Fulfilling the Dream

Mornin'

Ever dreamed of doing something in your life only to have it placed on hold as a direct result of something you or someone else did? Well, let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than being able to engage in the work to realize the dream after quite some time of only thinking about it. There is something very special and rewarding if we can survive all the doubt and other negativity that happens along the way and come through the other side ready to fulfill those dreams.

Be it drug or alcohol addiction, an abusive and controlling relationship, our inner voice that tells us that we are not good enough, or a plethora of other self-defeating thoughts that hold us back, there is a way up and a way out if we maintain hope and faith that the situations that we find ourselves in will someday dissolve. When this happens - and it will if we persist - we will finally be engaged in a world in which we feel a part of rather than apart from.

This moment is the moment everybody wants to arrive at but not everybody has the courage and resolve to get there. There are those who learn the path to success earlier in life than others. Typically, many of those folks breeze past the important lessons in life that pertain to maintaining happiness within and spend the bulk of their life unhappy and empty despite all the "things" they have set in place around them.

When living life settles and the dust clears, the people who enjoy life the most are those who learn the lessons in life that facilitate the building up of character and self-esteem rather than tearing it down. It is certainly okay to have many toys and equally okay to have very little. My interest lies in knowing that more people learn to truly enjoy life in healthy ways. It takes a inside job to realize something so important and special. Trust me when I tell you, I have certainly been on both sides of the fence and prefer this side over the other.

Listen to your voice within - otherwise known as your conscience - and follow its commands. If it tells you that you are in the wrong job despite the copious amounts of money you make, maybe it's time to make a change. If you are being treated poorly and have become miserable as the result of the abuse, find another place to live and end the relationship. In fact, if you are unhappy with yourself and your life, it is probably time to look within to find the cause of your dilemma. When you do find the cause and the solution becomes evident, you are more than halfway there to a peaceful, happy life. There will be plenty of hard work along the way but at least it will pave the way to a good life and not be snuffed out by negativity. Stop running from the issues that keep your spirit pinned down. Have an awesome day!

Peace

Difficult People

Mornin'

How do you act when faced with difficult people? You know, the really cocky and selfish people that are more prevalent today then they were when I was a kid (70's). I have a really awesome way to deal with them. First, find an exit strategy from the situation. Then, honestly accept the person/situation for exactly what it is. Finally, do not judge or put down the other person(s) for how they acted. Oftentimes, there are patterns of behavior in individuals that are deeply engrained for very specific reasons. Maybe they are cocky and need to always get in the last word because they did not feel like they were provided enough attention or heard enough throughout their life. They can also be fortifying a poor self image or insecurity stemming from a myriad of issues.

If there is no exit strategy and you must perhaps work with an individual in a confined space or any other situation, be nice. Killing someone with kindness will stymie them more than anything else. I have learned that there is nothing more effective in combating difficult people than to just respect them and be nice to them. In all my years of dealing with a variety of people, it seems the action that paralyzes them the most is kindness. It is almost as if kindness is the great leveler. There have been those folks who I met that are just inherently nasty, cold, and calculated. They don't even respond to kindness. These folks are not bad people either. They seemed to be so lost in negativity from working overtime to build defenses to keep the world out that it becomes a lifestyle. Their chances are less than most.

The best way for me to act during my daily travels is to get centered in the morning with some quiet time where I meditate and contemplate (usually with a cup of Joe lol) what lays ahead that day. I then fire up my computer and begin my computing tasks. It usually involves writing in my blog as well as working on other projects I have been working on for some time. Then I may do some chores before heading out for the day to face life on life's terms. During my day, I will invariably have to draw from the reserves I created through my meditation and blogging. I also use many techniques to handle my day that I have learned from all the people I have crossed paths with during my short time on this earth. My days usually turn out well provided I pay attention to the cues my environment and the people in it give me. It is only when I fail to listen to that voice within my soul that I have trouble living in the world as I know it.

Peace

Gratitude

Mornin'

I would just like to take some time this morning to express my gratitude for what the Great Spirit has bestowed on my life. I have a wonderful mother, father, sister, and a few brothers who add goodness to my life on a daily basis. I also have several brothers with whom I am not close with but respect deeply. I am certainly grateful to have them as family. I am also grateful for the opportunity to open my eyes each morning and take another breath of life. No matter what the day brings, I try to remain grateful for having another day to live. I may not always have a grateful mindset but gratitude is such a nice mindset to come back to time and time again. It seems as though the longer I am on this earth, the closer the moments of deep gratitude get to each other.

Gratitude for the problems I face may seem like an oxymoron but it will make sense after a brief explanation. Without struggles, there would be no way to sharpen my tools with which I face life on a daily basis. The good days that consist of me being happy, joyous and free are only made possible by fighting in the trenches during those days that try me. Conversely, getting through the tough days are made possible by the hope that, in doing the work to get through the difficult times, I will have the goods times to help heal my wounds. The more I contemplate the Great Spirit and how the world fits together, the more I realize how important all the components are. Don't get me wrong, I, like most people, would rather not see so much violence and hardship in the world. This, too, is necessary in the grand scheme of things. I have a choice as to whether or not I participate in negativity.

I am grateful for all the relationships I have the the good looks and mind I inherited from my parents. I am also grateful to have a relationship with a higher power and to impart what the Great Spirit teaches me onto others at the appropriate time. The few materialistic things I posses give me a sense of gratitude as well. I have much to be grateful for. My list goes on and on and I hope you take the time to sit down and type one up. It really helps put things in perspective; especially during difficult times. Finally, I am grateful to have the opportunity to share a little piece of myself with all of you on a daily basis. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing I help at least one person on a daily basis.

Peace

Courage

Mornin'

Nice sunrise, huh? I thought I might add a little to all of you who wake to dreary, cloudy days. Never let this deter you from enjoying your day and the people you meet during this day.

I wanted to reveal some of my thoughts about courage with you in hopes of sparking comments about the subject. Webster defines courage as the ability to do something you know is difficult or dangerous. I believe any of us can conquer challenges outside ourselves easier than we can those that dwell within the confines of our minds and souls. I share this thought with you after experiencing this first hand and discussing the issue with many other human beings. I would much rather sail the open ocean (fear of capsizing and drowning or getting eaten by sharks) than reveal intimate details about my personality or belief system to anyone. I show more courage, I think, when I share myself with another human being. I also find it easier to play an intense game of Rugby (back in the day) than discuss my weaknesses with another man.

I believe that conquering our physical world is more easily handled than conquering issues that are spiritual, emotional, and psychological in nature simply because they typically do not involve a focused look at our core beliefs and values. We simply do not have to expose ourselves fully in the physical world as we do in the more important spiritual, emotional, and psychological realms. Sure, it takes a special individual to rise above their fears in hopes of conquering certain challenges that they encounter during daily life. What helps with these challenges is having more courage regarding the spiritual, emotional, and psychological. I believe all four need to be working like a well-oiled machine in order to provide us with the proper tools we need for success in anything we do.

There are many things that may frighten us each day. The only way through the fears we face is going through them. The smartest way to go through them is to be smart about how we approach them. Facing fears educated and prepared to move through them is one thing. It is quite another to have the bull in the china shop approach to these sometimes life-changing challenges. Sometimes the answer is to walk in the opposite direction of a situation that makes us fearful. This can be life-changing since sometimes our fears force us to make decisions that preserve our lives. For example, I would not befriend someone who engages in ingesting mind-altering chemicals for fear of getting involved myself. This is smart to not get involved and my fears directed me to make a smart, well thought out decision about my life. On the other hand, take for example another relationship opportunity. If I met someone who seemed to be uplifting and would make a wonderful addition to my life, I may experience fear of intimacy. Acknowledging this fear but opting to walk towards and through my fear would probably pay off and be good for me. It would not only allow me to get once step closer to conquering my fears about intimacy, but also help me deal with life of life's terms better.

I could go on and on about courage. I believe I have touched on the important components and given a few good examples of courageousness. My hope is that all of you look deep withing yourself and draw from the courage that is within. It is a gift given to us by the Great Spirit and using it only strengthens it. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!

Peace

Clearing My Mind

Mornin'

This, my friends, has been a momentous task for me but one I have seen great progress with. Don't get me wrong, meditation provides rewards every time I engage in it. The results of meditation are directly proportional to the effort I put in gaining control of my mind through my thoughts.

There are a myriad of techniques for meditation; many schools of thought and names attached to them. I like to keep it simple by sitting still, closing my eyes, and letting my brain work without intervention. An important thing to note here is that, as the thoughts enter my mind, I let them "pass through" without struggling with them. Just simply acknowledge your thoughts and let them go. Over time, the flow of troubling, often confusing and bizarre thoughts will ebb more and more and that is the moment I inject thoughts that affirm my well-being and relationship to the world around me. They may be thoughts of who I am or how I should deal with certain people and situations who I will confront today. I always reserve a special place in my soul, asking for awareness regarding those individuals who will support me on my journey and the strength to support others on theirs.

I usually end my meditation by finishing my cup of coffee I have been sipping throughout my exercise. I don't believe that I have to assume a certain position or follow certain rituals that have been passed down through generations of gurus and swamis. Like recovery from any type of addiction, this experience needs to be personalized. Your relationship with the Great Spirit is yours. Call him/her whatever you'd like and commune with that Higher Power however you see fit. This is your journey and therefore needs to be custom tailored so you can maximize the benefit of engaging in this ritual. You may sit cross-legged on the floor with no music playing or on the sofa sipping a cup of coffee with relaxation music playing softly in the background. I suggest no music since I believe that any type of outside noise can make following your thoughts more challenging. Everybody's mind and soul works a little differently so have at it.

In closing, I would like to say that you can expect your mind to not only quiet during your meditative experience, but also provide you solutions to your everyday challenges. Once you try this, your life will change drastically over time. You will no longer be uptight and stressed out like you once were. Those difficult folks who used to pluck your last nerve will suddenly be innocuous. I guarantee that, if you remain quiet after processing your thoughts during this process, you will be given all the solutions you need to live a happy and fulfilled life.

Peace

Just What I Need

Mornin'

The cup of Joe is certainly just what I, like millions of Americans and humans around the world, need each morning (and sometimes throughout the day). But this is not what I need to make me a person who lives life on the spiritual plain. This job is reserved for the creative source that combines all my life experience to create a human being who can live life on life's terms without needing to control, manipulate, etc. anybody else to get what I want out of life.

My life today does not consist of using my character defects to create a life with self-center components at its core. Through my trials and tribulations, mistakes and successes, failures and triumphs, I have discovered that my success in life is simply contingent upon how I treat others and myself. If i can go to bed at night knowing that I was good to myself and all those I came in contact with for that day, my day has been successful. When I have not accomplished this, I must get up the next day and do it all over, making amends where I need to make them. The interesting thing about my quest to treat myself and others respectfully and nicely throughout the day is the impossibility with perfecting this ritual.

Being human excludes me from the realm of perfection. Therefore, I must keep it in my mind that I can only strive for this perfection and accept that progress is good on a daily basis. The prize for me is seeing the relationships in my life transform into something I could have only dreamed of just a few years ago. I really do enjoy the journey on a daily basis. It is exciting for me to rise in the morning and greet each day (sometimes it is difficult getting out from underneath the covers during the frigid winter mornings).

I hope this day brings positive change for you; that your relationships transform into healthier, happier gifts. If you struggle in any particular relationship, try thinking "How can I make this person's day just a little bit better?" It may involve words of kindness, or deeds to help make the other person's road less bumpy today. Whatever you decide to do, build your relationship from here on out on the foundation of love. The Great Spoiler works overtime to destroy us and our relationships. We are social beings and one of the best ways to bring down the human race is to fracture relationships. It occurs everyday here in America and throughout the world. Is this how wars begin? What about murder and other violent crimes? The core of all crime is always one of the seven deadly sins.

To affect change in the world, you must begin by changing relations with the people you contact daily. Whether your wife, significant other, child, friend, or neighbor, these relationships are the grass roots of change globally. I'm just saying.

Peace