Best supporting actress in a drama used to be me. I would love to argue for argument sake. I learned eventually that not all disagreements are invitations to an argument. It’s like watching my dog bark like crazy at a squirrel in the neighbor’s yard collecting it’s food. The dog is using all of it’s energy on something that is not making a difference to the squirrel. Sometimes we get all worked up in trying to change someone else’s opinion or action rather than working on what is in our control, ourselves.
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The best way to determine if you are on the right path for you, is to see how you handle the “tough” moments. What are some “tough moments? They may be when people will share their opinion whether solicited or not. They will offer up their idea of how you should do things. In most cases they are not trying to be hurtful but rather helpful, not saying this is always true in every situation. The beauty of knowing who you are and what you want allows you to choose your response. Test yourself and see if you are or are not threatened by someone else’s opinion.
Don’t give up on something just because others don’t “get it”. There will be times when you feel like you are going backwards. What you have to hold on to is that you are not the same person as when your journey started. You may not be where you want to be but I bet you are not where you were. Celebrate the small victories and keep moving forward.
When things feel like they are getting out of control, I go “back to the basics”. For me, the basics include walks in the park, reading and quiet moments of reflection. They are so important that I schedule them on my daily calendar. What I know for sure is we will always find the time or the money to do what is important to us. Make these count! The “basics” or your healthy habits lay the foundation for your success.
What if every morning there was a $500 deposit in your bank account but through out the day we had to pay a fine for each time we held on to even the slightest grudge. What would your account look like at the end of the day? It would make you so much more aware of the times we give our attention to the smallest of distractions. Consider your time as money, pay attention to what matters most so you don’t squander your daily allowance.
Do you have to be number one in all that you do? Here’s a different perspective to considered, that perhaps it’s the second place finisher who gives the first place finisher that extra momentum they needed to push them self to be their best. Currently I am in second place in a weekend step challenge and I am okay with that. We both have achieved new records. I feel good because I did not fail by participating, I would have failed by never choosing to accept the challenge.
If you come across an opportunity that speaks to your heart, work you butt off for it. Like so many people in the world today, we often work hard for a paycheck rather for themselves or a cause near and dear to them. For several years, I did what I was “suppose” to do rather than what I was designed to do. I found that God does make a way for those who serve. We all have unique gifts that this world so desperately needs. Take time to discover and develop your gift. The world is waiting on you.
Which one do you prefer to listen to? Your internal GPS or the external ones. We have gotten so accustomed to using external navigational systems, like the opinions of other people, that we have lost the ability to trust our gut instincts. There is a sense of certainty we feel we must have. The funny thing in life is there are no guarantees. Life is filled with unexpected detours, delays and constructions that will make us look for alternate routes. Keep in mind that even if you have a specific destination in mind, there are plenty of routes that can take you there. Once in awhile, stop listening to the external voices and trust your intuition.
Just because people do not invest in something does not mean that “something” is not valuable. For many years, to try and increase sales, I used to reduce prices. What that did was unconsciously undermine my sense of worthiness. I realized that when one turns to personal development, they are choosing to invest in themselves. It always offers a much greater return on investment. As you build up your level of self worth, the less likely you are willing to offer any more discounts.
In times when the path of life seems quite lonely I remember that a caterpillar forms a cocoon around itself to be transformed into the beautiful butterfly. It takes the moments of isolation to allow us the find our inner strength, inner wisdom and inner peace. Use the quiet time to develop yourself and become familiar with who you are. Use the time to transform yourself into the beautiful butterfly that is within each of us.
Sweet N Social 