move we might be supportive and positive and offer them encouragement.  However, sometimes when we see the same situation in ourselves we are far more abrasive and critical.  We can decide to be as good a friend to ourselves as we are to others.  We can give our choices the same understanding and patience we offer so freely to those around us.  If we become our very best friend and learn to rely on our own personal support, our challenges will become easier and when we falter we’ll feel better knowing we are always in our corner.  We deserve to be treated with kindness and encouragement and we can offer it to ourselves.  Loving ourselves with the same measure of patience and compassion we give others will bring us peace in struggle and comfort in disappointment.  We are worth the very best of everything.  Remembering how precious we are and valuing our self-worth will help us achieve greatness and find success.

Nobody is good at everything or does everything right every time.  We all stumble from time to time and learn as we move along.  Opening new doors brings new experiences and sometimes we have to backtrack or turn in another direction to find the way forward.  We can succeed at anything but the road forward isn’t always straight and paved.  We may stumble along the way, but as we continue we learn what works and find the way forward.  No matter how many times we get lost we can find our way again.  It doesn’t matter if we go the wrong way.  What matters is that we continue the journey until we succeed.

Some things come easily to us and other things are hard to comprehend.  If we’re having trouble understanding we can take the time we need and get the help necessary to get the job done.  No matter how difficult the issue we can find our way through.  We have all the wisdom and determination we need to accomplish anything we desire.  When we stumble we can get back up.  When we take a wrong turn we can choose another way forward.  We can trust in our ability to succeed and we have enough courage to face whatever comes.

Today if you’ve been punishing yourself for a mistake you’ve made or belittling your judgment for a wrong turn, decide to be your best friend.  Treat yourself with the kindness you offer others.  You are precious and valuable.  There is greatness ahead for you.  Remember how important you are.  Trust in your wisdom and you will find the way forward.

Tags: , ,

Finding David

28 Apr

We’ve probably all heard the story of David and Goliath. David was a normal sized man who came up against Goliath, a mean and vicious giant. Goliath tried to kill David and if were only a matter of size and strength would have succeeded. But David was skilled with a slingshot and in the midst of being pursued, sent a rock sailing through the air that hit Goliath in the head and killed him. When we think about this story we may marvel at David’s ability to keep his wits about him while being chased by a murdering giant, and being able to steady himself enough to make the shot that saved his life. While it’s unlikely we will ever be in the same sort of circumstance, we may face times in our lives when we feel we are being pursued or overtaken by something far bigger than we are that is threatening and making us afraid and unsure. It might a person who has power over us or a situation we can’t control. Whatever the threat, we may feel it’s too big for us to overcome. No matter what the issue or how powerful the other players are, we always have choices about what we will do. We can run and hide if we decide the fight is too strong but hiding from our problems will never solve them. We can pretend the issue isn’t a big deal and look the other way, but ignoring issues doesn’t solve them either. In the end, the only way to address whatever is disturbing our peace is to face it head on. Like David, we have to stop and turn around, and look right at the head of the problem. There isn’t any issue too hard for us to face and solve. We have enough courage and wisdom to manage anything that comes. We can find the David within us, face our problems, consider our options and find the way forward that brings us success.

There are some people who want to control others and situations. They need to have the final say, they demand their way be honored and they want to be in charge of where things are going. When we must work with them we may find it hard to be heard and if we push against them, they may aggressively constrict our efforts and exert pressure upon us. If we strongly believe in our views we may struggle with them before decisions are reached. Although it may be uncomfortable to disagree, our opinions are valuable and we deserve to be heard. We can state our case and press for what is important. We have all the strength and courage we need to proceed and win.

We may face a painful situation where we have little or no control over the outcome. If there is nothing we can do to mitigate the problem we may need to simply endure. It’s hard to wait through hard times when we have no control. But even as we wait we can exercise the courage to be still, and the wisdom to listen. If our only option is to endure well, we can still choose the best course forward and succeed.

Today if you’re facing a threatening situation and you feel apprehensive, find the David within you. You have all the courage you need to face anything you must. Reach for it and be strong. You are secure and capable. Look ahead, aim high, and push forward. There is nothing too big for you to overcome.

Tags: , ,

Not Getting Up

27 Apr

We all experience good times and bad times as we navigate through our lives.  Sometimes it seems we can do no wrong and every choice we make brings a positive result.  Other times we may face situations that fail no matter what we try.  We all face moments when everything goes wrong.  Everyone falls down from time to time but falling down never means failure.  Failure comes if we decide not to get back up.  If we decide we’ve had enough and quit, if we turn away and give up, only then do we fail.  We can accomplish anything we want to do if we are willing to do what it takes to get it done.  Some plans don’t work out, sometimes we struggle trying to find the way through and sometimes the situation is far more complex than we knew at the beginning.  We can always change our plans and choose another road.  We are in control of our lives and if our first choice doesn’t work out we may decide to change our plans.  Making a change isn’t the same as giving up.  Giving up happens when we really want to achieve something, and quit.  It’s always possible to modify our way forward but we will never find success if we stop trying.  There really isn’t anything we can’t do but we have to be courageous enough to face the wind and determined enough to modify our direction when complications arise.  We have all the courage and determination we need and if we press forward, no matter what comes, we will win.

There is no way to know what will come to us in the future.  We can try to prepare for unplanned eventualities and complications but sometimes the road takes a hard turn we aren’t ready for.  Even if we find ourselves in foreign territory and are unsure which way to go we can regroup and take the time needed to find the way forward.  We are smarter and more capable than we think we are and we have everything we need to succeed.  If we trust ourselves and take our time we can work miracles and change the course of any path until we reach the destination.  No matter how many times we fall, we can get up and start again.

If the road has been long and difficult and we feel the fatigue of the struggle, we can step back for a time and rest.  Most goals we want to achieve don’t have stringent timeframes attached to them.  If we need a break we can take it.  After we feel restored and ready we may begin the journey again.  With diligence and continual effort forward we will reach the destination we are seeking.  We have enough strength to go keep going and we will win.

Today if you’ve been struggling trying to move forward and you’ve fallen down, get back up.  Take a moment to step back and think about the way forward.  There is no road too long for you and no complication too difficult for you to solve.  You can do anything.  You can work miracles.  Remember who you are and pull from the strength inside you.  You have everything you need to win.  Nothing can stop your success.

Tags: , ,

Counterfeit

26 Apr

Made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive.  Bing

When we want or need to purchase something, we seek out the best options available.  We don’t want something that looks like what we need but turns out to be something else entirely.  If it looks like the genuine article but when we try it we discover it’s a counterfeit version we will have to try again.  We may be deceived by appearance but true authenticity will show itself over time.  Although we may not intentionally deceive others, sometimes we may deceive ourselves into believing things are different than they really are.  We may create counterfeit emotions or pretend our lives are one way when actually they are another way entirely.  If we’re in a relationship that isn’t making us happy but we’ve been involved for a long time or there are outside pressures to keep it going we may convince ourselves we are fine.  If we’re in a job that is unsatisfying but others think it’s perfect for us we may choose to go along and pretend we are content.  True happiness can only come if we are completely honest with ourselves.  If we play the counterfeit game we may get by for a time, but real happiness will elude us.  We deserve to be completely happy and we can change our lives any time we’re ready and start a new path.  We can face reality as it is and decide to do what is needed to be happy.  Our happiness is our responsibility and we have everything we need to achieve it.

When hard decisions are upon us we may refuse to acknowledge them and brush them off quickly, hoping they will work out on their own.  If we must face difficult problems we may only glance at them and then look the other way pretending they are something different than they really are.  We can live our lives in a dream state that keeps us from facing reality.  But reality is where we live and it remains whether we face it or not.  We have enough courage to face anything that comes to us and there is nothing too difficult for us to resolve.

Sometimes when other people are involved and our decisions will impact them, we may choose to go along instead of doing what is best for us.  We may be able to keep that going for a while but eventually our true desires will demand attention.  What we really want and who we really are will need to be addressed.  When we’re ready we can honestly and courageously do what is needed to move forward.  Our lives belong to us and we may design them any way we choose.  We don’t have to be counterfeit.  We are perfect being exactly who we are and we deserve every happiness.  Trusting ourselves and being honest will help us find it.

Today if you’ve been pretending you are happier than you are and going along with something you don’t want to do, be honest and take the first step toward what you really want.  Be yourself and choose what is best for you.  You deserve the very best of everything and there is complete happiness waiting for you.  Go get it.

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →