Tag Archives: be who you are

22

Life Challenges

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highwireIt is fantastic that life continually puts you into situations that challenge and change you. It is also eye-opening that I continue to be surprised by this. Yet here I am, looking at what I want to create, standing on the precipice of going for it and tentatively cringing.

It is not rare, I think, for people to feel this way. When you look at most people, they have put their real goals and dreams aside to accept living in a rut of consistency and security that life provides. Safe is the choice, but we still have ideas that we are not acting on. Today I am looking to move and am encouraging you to come with me.

See Your Fear

We should be good friends with fear by now in life. It has been a constant our entire lives. How we have reacted to it has changed through our life, but still, it is always there knocking at the door of your thoughts with those two little limiting words…………… What if?

I could attempt my dream, but what if……….

….it doesn’t work?

……….I fail?

……………………I look stupid?

………………………….., the world laughs at me?

…………………………………………….I am not good enough? etc., etc., etc.

These are the seeds of doubt, driven by fear that paralyze us into taking no action at all toward what we want to be. The only difference between those who achieve their dreams and those who do not is a willingness to take action and see what happens.

If it doesn’t work? You will gain experience and knowledge to allow it to work the next time. If you fail, then you learn and know. Joy and freedom are the results of bettering yourself and reaching your dreams. This effort is never wasted. Not growing the talent inside of you and seeing what you can do would be a waste of energy.

What if the world laughs? The world won’t laugh. The world will continue to exist, much as it did before, with the single exception that someone living there has provided their unique contribution, and now it is a slightly better place.

What if you are not good enough? A leftover doubt from childhood and time to get rid of this fear. Why wouldn’t you be good enough? If you can conceive of a thing, you can create that thing. If others don’t accept it, then that is their problem. The beauty of the building isn’t any less.

So on this thoughtful day, let us choose to evaluate who we are, see where we would like to be on a personal, financial, physical, and spiritual level, and then be brave enough to take those first tentative steps toward those goals.

The only way to know if you can cross that high wire is to try and see if you make it to the other side.

“Believe in your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.” Walt Disney

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Oprah

“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.” Henry David Thoreau

“We may place blame, give reasons, and even have excuses, but in the end, it is an act of cowardice to not follow your dreams.” Steve Maraboli

 

21

Normal

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no-normalThere is no such thing as normal.  Normal is a word that will bring a different vision to everyone’s mind, but to me, each vision is biased by the thinker’s experiences.  My normal may seem ludicrous to you, and what you do each day as a matter of life may seem out of this world to someone else. The point is that there is no need to appoint a value of “normal” to anybody or anybody’s life. We all do what makes us comfortable and happy. Do what makes you happy and be your best self, regardless of what labels the world tries to put on you.

Labeling and Judgement

It is important to avoid putting a label on people because along with that label comes a laundry list WHAT+IS+NORMAL....THERE+IS+NO+SUCH+THING_8bd8fd_4713614of expected behaviors and stereotypes that come with it.   These labels are just another way of packaging an individual up into a combination that you can easily understand.  When you place negative judgment on people, you rob them of their individuality and their potential contribution.

When I am at my best, I accept all people for what they are.  Each individual will think differently, act differently, like different things, and conform to their own idea of normal.   This individuality is the greatest spice of life.

Take a moment and read a few different blogs.  Without looking too hard, you will be able to find a wide range of ideas in a concise search.  You can stretch your own idea of what is normal and broaden your horizons a bit in that short time.

Many Colors Make Things Beautiful

The world would be incredibly boring and probably not all that healthy if everyone looked at the world with the normal define itsame understanding of normal.  There would be no variance in music, art, or interest of any kind.  All people would march to the same drummer. There would be no unique flavors, no differences whatsoever.

Some of the world’s greatest people are great because of their ability to look at the world and see a different reality than most others.

That is what makes up great art, wonderful creations, and scientific advances.  Thinking outside the box is not a “normal” activity, but the ability to do so can result in great understanding and, in some cases, wealth, fame, and great contributions to our world.

Glad To Be Me And Thankful for YOU!

I  have a great deal of gratitude for the fact that there is no normal.  This gives you the ability and licenses to be exactly who you are and to contribute your own unique talent to the world each day.  Don’t worry about what others think, do not concern yourself with how society looks at your ideas.  Concern yourself with finding what makes you the individual you are and be the best you possibly can.

I have learned the most from people who have very different thoughts than I do.  That doesn’t make them wrong. It makes them different and allows me to grow as a person and take the nuggets of knowledge from each of them. We are all on a journey and will be given different lessons to help us on our way. There is no singular right way to look at things. That is where many people seem to get off track with labels, stereotypes, and judgments.  Look at all points of view and try to understand them. This doesn’t mean that you agree with them. It simply means you understand them.

Today, I am grateful there is no normal and am thankful for all of the “Not Normal” people I know in the world.  I thank them all for the many things they have taught me and the enjoyment of seeing them shine!