TO WHAT WILL YOU AWAKEN?

Everyone comes to a fork in the road – a place in life where they say, “no more” yet truly seek “no less.”  When we finally realize that life cannot continue at the insane pace we tend to pursue – that running towards a goal is far more important than running from a place we wish to abandon – we begin to understand that what motivates us to move can make a huge difference in where we may end up and when we may arrive…that allowing fear and emotion to drive our decisions may not produce the best results.  We eventually (and inevitably) run into a wall when our dreams for the future are overshadowed by our memories of the past…when looking behind us in the rearview mirror keeps us from realizing the opportunities that might be in front of us, locking us firmly into a “present” that is not growing, fulfilling or likely to change.

Some might say that we too often senselessly hold on to what we have (particularly that which does not contribute to our own or other’s growth) by over-valuing what has been (using our past accomplishments as shelters and destinations rather than foundations and springboards). Perhaps we should invest more in seeking what has not yet been revealed as we move forward towards what we want to accomplish and where we wish to go. When you quiet your soul and vanquish your fears – calm your apprehensions and begin to recognize that the light at the end of the tunnel into which you have entered may not be a train coming at you but rather a beacon leading you towards a dream that has yet to be realized – you enter into a new world of possibilities that sees life through a lens of “what could be” as an achievable alternative to seeking no more than “what has always been.”

We all awaken (eventually) to realize that our hoping for someone to give us something we do not have must stop – that we can no longer wait for change to “just happen,” others to “show us the way” towards being different, or that happiness, safety, and security will be waiting for us to discover without any effort or planning on our part. We must consciously and intentionally act to initiate change by leveraging our own abilities, experiences, and knowledge – accept the reality that we all have strengths, weaknesses, beauty, and warts. Nobody can (without intentional thoughts and actions) live like “Prince Charming” or “Cinderella” waiting to be provided a happiness in which they might live happily ever after by simply being in the right place at the right time (or kissing a frog). We must realize that life cannot be a fairy tale unless (and until) we recognize that peace and serenity is born through an acknowledgement (but not the acceptance) of our own inadequacies and an acceptance of the imperfections of others. Once we awaken to realize that life is a fluid state of flux rather than a static state of entitlement, we can cast aside the chains that hold us back as we reach out to grasp the lifelines that will pull us forward.

We view ourselves (and the world around us) through a filter born of the messages and opinions ingrained in us throughout our childhood then reinforced by the successes or failures – the acceptances or rejections – we have experienced throughout adulthood. Only when we begin to sift through the “junk” we have been fed about how to behave, what to wear, how to act and what to value – to determine what is real and important to us rather than reaching towards what was expected to be valued and significant for us by others – will we learn to open ourselves up to new worlds and different opportunities.  We cannot begin to reassess and redefine who we are and what we really stand for until we recognize that our individuality is shaped by our external influences and our internal desires – and how we allow each to impact the other. We must come to own what we can initiate (control and enact) and accept what we cannot change (alter or eliminate) before we can move forward to claim a life that is different from any we may have already experienced (or even possibly imagined).

As we awaken to the possibilities of a new and altered life, we begin to learn the difference between wanting and needing – discarding the doctrines and values we have outgrown or should never accepted to begin with as we follow our hearts, instincts, and consciences. We learn that it is truly in giving that we receive – that we can discover fulfillment and accomplishment through creating and contributing – but ONLY if we stop maneuvering through life as a consumer long enough to recognize that creation and consumption are distinctly different paths leading towards opposing and conflicting objectives. We must learn the differences between guilt and responsibility to thrive. We must learn the importance of setting boundaries and knowing when to say “no” rather than always saying “yes” (for when we extend ourselves beyond what we are capable of doing – even if it is intended to relieve the pressure on those around us – we may actually stifle the growth of others while reducing our own ability to initiate or master new things).

In the depths of our confusion when we find ourselves at an inexplicable fork in the road, we come to realize that, for the most part, we get from life what we believe we deserve (whether that be good or bad) and that much of life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. In order to achieve success, we need to believe that success is probable (or at least possible). We must recognize that anything worth achieving is worth working for – and that wishing for something to happen is far different than working to make it happen. In order to initiate change we need to identify a destination, establish a direction we will travel, then exhibit discipline and perseverance to stay on track. Before embarking upon a journey of change it is important that we recognize nobody can do everything alone, that it is OK to ask for help (and not a weakness of shortcoming to accept it) as we move forward towards a different reality.

When one feels that an impossibly large load has been dumped in front of them – that there is no reasonable or realistic way to get around the obstacle in front of us – we may come to realize life is not always “fair.”  We do not always get what we think we deserve – and sometimes bad things truly do happen to good people. We must learn to fight for what we want in life, however, rather than living under a cloud of impending doom if we hope to understand that fear of failure is not the only impediment to our growth – that a fear of success (and the unknown that accompanies it) may be an equally binding tie that holds us back OR launches us forward as we seek paths that will keep us moving towards what we could become.

We all awaken to a new dawn each day we rise. Far too many individuals are content to wake each morning and do what they have always done (with whom they have always done it) then go to sleep at night without accomplishing anything new or becoming anything different – not out of choice but rather out of obligation. If we are to make the most of the days we are given, we must learn from our failures rather than allowing our hopes to be buried by them. We must face life with and attitude of “Why Not?” rather than wallowing in one of “Why Me?” Those that awaken to what could be often seek the path leading towards “what might be possible” rather than settling for “what is and will never change.”  When we live our lives “as they could be” rather than being content to find comfort in “what they are” we will find ourselves awakened to a world of possibilities.