"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity." --J. Sidlow Baxter
We've all heard that "Life is a journey," and "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." We all have different ways of coping with the stress of life and the challenges we face. But sometimes it's hard to feel inspired and sometimes we just want to be on the other side of the "journey" and get to the destination already! Have you ever felt like a hamster in one of those little treadmills, spinning fast but not really getting anywhere? It gets frustrating when sometimes you know that all you can do is just keep pushing. And sometimes, you don't even know exactly where it is you want to go. You just know that you are not comfortable with your current situation and you are not content. To me, these are the times when you just need to breathe. The message will become clear, but sometimes, you have to just stay in place until it does become clear. Don't force change...
I wanted to share a few tips and quotes to help with facing some of life's obstacles and challenges...
"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the fredom to make mistakes." -Mahatma Gandhi
We are human - we are going to make mistakes. But if you are being honest with yourself and following your "gut," the mistakes you make will be steps in the right direction. Don't be afraid to fall. It's the getting back up that's most important...
"For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain." -Henry W. Longfellow
Sometimes the sun simply does not shine. Sometimes the "silver lining" is very tarnished. If you don't have what you want right now, focus on what you DO have. Look at things differently and find peace in the thought that you can't ever have it all or know it all. And that's ok. That's life.
"Yesterday is gone.Tomorrow has not yet come.We have only today. Let us begin." -Mother Teresa
Do you spend too much time dwelling on the past and thinking about what might happen in the future? Think about this -- this moment, right now as you are reading this, this is your actual life. Right now, regardless of what happened yesterday or what you are worrying about for tomorrow, right now is all you really have. Pay attention to your present. When you catch yourself drifting away and focusing on your past or future, try a visualization to bring you back to the moment. One of the things I teach my clients is to visualize a stop sign. When negative thoughts of the past or future start to take over, tell yourself to STOP and picture a stop sign in your mind. Re-direct your thoughts to the present moment by stopping the pattern of living in the past or future.
Obstacles are a part of life. As Einstein once said, "Genius is 1% talent and 99% hard work." Lack of focus, not lack of ability is what usually holds us back. Start focusing on what is most important to you - listen to what is in your heart. Pay attention to your self-talk and internal dialogue. Bring yourself back to the present when you find yourself stressing over what has happened or what might be getting ready to happen. Let life's challenges help you improve your reality - learn from them and move on!
Until next time,
"LIve Now - Live Well!"
Tracy
Add new comment