Category Archives: 22

22

Our Shadow Selves

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education from dark to lightHow often do you look at yourself in the mirror? Not just how your hair looks, or to shave or do some other grooming habit, but look yourself in the eye and see who is looking back. This is a daunting thing to do because you may see something you didn’t expect, darkness. Each person born into existence has been taken with two choices, dark or light. You may argue against this simplistic idea, but look at yourself honestly, and you will see it reflected in you, the potential for both darkness and light. What ultimately wins in your life is totally up to you and the choices you pursue.

Equal Parts Exist In You

All people contain the ability to love deeply, show compassion, help their mlkfellow man, and give entirely to virtual strangers. There is also the capacity to be petty, mean-spirited, selfish, and discriminatory without too much coaxing. I watch this each day in the faces of others and some days in my reflection.

This dichotomy exists in all of us; at some point, the dark side has shown its face. Looking at yourself, you have seen and felt this before if you are honest. We are doomed to spend our lives with these two elements fighting for our attention, thoughts, emotions, and behavior dictating. If you fail to see this is true, you will be subject to some rude awakening. They will often be brought on by people who are choosing the darkness, and these experiences will hurt you and change your life path. Sometimes we need the hard slap of coldness to move us in a direction we need to go. Even though darkness exists, golden rules all and, in the end, destroy the dark.

Favorite Dark Side Activities

Separation is the place where one’s dark side can take control of their behaviors. Any time you put yourself on one side and somebody else on the other, you are in danger of dark side activity.

This is because when you label someone like them, or different from you,  or not like you, subconsciously, you permit yourself to discriminate, take advantage, and even commit violence against another human being. Notice this in society as people are labeled immigrants, Muslims, terrorists, illegals, or any other category. This happens to justify behavior, attitude, or action.

This is the real power that many government officials and the national media use to justify many policies that can’t be classified as any other thing but dark. Separation leads to the justification of dislike and even hatred and can also influence the seemingly most beautiful people to accept others’ poor actions.

Separation of race, religion, economics, sexual orientation, or region of the world one comes from is nothing but a pretext for discrimination. All you have to do is look around you and see separations. Recently economic divides have been convenient dividers.

Justifying cutting benefits to people with few resources. The dark side explains this quickly, “They should get a job.” “Why are we paying for them to sit around all day and do nothing.” We are all in this together, but we forget this very quickly.

As a rule, when you talk about people like us, those, or we, you are probably separating and ready to perpetrate or accept others’ poor treatment. Or, at the very least, become taking of the discrimination of others.

Love Is the Answer

Thank Albert, I agree.
Thank you, Albert. I agree.

Of course, the light is love, which is always good and right. The solution to dark side behaviors is the use of love, and the best part is that you have one hundred percent control over how much love you share daily. With every interaction you have and every thought that you entertain.

Every time you see someone, you have the opportunity to treat them with love or indifference and separation. Treating someone with passion does not mean that you have to give away all of your money or do anything complicated; in fact, it is the easiest. Just be present and appreciate that every person is a valuable, beautiful soul with unlimited potential.

This can be directly talking to one person or sharing a friendly smile with another, but it mostly means avoiding separations. If you divide every belief with others, you won’t, and you can’t. It is just impossible.

You can recognize their humanity and accept them for their changes. We are all human beings living on this planet, just trying to do the best we can with the gifts and circumstances that life has given us. That is it.

Doing this and being aware of it will change the lives of the people you come in contact with and your life. You are on the right track when you think thoughts like, “We are all in this together.” “Our existence on this planet is better together.”

Putting everyone into the same category, including yourself, avoids separation and removes the unwritten right people feel to discriminate or hate because someone is just a little bit different.

Embrace Your Light, Understand your Darkness

In All Of Us
In All Of Us

So the next time you look at yourself in the mirror, look deep inside yourself and recognize these two distinct characters. There is equal ability to love and hate; everyone has it, and understanding the darkness in ourselves won’t let it win over your actions but will give you the power to choose the light.

It is important to remember that everyone matters in the trip we call life. From people who love and support you to those you have felt have wronged you in any way, if you neglect to see how your love and acceptance of everyone, you are participating in separation, closing in on hate, and preparing the way for discrimination or violence.

Love is always the answer; if you can embrace this practice, your life will inevitably change for the better.

“Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.” Mark Twain

“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Plato

“Light thinks it travels faster than anything, but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first and is waiting for it.” Terry Pratchett

“Look at how a single candle can defy and define the darkness.” Anne Frank

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.” Ursula K. Le Guin

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” Og Mandino

 

 

22

To Forgive Changes Your Future

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Forgive-stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

forgive Who hasn’t been wronged, betrayed, let down, hurt, or disappointed by the behavior, attitude, or actions? Each person you pass on the street or see in your life has felt the pain caused by another. Some are big, and some are small, but that anger about the pain and the fear of it happening again makes us plot our revenge. But the true power is to forgive. Forgive them, forgive her, forgive him, and forgive yourself. To do anything else is to give away your power. Be conscious of your thoughts and emotions that lead to your words and actions. Forgive.

Why It’s Hard to Forgive

Events occur in life, and some events bring permanent change. Change can be difficult and painful. The end of a relationship, modification of a job, or loss of a loved one or friend you once relied on. The pain of loss, change, or loss of trust changes you forever. Anger is the emotion people use to protect themselves. It tells people that something is wrong and provides a false Forgivefeeling of power in a situation you are powerless to change. It is a symptom that something is wrong, and you need help.

Forgiveness is problematic because it feels like what you experienced was wrong. Perhaps you were a victim of abuse, a violent act, or just a thoughtless act of emotional coldness. Many feel forgiveness lets a person off the hook, but that is not the case. A person’s actions are karma, and your reactions and consequent actions are yours. When you forgive, you take power away from what others did to you and return it to yourself. No offense is forgotten or justified, but you are no longer carrying the burden of acts others committed against you.

It is like holding onto a hot coal and thinking of someone who harmed you when you don’t forgive. The only guarantee in the situation is that you will be hurt. Not a good bargain and nobody else even knows of your suffering. You are choosing to carry the hot coal of pain around. Let it go!

Forgive Yourself

The most difficult person to forgive is always ourselves. People always feel they should have known better, been wiser, more robust, less trusting, kinder, more caring, less mean, or just plain luckier. The reality is that you weren’t, and what happened, happened. What is, is. Accepting that and forgiving yourself for it is the path to moving forward positively. Mistakes, misjudgments, and negative situations are a part of life. Let them ruin you or allow them to make you the most vital person possible. To forgive is the key to your power over everything that ever hurt you.

You will know you forgive someone when all anger feelings are missing when you think about them and the situation you were involved in. A searing feeling in your gut comes up when you harbor anger or resentment. When that is lacking, then you have indeed chosen to forgive.

Final Thoughts on Forgiveness

Bringing the concept of forgiveness into your conscious decision-making is forgiveessential for your overall health. If you are spending energy harboring anger toward someone, it is time to let it go. No matter how long you have been carrying your anger, each new day is a chance to let it go and take power back into your life. Let forgiveness become a part of your conscious thoughts, words, and actions today.   Changing the thoughts you entertain about a bad experience will allow you the change the emotions surrounding it, and if you can do that, you are free.

The person who gets the benefits of your forgiveness is you!

 

22

Happiness is an Inside Job

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finding happinessI don’t know about you, but finding happiness in life depends on my perceptions of things and the people around me.   When you focus your actions around the things you can control (inside/out)and avoid letting the stuff outside of your experience, you can’t control the behavior you are living outside in. You will continually find yourself living at the whims of the things that happen to you rather than dictating what you would like to happen to you.

There seem to be two choices in life. Either I live from the outside in or from the inside out. The choice dictates how large the portion of happiness I  experience at any particular time is. But what does it mean to live from the inside out? There are factors we can control in life and others outside of us that we do not. We are blessed with the choice of the outside or inside dominating our consciousness, so we control the amount of happiness we experience. Awesome!

From the Outside In Not Finding Happiness

Too often, We can find ourselves allowing the things and the people who come into our lives to dictate our mood. A great example of this would be when a finding happinessperson cuts you off in traffic, and you let that act affect your mood negatively, your anger rises, and you let your whole day get away from you. When we allow others’ decisions and choices to dictate our moods and actions, we are far from finding happiness in life. It can be the same as the people we care about. If they are in a bad mood for no fault of your own or are mad about something else, it is all out of your control.

That leads to me not taking responsibility for my life. It is too easy to send blame in the direction of whatever or whoever has changed my mood. I blame the traffic, blame the crowd, blame loved ones, or blame my friends. All of these are a cop-out because the only one who can choose to be angry or suffer because of someone else’s act is you. All you can control in this situation is your reaction to someone or something. Make sure it comes from a place of love. Finding happiness starts with accepting responsibility for our actions and lives, which means seeing the outside influences for what they are.

From the Inside Out

This is when you are at your best because the opposite of what is described above is happening. All thoughts and emotions about life events come from inside, and we choose their influence on us. We do not have to be angry unless we decide to be. There is no need to be frustrated unless we choose to be. We don’t have to let the non-stop external stimulus dictate our mood because the choices are made from our positive perspective, accepting full responsibility for all aspects of our lives. When your emotions radiate from inside yourself out, they will be more positive, and they will also radiate outward from you either positively or negatively.

This is the ultimate responsibility because when you choose the reactions that you experience, your true self is allowed to come through. Each of us has this ability, but it gets clouded through the lens of what society has told us is essential, rather than making decisions based on what we feel is right or wrong. There is no unhealthy attachment to things outside of you because you’re living from the thoughts, words, and actions inside of yourself.

You Are The Shot Caller for Finding Happiness

finding happiness
Whatever Walter White says goes!

Living from the inside out allows us to be the best representation of ourselves that we can be. What the media tells you about how you should look no longer matters. Finding happiness does not come from what “they” tell you to do, be or look like; it isn’t relevant anymore. What they ask you to enjoy isn’t a part of your story anymore  (unless you allow it), and you are becoming your best self if you pay attention to the thoughts and emotions that radiate from you.

You are responsible for your moods and emotions because what you think, say, and do comes from inside you and radiates in waves out into the world rather than the other way around. Your inner goodness is a force that needs to be shared with the world. We are all happier when we focus on what we can control and make good choices and leave the things we can’t control, helping ourselves and others find happiness. Please focus on the things you can manage and push them in the direction you want to go. You have no idea what power you possess until you focus on deploying it in a valuable and vital way from the inside out.

“You can’t teach anybody anything, only make them realize the answers are already inside them.”
– Galileo Galilei

“How soon will you realize that the only thing you don’t have is the direct experience that there’s nothing you need that you don’t have?”
– Ken Keyes, JR

“Uncertainty is the only certainty, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”
— John Allen Paulos

“If the only thing people learned was not to be afraid of their experience, that alone would change the world.”
— Sydney Banks

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
— Maya Angelou

22

Life’s Best Teachers

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Learning From Mistakes Of Life

everyone makes mistakes
Mistakes help you learn.

Life is continually teaching each of us lessons. We need to pay attention to the daily events we experience, our reactions to them, and even others’ experiences in our lives to learn something on any given day.  One of the things that I have noticed about myself and everyone I know is that we don’t like to make mistakes. When we do, we beat ourselves up for them for days, years, and sometimes, for the rest of our lives.  It makes you wonder why we are so afraid to make mistakes.  Are we born perfect knowing everything? Aren’t mistakes an inevitable part of growing and developing as a human being?  If you show me someone who has never made a mistake, I will show you someone who has never tried.  It makes me wonder why we are so afraid to make mistakes as a society.  When you look at our educational system, it is designed to celebrate the achievements of a select few, while the majority of students, who may be the most creative thinkers and eventually the people who would change the world, are held up and discouraged by this unrealistic expectation of our society to conform.  Be perfect, or you are a failure.  Why are we so afraid to fail?

Everyone Does it; what Are they Learning From Mistakes?

mistakes
Even Lincoln had a few hiccups before finding success.

We are afraid of mistakes because we have an unrealistic idea that successful people don’t make them, ever.  When you look into history, you see the accomplishments of our great leaders. You imagine that they never made any mistakes.  Throughout his life, Abraham Lincoln failed miserably at almost everything he tried until he became president. Lincoln’s brilliance was that he didn’t let his previous failures stop him from continuing to try.  He wouldn’t have been the wise and talented leader he became if it wasn’t for the experience of those mistakes he made in his life.  Lincoln was not perfect; he was the ideal leader for that time in history.  Today the media would not allow Lincoln to become President because his mistakes would be broadcast as an indictment of his competence rather than an example of his character and perseverance.

Learning From Mistakes Doesn’t Equal Weakness

Another reason we fear learning from mistakes because they allow others to see our weaknesses.  Most

we all make mistakes
Whiteout can’t cover up some mistakes.

When you make a mistake, you feel like the whole world is watching, even though there may only be a few people aware of your misstep.  We equate these mistakes with being less of a person rather than just a natural part of the learning process.  If you never made a mistake, you have never tried anything new, and if you have never felt angry, upset, and embarrassed about a mistake, then you have never lived.  It is not a weakness to try. The ability to fail, evaluate why it happened, make adjustments, and try anew should be the backbone of any great educational system.  That learning process can carry over into every aspect of your life.  You will never really learn if you don’t look honestly at your mistakes and take the lessons you will give yourself. Learning from mistakes is a talent.

Mistakes in Controlled Situations

One of the many reasons that extracurricular activities are so vitally important to society is that they provide a safe place to make mistakes and quickly learn lessons about how to

buckner mistake
Even a big mistake in sports will teach lessons.

Overcome them.  When you play on a sports team, you will make mistakes during a game. It happens you miss a shot, you give up a goal, you get beaten by a player with more excellent skill, but these mistakes each provide you with a learning opportunity, and it is your choice to participate or not.  Sports can teach you to persevere, be unselfish, identify your weaknesses, and work to overcome them.  If embraced and identified, the ability to follow the learning process in a natural workshop will allow all participants to grow.  Even if you get cut from a team after a tryout, valuable lessons are gleaned.  You can quit the sport forever or identify your weaknesses, work to improve them and try again.  You may not make the team, but if you follow the process of trying, failing, identifying weaknesses, working to improve, and then trying again, you are well on your way to success.  This skill can be applied to any aspect of your life.

Living  Your Life vs. Running Out the Clock

As we grow older, many people start believing that they are immune from making mistakes.  The experience will help guide you, and wisdom will help you avoid simple mistakes, but if you make no mistakes, you have stopped trying to learn and have decided to run out of the clock.  When you have a seemingly good lead in basketball, trying to run out the clock is common practice.  Once the clock expires and you are ahead, you win the game.  Teams stop trying to create offense and score new baskets as they are satisfied with their accomplishments and running away the time.  Many people adopt this philosophy in their lives.  They plan out their lives on a plan, high school, college, career, family, retirement, followed inevitably by death.  At some point during this process, you will hit a run-out clock situation, waiting for retirement or death. People seem satisfied and never make mistakes again.  Not knowing something can be scary because if there is something that you don’t know, then what else don’t you know? That can inspire some people but scare the ever-loving crap out of someone else.  Learning and experiencing new things is preferable to running out of the clock.  Try something. If you make a mistake, evaluate why it didn’t work, make adjustments, then try again.  This is the learning process that can lead you to ultimate success. Doing nothing and running the clock will lead you to retirement or death.  Good luck. Time to start learning from mistakes and not being afraid of what might happen.

Life is a Learning Process

Life, as I see it, is a learning process, and mistakes and failure have been given to you as a gift to help you find where you have weaknesses or shortcomings, make adjustments, and achieve success in whatever sphere you want to achieve success in.  Mistakes should not be something you fear, like a monster. They should be embraced, evaluated, learned from, and then discarded into the memory of your experience.  Failure is never final until you stop trying. Hug your mistakes and value the part they play in your learning process. Taking the time to learn from mistakes is a significant part.

“You make mistakes. Mistakes don’t make you.” Maxwell Maltz

“When someone does something wrong, don’t forget everything they did right.” Anonymous

“When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don’t repeat it.” Paul Bear Bryant

“Mistakes can turn you into something better than you were before.” Anonymous

“Remember that life’s greatest lessons are usually learned at the worst times and from the worst mistakes.” Anonymous

“Don’t mention a person’s past mistakes when trying to change. That’s like throwing rocks at them while they are struggling to climb a mountain.” Anonymous

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.” Oscar Wilde

22

Moving On With Life

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Acceptance is the Opposite of Judgment
Acceptance means you are doing the best you can with what you have.

Many of my difficulties in life have come from a lack of acceptance. Whether it was not accepting someone else’s behavior, my circumstances, or just how events played out. My lack of acceptance has and always will lead to difficulties. Acceptance is the opposite of judgment, the positive side to that negative coin.

I Accept Your Behavior

Acceptance-2It is not my place to judge someone else’s behavior. No permission from me needed to do anything, good, bad, or indifferent. All of the behaviors of others are their business and not mine. Instead of judging someone for my perceptions of their actions, I will accept that they are doing their best with their life’s knowledge, options, and circumstances. All people are doing their best with what they have to work with.

I Accept My Situation

In life, we all have dreams and goals. Some of us have better-defined plans than others. It is a time that I stop judging myself so harshly as I reach for these dreams. Look at the distance you have traveled down your path in life. It is remarkable all of the things that you have experienced. Instead of judging yourself, continue to experience each day, comparing your life with someone else’s preconceived notions about what you should have done, except where you are. We all have a learning curve that we need to know the things we need to experience to be the best possible.

Accepting where you are will allow you to focus on moving forward rather than judging where you are or what you have been through. I have done my best with what I had to work with, and I am sure you have too!

I Accept Life

Many things in life appear to be crying out for my thoughts, judgments, and opinions that it is difficult to understand that they need none of those serenitythings, from all of the negative stories presented by the national media to the happenings in my community. None of them need my thoughts, judgments, or opinions to be happening. n fact, often, it is the choice to offer these things that bring your feelings down and bring with them fear, worry, and anxiety in the worst way.

The thing is that accepting events of the world is not the same as condoning them. Bad things happen, and having compassion for all the people affected by negative things can be powerful. If you’re getting events to build fear and worry, creating a positive attitude is challenging; even more, it allows these negative thoughts to control your actions. Look at the fear being generated today against people from different religions. l people are doing the best that they can with what they have.

I know that you are doing the best you can with what you have, and the world is a better place for it.

If you think that I can be forgiven, I wish you would…………… Accept who you are, where you are, and what is happening.

“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.” “Michael J. Fox

“D” e while alive and be thoroughly dead. T en does what you will, and all will be well.” “Philip Kapleau

“I am Dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.” “Isaac Marion

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.” “Dalai Lama XIV

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22

As Strong As Your Mind

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Do you know your mind? How much time do you spend consciously

subconscious mind
subconscious mind

exploring the origins of your thought? Although we like to believe our conscious mind is making all our daily decisions, the truth is that our subconscious mind rules many choices and actions. Programmed from birth to this day by the experiences of our life, the people in it, and the organizations we are members of.

Shockingly, so many people seem to live with a blissful lack of awareness about the source of most of their behavior and reality. So let’s get to know your mind. It is the entity running our life, and we are only as strong as our minds.

The Creator of Thought-Conscious Mind

conscious mindThe conscious mind is the part of the mind that produces thought. It is used to set goals, and it judges all results. It revels in new ideas and creative activities. The goals in the future are determined here, and often the path chosen is based on experience. According to Bruce Lipton of The Biology of Belief, it can process, on average, 2,000 bits of information per second. The conscious mind can only handle a few tasks at a time. We think this mind is in control. It will come up with ideas and allow us to thrive and be successful in the world. Learning to use this tool and not allow it to use us is the natural talent of the subconscious mind’s power.

Our dreams and goals are created here, and it determines the areas our focus is centered. Where our guide goes, our energy flows. Directing your thoughts toward your goals and dreams allows you to put all of your energetic flow behind them, and we can take steps to create them and make them a part of our reality.

The Man Behind the Curtain- Subconscious

The real power in our lives is the subconscious mind. It continually works on our behalf, running its programs in the background like a computer. It has a remarkable capacity. It is believed this mind can handle 4 billion bits of information per second and take care of thousands of tasks at once. It is responsible for regulating most bodily functions without a problem. The subconscious predominantly focuses on the present moment but uses past experiences to solve today’s problems efficiently.

Anyone who drives has witnessed the Subconscious mind in action. When you go down the road, and your mind is distracted by conversation or thought, and your conscious mind “drifts away,” you still drive down the street without really paying attention. You snap out of it and don’t remember how you got where you are. Thank you, subconscious mind. When the thoughts we direct with our conscious thoughts react with the subconscious mind, our world moves to make them all a reality. There are several theories and beliefs about the power of the subconscious mind. But it is undisputed that there is power here, and using it can change your life.

Minds Working Together

The real power of the subconscious mind is that many believe it dictates what we experience in reality. The experiences we have had led to the programming of the mind. This programming forms beliefs based on the_power_of_your_subconscious_mindour interactions at an early age with parents, family members, teachers, the media, or any other significant force in life. These beliefs can be positive or negative, depending on your experiences, and your thoughts lead to perceptions and how you view the world.

Your perceptions dictate your reality, success, understanding, and ultimately your happiness with your life. The subconscious responds to life through this programming, and the conscious mind can be used to create your life. Changing the way you think makes it possible to change the reality you experience daily.

So all beliefs can be affected by conscious choice, which changes the subconscious mind’s programming, where 90% of our actions come from. This process is the key to creating your life as you desire.

Much of what we believe to be accurate results from faulty programming that we built based on others’ inaccurate beliefs. Consciously evaluate your beliefs, and decide the truth in them and where they came from. Change them if they do not serve you or provide a positive life experience.

“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality.” Earl Nightingale

“If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” Anonymous

“You affect your subconscious mind by verbal repetition.” W Clement Stone

“There is only one process of healing, and that is faith. There is only one healing power. Namely. Your subconscious mind.” Joseph Murphy

“Once the subconscious mind accepts an idea, it begins to execute it.” Joseph Murphy

22

Learning About Your Emotions

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How one deals with trauma, disappointment, anger, and frustration is a part of everyone’s life experience. The emotions that naturally arrive with each of these events in life are often the cause of many problems we carry throughout our lives. Learning to express our emotional pain and distress positively and healthily can lead to everyone’s further enjoyment of life. The inability to process emotions we feel healthily may lead to a lifetime of trauma, disappointment, and confusion.

Learning to express our emotional pain and distress positively and healthily can lead to robust life enjoyment. The inability to process emotions we feel healthily may lead to a lifetime of trauma, unhappiness, and poor health. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Emotions As Enemies

In my youth, I learned that feelings were enemies. Not overtly, but subtly through my life experience. My male role models taught me that you should keep your

Our feelings can hurt us more than any foe if we don’t know how to deal with them.

Emotions in and not shown to the world. Since I never spoke of what I felt, I was left to guess for a reason, but as a young person, I believed it was because anger, sadness, shame, and frustration were terrible things that showed a person’s weakness. So I learned to put on a smile and keep my disappointments in life to myself. I was an expert at putting the uncomfortable things in a place where they couldn’t reach me, but I didn’t realize that they would always be a part of me until I learned to deal with them constructively.

Emotions are a natural result of life and work to help us determine what behaviors we resonate with through our actions. Painful emotions tell us something is wrong, but that “thing” was never us, just what happened to us. The lack of communication around our negative emotions and the events or thoughts that cause them leads to most of our problems in life.

Embracing all parts of ourselves, including the uncomfortable parts of emotions, is essential for health. Nobody lives without having a negative thought.

Learning to Deal with Emotions

Too often, it seems like people choose to either obsess over emotions or numb themselves through alcohol or drugs. The problem with these techniques is that the negative feeling is still.

Learning to deal with emotions and talk about them is one of the healthiest things we can do.

Waiting to be dealt with becomes a destructive part of your life. Being happy is hard when you carry so much anger, frustration, or shame.

There are many resources out there that can help you deal with your emotional baggage healthily, and links at the end of this article to help you. Here are a few that I think are effective for me.

  1. Journaling or creating something artistic to help you express what is happening inside. Emotions can be difficult to communicate, and images or other artistic creations can allow for a healthy expression of things that bother us.
  2. Learning to recognize unhealthy or harmful thought patterns or practices, accept them, and learn how to let them go gently out of your life, relieves emotional pain.
  3. Understand the role that pain has in a healthy life. It can be a catalyst for growth and teaches resilience. Minor health issues provide the experience to deal with more significant difficulties later in life.
  4. Seek the help of others. Find someone who can guide your emotional health if you don’t know how to deal with what you are experiencing. Speak about your pain to someone, which will help you release it. A professional counselor or therapist is a great option. Never be afraid to ask for help; it isn’t a sign of weakness; it is a tool to allow you to live a fulfilling life.
  5. Practice forgiveness- learn to forgive yourself and forgive others for anything they did that hurt you. Carrying around pain and anger will only weigh you down and, from my experience, stop you from becoming happy in life.
  6. Talk about it. Tell someone you trust how you are feeling. It is a simple but effective way of dealing with things.

Suppose our challenges today stem from some emotional issues that haven’t been dealt with appropriately. Shouldn’t our educational system teach kids how to manage youth’s emotional roller coaster rides?

Learning to accept emotions and deal with emotional issues more healthily allows for many of the blocks in life to be eliminated, allowing a healthy expression of yourself and providing your gift to the world. That is a good thing.

22

Swimming in Deeper Water

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Deep Waters
Deep Waters

Water can be frightening; you only see the surface, and there is no way to know the depth underneath. There is also no way to know what is lurking under the surface, so water can be challenging to deal with for those who choose fear. Yet it is in the deep water that more significant movement to be yourself exists, a better chance to find out what you are made of, what is important to you—the opportunity to overcome fear and swim on your own and in your most natural and productive way. Life will continually offer you the chance to explore the deep waters around you. All you have to do is be brave enough to jump in and see what is there waiting. It could be great, and it could be terrifying. You will apply the labels of your discovery at a later time. Be afraid to jump but jump anyway. It is only in this way your authentic story will be discovered. What is waiting for you in the deep water of your adventure?

Dreams

All people have dreams of what they want to do with their life. Sometimes life gets busy, and those dreams worsen with thoughts, making them appear foggy and unclear. We think we must do in our lives, pushing the goals underneath the deep water and leaving us not remembering or recognizing these dreams anymore. It would help if you had a career to be successful. There is money to be made and roles for you to play, which are expected, often leaving no room for you to be your authentic self.

When I was a boy, I was afraid to swim. Like many people in my generation, a simple solution was employed to teach me. One day I was thrown into the deep water by a well-meaning uncle. I remember being frightened when I first went under, but then there was a calming realization that I was OK, and in that split second, I was no longer afraid. I also realized that I could swim as well. And swim, I did. The deepwater became a place I loved.

That is how it is with dreams, I think. Jump in the water and see what you can do. There is no guarantee that you will be able to swim in all deep waters, but you will no longer fear them. Knowledge is the light that shines on fear and eliminates those second-guessing, unproductive thoughts that you have in your head. Knowing what is there, lurking below the surface, provides a person with power. The only way to gain this knowledge is to experience it. Jump at your dreams. Feet first, head, sideways, or belly flop, but jump. The world needs your gifts.

Relationships

In relationships, it is the same thing. Some people find the person perfect for them right away in life, which is excellent, but the water can still get deep for all people as they grow. There will be issues of trust, acceptance, growth, and continual love that will rise. I experience that eventually, you are standing on the dock of life, looking into the deep waters of that relationship, and you are afraid of jumping in. Those waters are more profound and darker than ever if you are looking for that special connection in life and haven’t found it yet.

Sitting on the comfortable dock is easy and reassuring yourself how safe you are there. Maybe you dip your feet in the water and splash around a bit. That will tell you nothing valuable. The only way to find out is to jump in. Be prepared for the full spectrum of what you will learn. Not everyone is for you. Understanding what the deepwater others are swimming in will reveal this to you. Some people like to dive deep and see what they can find. Others want to swim along the surface. Find a partner you can love just as they are and who loves you exactly the way you swim. Deep waters reveal the truth in all things. There is no place left to hide.

Living any aspect of your life will involve finding this out,  to some degree: work, relationships, personal growth, and spiritual growth. The only way to clearly understand something is to experience it consciously and personally. Only then can you decide if that person, place, or thing resonates with you, your goals, and your dreams. Don’t fear the deep waters. Explore them. Hold your breath and dive deep into them. Open your eyes to see the wonders and dangers below the surface.

Learning about life only really takes place this way. You can try to read about it and listen to other people’s experiences. But the only way you know what you will enjoy is to give it a go and explore the deep waters in front of you. There are risks involved in every moment of every day. Not letting fear limit our explorations is one of the essential talents in life to master. It will lead you exactly where you need to go.

 

22

Learning About My Best Self

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We need to find someone who can see us at our best and know that whatever we set our minds to, we have the power and ability to accomplish. t isn’t that we can’t be great without them, or we are less talented if they are not on your side, recognizing it. It is a fact. In their eyes, you have always seen the best version of yourself, and in that version, you could see all of your dreams becoming a reality. W n my actions, thoughts, and goals are reflected in me, I know I can handle adversity, manage setbacks, and create whatever situation I need to succeed. Do you believe in me?

As We Learn

The process starts when we are young and figure out precisely what our talents are and where we want them to go. Am I an astronaught? Am I a writer? Am I a professional athlete? Whatever the dream of childhood was a vital part of determining if that dream was realized in the end or discarded like flavorless bubble gum, it is the people who showed a belief in you and confidence in your talent. Some here, someone here you and see the incredible kindness, talent, joy, and power in your age to follow through with it all.

The learning process continues throughout your life as you get older, and we think we don’t need this type of encouragement anymore. But he joke theus, as a belief of someone you care about in your talent and abilities becomes even more critical as you grow older—you e m e set in your ways. You h ve become more in tune with what fills your cup of skills, but it takes more momentum to get you started, and confidence at any age is the difference between a good start and an excellent finish. Hearing, “I believe in you, and I know you can do it,” may provide that power and confidence to persevere through all of your natural questions, even in me.

 The Perfect You

Nobody in the world is perfect. Everyo e is Everyof this, from the beginning of our experience in life. But it sn’t about being perfect. If we w re all perfect, then where would the excitement be? Where w uld the challenge come from? Each pe on has a bucket of talent they carry daily. Some have so much it can become confusing. Our impe ections are the things that provide the need for us to hone our skills and develop ourselves to the point we can recognize which particular talents in our bucket need to be allowed to bloom in a way that will show our greatness.

Each day, a person can find their voice and express themselves in a way that will provide a unique ripple in the calm pool of life. The biggest challenge for most of us is knowing we have the skill to create that piece of art, write that song, sing in that way, or do whatever we want. The direct belief someone else has for your skill may push a hobby into a calling and an interest in a career. We should see ourselves through the eyes of someone who love and believes in us. Not because they have to, but because they can’t help but recognize the possibility of your life and the contribution you will make. If you get out of your way, take action, and become the person you were born to be. Do you believe in me?

Be Your Best

Life can deal with harsh blows, and we all deal with disappointment and loss. My life is n  different. But I can’t help but look at people I meet and immediately see their potential. It is a small window of accomplishment before them, but for others, there is a vast ocean of opportunity on their horizon. But they do not see it, and you can’t make them see it until they choose to do so themselves. You can try to have them read that book, listen to that thing, or create it. But until they decide they want to be great, you can’t help them.

It is one of the unique choices we make as human beings. What am I going to be? Who am I? That choice is never complete until you end the game of life and move to another level of your life. I know we are in control of ourselves and responsible for our choices and actions. That being said, sometimes it is one supportive word or meaningful conversation that allows us to develop into the best version of ourselves. That person may change the world. I see the talent in you and know if you create a vision for it and follow it, there is no limit to what you can create and accomplish. I know that for yself as well. Do you believe in me?

“There is no greater power and support you can give someone than to look them in the eye, and with sincerity/conviction say, ‘I believe in you.” ― Ken Poirot

“You will get what you wish to have.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

“I don’t even think you know how great you really are. I believe in you “-Dick Vermeil

“Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”–A. A. Milne

22

Make Someone Happy

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Happy-    feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

HAPPYOf all the words I use, this is the one that all people seem to be looking to find. In all they do in life,  people seek to find a state of happiness through their choices. We work to earn money so that we have the freedom to get the things we want and do the things we want to do because that will,  in theory, make us happy.

Yet, many people seem intent on going through life as unhappy as possible. Being happy isn’t the result of things we do or the possessions we own. It is a feeling that comes from the inside and can be shared at all times. Today, the challenge is to raise your consciousness about all the happiness inside you and notice the pure joy in all those around you. It starts with the thoughts you pay attention to, the words you choose to use, and the actions you decide to take because you are happy or to make someone else happy.

Be Happy Now

I once heard it explained that unhappiness is the desire to get something, and happiness is the desire to give. So using that idea as a basis for our actions, there should be no nobler, brighter, or magnificent task to undertake today but to make life happier, brighter, and a little sweeter. Not HAPPYwith yourself as the focus, but with other people.

You cannot remain unhappy when you have made someone else feel happy in any way. Pain is relieved, sorrow lessened, and life is more prosperous just by focusing our attention on what we can do to make others happy in the world. This is a force that lessens the pains of life because we all will experience them. But in time seeking to be and make others happy will smooth out our experience’s rough edges and allow us to move forward with hope, kindness, and wisdom. The simple knowledge in us is the capacity to survive, and that alone should make you pretty happy.

How to be Happy

You can focus on simple things to pursue happiness in life, and I will list them and link to a more in-depth work I wrote that explains them in detail. But we can take steps in our conscious thoughts, words, and actions to be happier at any moment in life. Rather than sit around and feel sorry for ourselves because of the things we have lost or don’t have. Focus on the beautiful things life has given you. These HAPPYthings exist every day, and even if you have lost, been down, and are hurting, there is a chance to reclaim happiness with a simple shift of attitude.

Accepting others for what they are and understanding that we are all on this voyage of life together is an excellent place to start. This understanding of others, their situation, and their needs is a great place to start. Simple Ways to be happy:

  1. Accept responsibility, and Don’t make excuses.
  2. Choose your Words Wisely
  3. Be physically fit
  4. Be Fearless
  5. Practice Mindfulness
  6. Be Kind
  7. Choose gratitude and appreciation in life
  8. Forgive
  9. Practice a growth mindset
  10. Surround yourself with positive people
  11. Positive thinking
  12. NEVER worry about what others think
  13. Give Freely

These are a few topics I have written about in the past, and if you focus your consciousness on them, it will be difficult not to experience a higher level of happiness. To be happy is the goal of most of us, and it is one of the more ironic facts of life that the more we strive to make others happy, the more happiness we will experience ourselves. Today, let’s focus on being conscious of the thoughts, words, and actions that will spread a little joy worldwide. 

Many people have no idea how much happiness they put into my life, but I know, and I appreciate, them and the richness they provide to my life. There is always room for more positive people in anyone’s life, and I have all the space in the world.

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.” ~ Jim Rohn

“The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are and not who people think you are.” Goldie Hawn

“The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have instead of what you don’t have.”

“We all live intending to be happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.”—Anne Frank

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute, with love, grace, and gratitude.” Denis Waitley