Hope or Potential

Hope can be one of the most motivating factors in the universe. When combined with action hope creates aspiration.  Actively working towards goals and gaining incremental achievements can provide rewards far beyond external compensation.  Regardless of whether or not you ultimately achieve your goal the journey alone can provide insights into the depths of your character and personal growth to carry you through your next mission.

Hopes without action can be some of the most devastating forces in the universe.  Idle hopes are distractions.  Too many distractions can put us in a state of paralysis, stopping us from fully committing to and moving towards any goal.  When we stop aspiring to achieve our potential we risk losing focus on who we really are. 

I'm not saying that you should never hope for anything you cannot work towards achieving or that every second of the day you need to be working towards your aspirations.  I am saying that if all you do is hope when you could actually do something you become a passive participant in your own life.  Sometimes you just need to commit to a path and make that first step on your journey.  Take action.  Keep moving in your chosen direction until you reach your destination or an equally great place that you had no idea existed.  If you're not willing to make that first step, then maybe it's time to move in a new direction.  Just keep it moving.

My Most Important Lesson - Forgiveness

It has been said over and over again that in order to grow you must step outside the imaginary boundaries of your comfort zone. This increases anxiety but with positive self-talk you can overcome and face all your challenges head thus moving forward.
One of the most important ways to take this giant step is to learn to forgive. Forgiving others who have wronged you takes patience and perseverance. Find out the root of the wrong and understand that that person only acted towards the situation the best she/he could given the tools she/he was taught during their lifetime. Once you have embraced the forgiveness and find closure you will be able to release the pain and step forward in your life's path.
Next it is just as important for you to learn to forgive yourself for what ever choices you decided to make and the mistakes they might have lead to. You too only made the choices you have made based on the tools you had to use to make those tools. Each mistake is no a failure but a learning situation. So grab all the vital positive teachings that this challenge has opened up to you. Then forgive yourself and put the mistake where it belongs - in the past. Put your mistake in a small black box. Attach a beautiful helium balloon in a color that you adore. Set your mistakes adrift off into the horizon and watch the box float over the horizon and out of your life. Wash your hands of these negative and toxic choices they now are out of your life. Move forward and search for your dreams and desires guilt free and absolved of all you have been chastising yourself for. You have now released the strings of guilt that strangle your heart.
This is not easy and it takes time and practice but start slowly with one action or person at a time and then move on to others when you are comfortable to do so.
Enjoy the process - forgiveness then leads to gratitude but that is a whole other blog. So get comfortable forgiving you will love how you feel each time you accomplish this feat.

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. -Mark Twain

Tamara Elizabeth http://moximize.me

Relationships

People don't just instinctively know how you feel about them. You have to tell them and more importantly, you have to show them. While this is important for developing new relationships, it is especially important for maintaining relationships.  People don't just drift apart; they stop coming together. Maintaining relationships is about energy and effort.  It's as much about the things you say and do as it is about the things you don't say and don't do. If you care for someone, let them know. They need to reminded why their important to you.  It's great to appreciate what you have.  It's better to share your appreciation.

The most important thing I've learned thus far...

For the past 15 years I've subscribed to the belief that life is about the journey.  However; I've always focused on the inner journey and tried to better myself as much as possible given the circumstances.  This morning, in the shower, while washing my hair, I had a new thought.  It's not that the inner journey is not important, but how enriching is that journey if you never share it?  I think life is really about a collective journey; it's about what you learn and what you teach.  It's about the contributions we make (positive and negative), the foot prints, the words, the impact.

Yesterday someone said to me that I'm one of the most inspirational people she knows.  I have no idea if this is true, if it was just a kind phrase intended to make me feel good about myself or if it had some merit.  The point is, I had no idea.  The connections we make everyday have the potential to impact life, whether we know it or not.  So why not be purposeful about the messages we send?  Why not try to share what we've learned to enrich others' lives?

Enter the blog...

I invite you to share your thoughts.  The point is to be honest, open, and sincere.  This is not an opportunity to sell a product, spread hate, or self promote.  I'm looking for wisdom. Your wisdom. Your message. Your truth.