So Easy...

"The longest journey of any person is the journey inward."

~Dag Hammerskjvld

When you allow yourself to focus on what you don't have it can completely alter your focus, direction, and ability to breathe.  It's a natural process at times, those moments when our desire for that opportunity that we feel is the destination is our only thought.  It is so easy.  So, when you find yourself in this moment, I challenge all of those that can hear me to embrace it like this; "Don't worry, just breathe. If it's meant to be, it will find it's way." Furthermore, when you pause and recognize that you are doing something great, with intention and purpose, you will snap out of what you feel you may lack, and see all the wonderful within you.  I write about this today because I have spent the last several hours doing some fact finding, research if you would, and by doing so there is so much of an opportunity to move into this space.  There are so many examples of others doing, sharing, and speaking to similar goals and opportunities that you may feel you need.  So, I found myself thinking about how this can alter your direction, leading you towards thoughts of what you are not doing, instead of focusing on what you are, what you have, and what I hope you will continue to strive for.  

It is so easy to feel as though all of your efforts are for...  When you come to task day in and day out and you ask yourself "am I making a difference?" or "am I good enough to be in this position?"  We are often judging ourselves by comparison and being harder on oneself than needs to be.  It is fair to say that when we are searching for something more, or that some thing that we feel will validate our efforts, passion, and ability (and capability) we allow this influence to come around more.   However, when you reflect, contemplate, and move into an awareness that allows you to snap out of it, you return to where you need to be.  That place has you well, one that I know will show the way.  Be patient out there, always trust the process and remember to take care of yourself.  When you are not well, it is so easy to stay down, and when you are in this space you really feel as though there is no way out.  Until we meet again keep your head up and heart open, you will see...

Checking In

Here we are on this Friday, my words and your availability to embrace them.  As is common in the field of helping others (empowering and supporting), we need to check in.  The week thus far has treated me well as I have embraced all of the opportunities that have come my way.  As we have discussed in many of the posts  that have been shared, these opportunities are presented on an often basis if you are present and available to receive them.  For example, many may see opportunity present itself when things are going well, when there is a positive outcome waiting, often based on materialistic gain.  This indeed is one way to look at "opportunity."  However, in the context of what I am sharing with all of you, opportunity is the outcome of an experience that can challenge you, that points you toward reflection and contemplation, and ultimately awareness.  These opportunities are the ones that we all can truly learn from, and guess what?  They are ready and waiting for you!  However, most walk right by them or allow themselves to become immersed in to negative emotion that puts on the blinders.  Life has so many wonderful lessons to share, and if you walk through it without being present for them, well some would say you just ain't living!  What I would say is that you can get to this place.  This life is waiting for any and all, and it only takes a commitment from you.  One that only becomes difficult if you allow yourself to create the barriers and obstacles that will prevent you from reaching your destination...

So where do you begin?  Quite simple, you begin by taking an active role in life, one in which you are physically, emotionally, and mentally intact.  When you are well this is when these opportunities are conduits to growth and awareness.  When you are not well the opportunities that often await are pain and suffering.  How do I know this?  Well, I know this on two fronts. The first is I am a social worker who has had enough time and experience in the field to see this opportunity play itself out.  The second and perhaps the most significant in the scope of my insight and understanding is that I have lived through it, I understand what kind of impact that pain and suffering can present.  By overcoming the latter, without running away from future challenge (that will and has come) my growth and awareness have showed me the way.  So, some would say that by living through it and being formally trained to understand it I am able to help others help themselves.  I agree but I will add that I continue to work, continue to educate myself, and as always work towards progress.  With that being said I choose to share with others in a manner that helps them move forward with their heads up and hearts open, it is that simple.  On that note I am done checking in, now it's time for you to check in with yourself.  Life is wonderful and if you don't see this, then it's time to start the process, time to go to work.  Be well out there, stand up and stay up!

"When you know better you do better."
~Maya Angelou
 

Life Is Alright!

Good Day!  Yes that is what I am saying, today is yours to create.  It's been a few since I have written, I didn't want to over think the process so I chose to keep moving, with the idea that when I had something to say I would know.  I have been given a great opportunity here, one that I take seriously, with one goal in mind; Helping Others Change for the Better!  Therefore, my writing must have meaning, a message that others can embrace and relate to so that they can see that opening for themselves.  Today, like many of you I am beginning another week, one that will provide me with certain outcomes that I can predict, and others that I may just not see coming.  Either way I'm right here, present and available to meet any and all opportunities that come my way.  I say opportunities because no matter what the situation may hold, there is learning to be gained, and  if I am available and present to receive it, I know I will move forward with purpose and intention.

Just the other day I had the opportunity to connect with some old friends that I have known for more than three decades now. When you go back that far with others there is likely going to be some experiences that will have shaped and influenced you in a manner that is both challenging and empowering.  When I reflect on all that has transpired since those days when we first connected, I am inspired.   I am inspired because what I didn't know then, I surely have figured it out now, and by doing so I am living.  You see when you go through life and you have met some challenging moments, you have certain outcomes that await.  Outcomes that will provide you with some pain and suffering, but hopefully will also lead you to discovery that is truly life transforming.  In my case that is what has happened.  It happened because I refused to give up.  I refused to stop fighting for the quality of life that I knew was possible, and most importantly the one that I knew I deserved to have.  I challenge all those that can hear me to keep fighting, keep moving, and keep trusting the process.  The life you are living is wonderful.  If you choose to see it otherwise, than all that you are gaining here is an inability to move forward.  As you move into the days ahead, focus on what you have, focus on what you can control, and what you can not, either take action to move through it, or accept the outcomes that will do nothing other than create more pain and suffering.  It's that matter of fact, and when we choose to complicate the matter the only one that suffers here is...

Be well out there, I am available and present to help you help yourself.  When you get there you will know.  Until we meet again may you continue to walk with your head up and heart open!

Progress

I may not be there yet, but I am closer than
I was yesterday. - Unknown 

How's Your Bucket?

Here I am ready to breathe while I share with all of you.  My post on this wonderful day was inspired by a conversation I had recently with one of my most respected (and appreciated) advisers.  As we often do we discuss life, and the experiences and opportunities that we have learned so much from, and will continue to.  The conversation was flowing and at one point the focus shifted to relationships.  You know those, the ones that are personal, family oriented, work involved, and the many other situations that expose us to that dynamic of giving and receiving.  We talked about the differences in these relationships.  We discussed what we gained from our involvement and investment of.  We processed what it took to be available and present for, and then...  Our conversation opened that door to those relationships that we just have to step away from.  The ones' that are not healthy for us and take from our bucket in a manner that creates more suffering and stress then one should ever have.  You see, we all have these type of relationships and some point in time.  With that being said we have a choice.  One that allows us to make that decision, do I stay in this relationship?  Or do I respectfully remove myself from, step back from, limit myself from...  My take on relationships for quite some time looks like this.  In order for a relationship to be successful it must operate like a two way street.  On a two way street you have two moving parts coming and going, passing and interacting, stopping and yielding when necessary.  On a one way street you have the complete opposite, there is only one part and it is doing all the work.

In order for any relationship to have a chance it has to give to your bucket.  It has to be a mutual process, one that enhances the quality of your life, not one that continues to drain and consume you.  When you are able to embrace just that it does present you with some difficult decisions to make.  Removing or limiting yourself from a relationship that has been a part of your existence for some time is not an easy process.  However, you must check in with yourself and acknowledge what you already truly know in your heart, it is time to back away, my bucket is emptying at a rapid pace and that is just not acceptable.  Life affords us with may challenges this we know, but within the process of moving through and with these challenges there is an opportunity.  One that will help you grow and evolve.  One that will teach and guide you.  One that will allow you to "Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable." ~ Denis Waitley

There are many wonderful things about the life that we can have.  One of the best is that we are afforded the ability and opportunity to make a choice. With that choice comes change, and with that change comes an opportunity to move forward, while living a quality of life that we deserve.  Don't allow your inability to stand up for what is right dictate the quality of life that is waiting for you.  It is about you, and if you trust the process and go about it in a manner that is all about doing the right thing, then you will find what you need.  There is no written rule that we have to remain in a relationship that is not healthy, no there is not.  So, the next time you see your bucket cracking, eventually leading to a hole, ask yourself  "What Can I Do About This?"  May this find all those that can hear me well.  Keep breathing and exhaling while you strive to live a quality of life that will keep you well.  If you do this you will see it so clearly, and the individuals and groups you are working so hard to provide services for will to!

Adjust & Adapt

That's what we do...  Happy to be back writing and sharing with all those that can hear me.  I found my schedule and weekly activity change recently, and as we must do, I adjusted and adapted accordingly.  Immersed into the culture and activity of the summer months, it is easy to stray from that path that has your back, the one that you know will support and sustain your well-being.  As a social worker, one who strives to learn from yesterday, so that today will be more manageable I learn to adjust and adapt.  You see, in the field of helping others change for the better your expectation is just that, yours.  The meaning behind this is that the experiences and opportunities that you are immersed into are often uncertain, unpredictable, and most of the time never what one expects.  Therefore, you learn to adjust and adapt, allowing for one to stay available and present in the process.

As I found my routine and schedule changing I allowed myself to embrace the moment.  I allowed myself to once again accept the uncertain, understanding that whatever comes my way I will get through it.  Often, it so easy to get caught up in that "control" process, the one where we want our environment and role within it to stay the same, predictable, safe and secure.  Well, we know this is not always a reality, and as I mentioned to someone I was advising today "challenges provide us with amazing opportunities to learn and grow."  So, for all those that can hear me that may be experiencing an adjustment period in their routine, schedule, and day to day mode of operation...  Stay present with where your at, with the understanding that everything will get done, and minimize the worry, anxiety, and stress that can come with the uncertain.  You are the creator of your own destiny, and with that comes the ultimate opportunity.

Remember to make time for yourself while you enjoy the moments spent with your Ohana (family & friends).  We don't get any do overs, as I have mentioned before, life is not a dress rehearsal.  Live it and love it, while you work towards that progress, always moving forward.  Until we meet again you be well while you continue to walk with your head up and heart open.