“March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns,
or the sharp stones on life’s path (Khalil Gibran).”
Those who choose to live, march on. They don’t look back or cry over life not being fair. They march on. They know there will be challenges, undaunted, they march on.
“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power (Unknown).”
We spend enough time trying to change the past. When we discover we can’t change it, we ruminate over it. Ruminating over the past only brings up emotions best left buried. The healthiest option is to turn from the past and face toward tomorrow filled with hope and confidence.
“Things happen along the way in our path. Instead of looking at it as a wall that’s being put up in front of us, look at it as as opportunity to scale new heights and to climb that wall – to see and do things you didn’t think you were capable of (Robin Roberts).”
Each of us faces challenges. They wait for us around the next corner. The attitude we take to our challenges makes all the difference in determining the success we’ll have when we face them. If we see it as an opportunity and learning experience we have a chance to succeed and grow. Whatever challenge you’re facing, you’re stronger, tougher, and wiser than the challenge.
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live (Goethe).”
Learning to trust ourselves takes time. It takes a lot of letting go. It takes heaps of courage to dare new things without a safety net. When we reach the place of where we can trust ourselves, everything changes for the better.
“Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all (Dr. Seuss).”
Oh, the places you’ll go if you let go of what’s holding you back. Let go of the fears that scream at you and wake you at night. Let go of the myths handed down to you. Let go and fly – oh, the places you’ll go. Let go.
“Sorrow looks back, Worry looks around, Faith looks up (Ralph Waldo Emerson).”
“Hope is endurance. Hope is holding on and going on and trusting in the Lord (Michael Novak).”
To persevere and endure during the tough moments builds our strength. Hope is the ingredient that fuels our endurance. We go forward knowing a better tomorrow awaits. Pray for guidance, strength, and the courage to keep on walking during the tough times.
“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised (Norman Vincent Peale).”
We make things complicated for ourselves trying find happiness. When making life less complicated brings more opportunities for happiness. I’ve great moments of success, yet, not one moment of success brought me as much happiness as pushing my daughters on the playground swing. It’s often the small things things that bring the greatest happiness.
“The strangest secret in the world is that you become what you think about (Earl Nightingale).”
Lots of times thoughts just pop in my head. Other times, I can think about a problem and not let it go until I have figured out how to resolve it. These are things that are normal. Between these two types of thinking there is a lot of space to think about things. If I’m thinking about how to accomplish my dreams, about how I can become a better a better person, or how I can contribute to my church and community, my mind is in a good space. If I let my mind ruminate on negative past experiences or regrets, situations that make me angry, or ways to get even, I’m wallowing in the mud. Better to soar among the stars and let our minds play with thoughts that elevate us.
“Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity (W. Clement Stone).”
When we live a life marked with integrity we walk with our head held high, we make no excuses, we look others in the eye and not blink. We know we had the courage to face the truth, do the right thing at the right time, and the courage to say no to anything that is not right.
