We all make mistakes and lament our choices, feeling pulled in this direction or roped into that situation. We convince ourselves that if we eliminate the bad influences, the poor decisions will go away. But the problems actually exist within us and are attracting other people and situations to us until we finally make the right decisions. It may not always be a conscious choice, but we end up exactly where we need to be. If our surroundings or the results are not what we expect or want, then we probably weren’t being honest with ourselves in the first place.
We look forward to stepping out of our routines — vacations, holidays, visiting friends — but then lament the effect it has on our lives. Our patterns and habits become more about control than improving the quality of our lives. We convince ourselves we need to keep our lives in a state of equilibrium and try to create it by manipulating our surroundings. But life is organic and dynamic, and the harmony we seek is here one second and gone the next. Equanimity is an inner state. Learn to let go and appreciate balance, knowing it’s merely a moment between two extremes.
Too often we equate our being with doing. We allow our achievements to represent who we are in the world. We use effort to connect us; the outcome to measure us. But the most beneficial result of our actions is the effect they have on others. Who we reach, how we do it, and the impact we have on those around us will tell us everything we need to know about ourselves.
We all have dreams. They sprout up at different times, floating in and out of our lives in seemingly random patterns. Some last, some are fleeting. They hang in the distance, often giving our life direction and purpose, sometimes teasing and frustrating us, just out of reach. All we have is our hope, faith, and belief that if we have the right amount of talent, do enough of the right things, and are blessed with luck, we will realize our lofty aspirations. But we can’t let the daunting nature of the journey dissuade us from embarking. Our dreams are not the ending to our story. They are our story. One that deserves to be told.
We all make mistakes and lament our choices, feeling pulled in this direction or roped into that situation. We convince ourselves that if we eliminate the bad influences, the poor decisions will go away. But the problems actually exist within us and are attracting other people and situations to us until we finally make the right decisions. It may not always be a conscious choice, but we end up exactly where we need to be. If our surroundings or the results are not what we expect or want, then we probably weren’t being honest with ourselves in the first place.
