Balance bad behavior

People who irritate us the most sometimes exhibit the same qualities we possess ourselves.  Perhaps it is the perfect opportunity for self-exploration and understanding ourselves on a deeper level in order to explore options of behavior modification and change those irritating traits.

However, we must be willing to change and become brutally honest with ourselves as it relates to bad behavior.

On the other hand, enhancing those positive behaviors we possess can influence another person to imitate the behavior . . . and it works the other way around.  Allow others in your life to influence you to be the best person you can be.

Checks and balances allow ourselves and those closest to us to continually improve ourselves and positively enhance our behavior modification awareness, ultimately improving those relationships through a willingness to change.

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Buried dreams or fulfilled visions?

It is important to have a vision

of what we want in life.

More important is to take action

toward getting what we want.

Do you have a dream or a vision for your life?

Do you want fulfilled visions or buried dreams?

As with any journey, you need a map to your destination and a way to get there.  Otherwise you will probably get lost or find yourself stranded along the way, burying  your dream as a result.

It is never too late to dig up those buried dreams . . . take action toward making it happen.  No matter what it is, come up with an action plan and move on it.  It takes one step at a time . . . no matter how small the steps are.

Fuel the way to get to your goal like you put gas in your vehicle to get somewhere.  Just do it . . . put your well thought-out plan into action and make your buried dream a fulfilled vision.

We only have one journey of life . . . live it the way you dream it.

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Invincible Determination

"If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done."

Vince Lombardi  

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek."

Mario Andretti 

"The most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come."

James Whitcomb Riley

 

"An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything, and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men."

Thomas Fuller

Determination is defined as the act of 
coming to a decision or of fixing
 or settling a purpose.


You could say that determination is the key to self-respect and confidence . . . it all works together.  

The need for success or attainment of a goal is the fuel for determination . . . you want it, it is a must . . . no matter what!

A strong-willed person with ambition will take a set back as a lesson in circumstance, developing discipline along the way which is also necessary in order to reach the desired goal.  Like everything in life, it is about balancing all the components of determination.

In times of dire circumstances, the determination to survive can either make or break a person.  If you fall down enough times, do you continue to dust yourself off and get back up or give up completely?

What makes the difference?  

At what point does one experience

 what I call a broken spirit?

All I know is this . . . in my times of experiencing a broken spirit, the thought of failure gives me the determination and a wild ambition to keep it going.  The balance of experiencing the broken spirit with the determination to not fail helps me get back up and keep on keeping on.  

Sometimes the broken spirit results in a greater determination to succeed . . . that is when balance and discipline enters into the mix.  At least that is the way I see it . . . 

The difference between success and failure is a state of mind.  What I have perceived as my greatest failures have led to the greatest times of happiness in my life.  

An excellent example is giving up on a job in a dysfunctional workplace that would have produced negative results no matter what the effort.  It is all in how you perceive the situation.  Success in sticking it out would never produce joy and happiness, which is the goal in my life. 

You have to know which battles to fight in order to find the success you are looking for in your life.

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Home is where the heart is

Home is where the heart is

And my home

Is anywhere you are

Anywhere you are

Is home

Lyrics from the song

"Home Is Where The Heart Is"

Elvis Presley

It is possible to live in the place of your dreams and be deliriously happy being there . . . alone . . . all by yourself.  Many times I have written about embracing your solitude . . . and for a while I did.

If I were given the choice to live anywhere my heart desires, it is exactly where I am, sharing my life with the most important person in my life who is my heart's desire, the one who has enhanced my life.

Home is no longer a place to me . . . home is where we are together.

Now, if someone wanted to give me a vacation home directly on the Gulf with a view of the beach, I would not complain!

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When our world falls apart

People are like stained glass windows: 

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, 

but when the darkness sets in their true 

beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Clinging to the Core

When Our World Falls Apart

When it feels as if your world is falling apart,  know at your core that you are a strong being of light.

There are times when our whole world seems to be falling apart around us, and we are not sure what to hold onto anymore. Sometimes our relationships crumble and sometimes it’s our physical environment. At other times, we can’t put our finger on it, but we feel as if all the walls have fallen down around us and we are standing with nothing to lean on, exposed and vulnerable. These are the times in our lives when we are given an opportunity to see where we have established our sense of identity, safety, and well-being. And while it is perfectly natural and part of our process to locate our sense of self in externals, any time those external factors shift, we have an opportunity to rediscover and move closer to our core, which is the only truly safe place to call home.

The core of our being is not affected by the shifting winds of circumstance or subject to the cycles of change that govern physical reality. It is as steady and consistent as the sun, which is why the great mystics and mystical poets often reference the sun in their odes to the self. Like the sun, there are times when our core seems to be inaccessible to us, but this is just a misperception. We know that when the sun goes behind a cloud or sets for the night, it has not disappeared but is simply temporarily out of sight. In the same way, we can trust that our inner core is always shining brightly, even when we cannot quite see it.

We can cling to this core when things around us are falling apart, knowing that an inexhaustible light shines from within ourselves. Times of external darkness can be a great gift in that they provide an opportunity to remember this inner light that shines regardless of the circumstances of our lives. When our external lives begin to come back together, we are able to lean a bit more lightly on the structures we used to call home, knowing more clearly than ever that our true home is that bright sun shining in our core.

Source: Daily OM

"Step on onto the ledge with faith in your heart and you will see that hidden beneath your fear are a fresh pair of wings waiting for you to take flight!" 

- Mastin Kipp, founder of TDL

Source: The Daily Love

It doesn't matter who you are, what your status is in life, how much or how little money you may have . . . there will be times in everyone's life when it feels as our world is falling apart.

The news of the past few weeks have put me in a very anxious state . . . it is the helpless feeling when it comes to world affairs and natural disasters.

Perhaps there is a family matter that seems to be spiraling out of control . . . or maybe it is a health issue that doesn't want to go away no matter how much you would like to "wish it away" . . . it just is and it must be dealt with.

In these times, I personally find it difficult to keep the faith.  However, that faith is what keeps me together and gives me hope that everything will be as it is supposed to be.  I'm a strong believer in fate and destiny . . . so why do I fret over those things I have no control over?  Like world affairs . . .

Hope and faith work together to keep that inner light shining when surrounded by darkness.  It is in those times of darkness that being grateful for those little things that bring joy and happiness is so important.  Being grateful and aware of everything that is good and positive is the fuel that fires hope and faith.

It is so important to not fall 

apart when our world falls apart.

How do you cope with difficult times?

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The Domino Effect

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.

Sarah Ban Breathnach
Simple Abundance

We go through many changes in a lifetime.   The greatest change I made in my life is described in quote above, the life of simple abundance.  Being grateful for the moments in time that are joyful and peaceful . . . it is not a promise, they are gifts that should be cherished.  As humans, we don't always remember this and take so much for granted.  Today I am so grateful beyond words for so much.

The news is not good today.  Mother Nature is hitting the earth with a vengeance . . . the effects are far reaching.  It is the domino-effect, the devastating earthquake in Japan causing tsunami damage on the west coast of the United States and as I listen to the news, there is now flooding on the east coast of the United States.  The images are haunting and they have just begun to flow in . . . the breaking news is horrific.

What about the nuclear reactor problems in Japan?  

Very scary indeed!

The thought occurred to me that we are so small and helpless as humans when pitted against the ravages of nature.  Nature does not play favorites and we are all subject to nature's fury, no matter where we live.  Just thinking about the earth splitting apart in one part of the world and affecting another part of the world sends shivers up my spine.

In times like these, being grateful for everything good and bad in my life sweeps over me, along with sadness for the devastation being endured by so many.  The domino-effect will continue for these people, as those grateful to be alive begin to rebuild their lives.  Keep them in your prayers.

This post was originally published April 20, 2008

in one of my blogs that is now closed

I woke up in a very sad mood for many reasons and the sadness intensified as I watched the coverage of the Pope's visit with the 9/11 victim families at Ground Zero. It so touched me and I have been crying since, not able to stop.

On days like today, it is so much more important to be grateful for what we have been blessed with and not look at what we don't have. Lamenting does not bring people back to life or solve life's circumstances that make us sad.

I am so grateful for those weeds that need to be pulled that helps to let out aggression.

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Keep The Lamp Burning

This is an older post that I wrote back in 2008 on an older  blog that is now private . . . in my opinion, it is one of the most important and profound posts I have ever written.  It has been somewhat rewritten to reflect my present life situation, which is the best of my life.  As important as the message is, there is another message within the message . . . good things come to those who wait . . . it is all about keeping the faith, no matter what.

If we want a love message to be heard,

it has got to be sent out.

To keep a lamp burning,

we have to keep putting oil in it.

Mother Theresa

There is one lesson in life I have learned about love 

if you are truly in love, you need to shout it out to the world 
what good is undeclared love?

Prideful love is unhappy love

Even if you don't shout it out to the world and make declarations as I do through my blogs, let the person you love know how much you love them, what their presence in your life means to you . . . make them feel special . . . they are the most high, the most special.

True love is the most special emotion in existence

It is something that I am aware of every moment of every day.  After all the years without meaningful love in my life after suddenly becoming a widow, my sweetie is the greatest treasure in my life.  I am a new person with a renewed faith that good things come to those who wait.  It doesn't get better than that!

I love the lines from Mother Theresa, especially to keep putting oil in the lamp . . . it is so important to keep love alive. Make sure you never let that lamp burn out . . . that is what tragedies are made of.

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