Climbing the Mountain

Along the way, in this lovely journey that I am on, I have come to know that one will find every excuse in the book, not to do something that they do not want to do, and will climb mountains to do something they really want to do. It's in the excuses we use that we will find what we truly do not want to do. When we climb the mountain is where we find where our Passions lie waiting to be discovered.

by Diane Harrison

Choosing your Passions

"Abraham Lincoln lost election after election, lost his wife, lost his money,
and on the surface appeared to be a failure most of his life until he was
elected President of the United States."
- from The Passion Test

Will you face challenges when you follow your passions? You can count on it.

But when you choose in favor of your passions, the difference is that the challenges and what others would call failures can't stop you. When they do, that's the signal it's time to get clearer about what really matters to you.

Make it a point to remember "What's Important to You".

Don't judge yourself for how you think others are judging you. Chances are you are only creating something in your mind that truly doesn't exist.

EVERY EXPERIENCE IS A GIFT!

Women are truly Remarkable

T H E O N E F L A W I N W O M E N

author uknown

Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships

and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy, and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don’t take “no” for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel,

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong

when they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show

how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their family and friends.

Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

However, if there is one flaw in women, it is this;

They forget their worth and how remarkable they truly are!

Falling off a bike

Mistakes (mis-take (translation: take one, take two, take three - we no longer need the experience when the lesson has been learned)) can actually build confidence, because when you rise after a fall, which you inevitably will, you have greater faith in yourself. You brush yourself and think, “Hey, that wasn’t so bad, what was I so frightened of?” You might feel a sense of delight and victory at having faced your fears and come out the other side, whether you succeeded in your initial aim or not. Sometimes the experience itself, and what you learn from it, is the real win.

If you were so scared of falling off a bike that you never got on one, you’d never learn how to ride. You’d also carry a sense of failure and regret at not attempting, and a loss at missing out in the joys of the experience. Scrapes in life can be part of your journey of growth. They can also help polish you and unleash inner strengths and gifts you did not even know were there!

When you learn to deal with stressful, uncomfortable or challenging life circumstances, and realize there can also often be a gift inherent within them – perhaps a needed change, a healing opportunity, letting go, a growth experience, or greater insight into existing beliefs, patterns, strengths and weaknesses – you grow in confidence.

Shying away from challenges doesn’t make them disappear, and avoiding your fears only shrinks your confidence, rather than expands it.

LOVE AND LIGHT

Your worth lies not in what you do, or in who you know, but in who you are…. and who you truly are is AMAZING!

You are a being of love and light, however far you ever feel from that at any time. This is the truth of who you are! Awakening and remembering the love that you are has the power to transform your life on all levels, and will grant a new-found confidence unlike any other.

What beliefs are standing in the way of experiencing your true loving, happy, bright nature?

What types of negative comments do you hear yourself say about yourself, or feelings do you experience about yourself?

Some of these may come out of past deeds and traits you have not forgiven yourself for, which is why self-forgiveness is a valuable part of a journey to confidence. It will help you release more of any guilt, shame, or self-condemnation, which will only work against you and shroud the sunny rays of confidence.

Setting Goals

In his early years and near poverty, actor Jim Carrey wrote a note on a peice of paper, stuck it his shirt pocket, and kept it there until he no longer needed it.

The note read, "Make a million dollars."

From stories like Jim carrey's, we assume that setting goals is the first step to achieving them. We assume Jim Carrey made a million dollars because he set it as a goal and wrote it down. It's a rare self-improvement book, we suspect, that does not stress, "Set goals."

But we misunderstand goal-setting.

First, you have set goals even if you've never written them down. You want to watch what you eat, run three miles with less effort, get closer to your father. You rarely think about these "goals." But at one time, those thoughts crossed your mind, and you devoted yourself to them. You set goals and few human beings do not.

But the value of goal-setting does not come just from the goals. It comes from the thinking that went into the planning, and the knowledge that comes out. Set goals with others and you learn. You learn what others value, and that helps you make better and more informed decisions every day.

In business, the same regularly proves itself. The value of a business plan rarely comes from the goals and strategies. Those goals and strategies change so early and often that most business plans are better viewed as, "What do we plan to do until we change our minds?" That we ignore these plans does not matter. What matters is what happened as you made the plan.

EVERYONE LEARNED.

SET GOALS NOT BECAUSE THEY WILL HELP YOU REACH THEM, BUT BECAUSE THEY WILL TEACH YOU.

Change Your Vibrations, Change Your Life

We all have something we need to let go or get over in our lives.

For most of us, it’s difficult to lose people we care about due to fights or fall-outs. Even when people just get weeded out during natural progression, it isn’t easy on us. Thus, a good portion of us actively hold on to people that no longer serve our higher purpose, but who actually hinder our progress. The worst thing for most human beings is rejection and/or loneliness, which translates into some of us jumping through hoops, tip-toeing around certain individuals, or simply denying our very own nature. And when we do these things, sooner or later we start feeling resentful.

Not all relationships and friendships should be salvaged, because not all of them are equally important. But no matter what happened, I would always ask anyone to still accept their part in any type of “bad” parting. If you behaved in ways that were hurtful, mean or out of line, you must own up to it and apologize. Why? Because this is what grown up and healthy people do! We own our part in things and we behave with integrity, honesty and decency! Just be prepared that most people do not like confrontation and therefore prefer the passive aggressive or behind-the-back approach. This is fine, too, as long as you can at least look at yourself in the mirror, knowing that you did the right thing.

I know that it hurts to let go, but know that holding on can sometimes be more detrimental and painful than cutting the cord and walking away. So here are three things to consider when finally saying “good riddance!”

1. Values

Know what they are and stick to them! If you attempt to foster relationships with people who do not have the same values, things will go sour eventually. The good old saying “opposites attract” does not apply here at all. For example, if you value loyalty and the other one doesn’t/won’t, things will go really sour when they keep letting you down and disrespecting you.

2. Love, Empathy and Kindness

I know it should be a no-brainer, but why hang on to people who are unkind and can’t be loving towards you? We are all imperfect; we have our struggles, ups and downs and our strengths and weaknesses. Who needs people who are too self-absorbed to love anyone else and have no ability to relate to another? In order to be kind, one has to have empathy, and in order to love, one has to have the ability to relate to another and share with them. Insight into others also allows you to see how another wants to be loved! Not all of us recognize love in the same ways. While some require a lot of reassurance, others may need someone who helps them with the daily chores.

3. Self-Awareness

Someone who is absolutely clueless regarding who they are and how they come across or affect others will have absolutely no clue how to treat another; or how to be a friend, partner or lover. When someone is stuck deeply in denial about their own life, how “tuned in” do you think they will be with you? If they are not open to any criticism, how do you think they will help you grow? You’ve guessed it, by not saying a thing and looking the other way. Worst case scenario, they will say something, but not to your face. Either way, this is not a growth inspiring situation. To love and care for anther includes the ability to be open and honest with each other!

My advice is not for the faint of heart, nor for those who want to lead a miserable, or mediocre life. My advice is for those who want extraordinary lives; for those who want to be wide awake and live life to the fullest; for those who want to learn to thrive versus merely cope. There is so much to be gained when we live our lives courageously, and when we won’t take “no” for an answer. The shift that spreads across all parts of our existence can only occur when we are the catalyst. All change starts within, not without!

So if you find yourself hurt, angry, disappointed or upset over losing someone who isn’t worth the emotions or tears you invested, just know that there is no empty space in the universe; and generally, when one door closes, another one opens. Life goes on and when we change our own vibrations, we will attract those who are more in-tune with us and probably more worth-while. For those who closed the door on you, just tell yourself “good riddance!” and move on. This is the only life you have, make the best of it!