Boundaries

"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable,
you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left
is compromise"
                                                                               Robert Fritz


Have you ever had a moment in your life when something was said to you, or was done to you, and you finally said, "Enough! I can't take this any longer".
What is that deciding moment?

It may be different for all of us but we all have those defining moments in our lives when we realize that we just cannot continue to live life as we have so far.

When is enough, enough?

That moment could be a battered woman saying I cannot take one more beating, the undervalued employee who won't take one more outburst from an abusive boss, the disrespect a parent receives from their obnoxious teenager.

Whatever it is that puts us over the edge, is the defining moment when we know that a boundary has been well and truly crossed.

Boundaries exist for a reason.

They are our protection against what we will and won't accept in our lives, and when those boundaries are crossed there is no going back for either party.

What have you accepted in your life lately that you shouldn't have?

What have you limited your life to?

Sometimes we do it to ourselves because it is easier to live in our comfort zones and be unhappy
than step outside that boundary, spread our wings and fly into the unknown. What are we afraid of?

If you hate your job and want to leave but are afraid of not getting another job in this economy, you
have set your own limits, thereby limiting yourself and compromising your very existence and happiness by your lack of faith. Not just in finding another source of income, but in yourself.
If you don't have faith in yourself, how can you expect others to?

If you have been limiting yourself, or if someone crossed a boundary with you, think about what you
really want in your life.

Isn't it time you stopped compromising and started living?

You know exactly why you are reading this right now. Think about it, and then act on it. You'll be
glad you did.

After all, a life of compromise is no life at all.

Give Thanks

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone"
                                                                G.B.Stern


Do you complain when you receive bad service?

Most likely you do.

We all do because we want to see a wrong set right.

But do you also call or write a letter when you receive good service?

I do. Why do I do it?

Because I like to reward good behavior, and encourage it to continue.

I called two places of business last week, one a bank, the other a well known chain of restaurants,
to commend them on their excellent customer service.

The Vice President of the Bank was so surprised that I had taken the time to call for a compliment, and not a complaint, that he was speechless.

The restaurant manager I called was also delighted and could not give me a coupon for a free meal
fast enough! Although this was appreciated and unexpected, I didn't call to receive something in
return.

What I did receive was the joy in making someone's day and their efforts being recognized and acknowledged.

Studies have shown that human beings crave recognition and appraise, above sex and money, surprising but true. Most people don't leave a job because of money, (or lack thereof), but the lack
of respect and recognition of their dedication and hard work.

All it takes is a simple thank you.

Is there someone you need to thank today?

Don't be afraid that there's no money involved, a heart-felt thank you, verbal or written, will suffice.

If you are going to write something I suggest a hand written note instead of typed. People will often forget what you said or did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. It feels great to open a card for no apparent reason other than to say thank you.

In giving thanks you will be surprised at what good returns to you in kind.

Pay it forward, you'll be glad you did.

Life is a Test

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of trial and suffering
can the soul be strengthened, ambitions inspired,
and success achieved".
                                           Helen Keller


Are you being tested right now?

Is the economy taking it's toll on you and the way you live your life?

Maybe it's not the money that is your cross to bear.

Maybe it's your relationships, your career or your health.

Whatever it is that is providing your biggest challenge right now is also providing your
greatest opportunity for growth.

The saying, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger", although annoying when you're
in the mire of it, has a ring of truth to it.

When I was going through my divorce, if I heard that saying once, I heard it a thousand times!

At the time I could not see the value in the experience I was having, there didn't seem to be anything positive about it in the slightest. But upon reflection, as I look back at every supposed setback in my life, something great has always come out of a bad experience.

Indeed everything I went through has made me the woman I am today, strong, independent, resilient, thankful and compassionate. And for that, I am truly grateful.

So, if you are going through a tough time today, just remember, this too shall pass and one day you
will be able to look back and give thanks for the experience and know that it happened for a reason.

There are no accidents.

Be strong, be happy and stay grateful - for everything.

Overcoming Adversity

"All misfortune is but a stepping stone to fortune"
                                                                    Henry David Thoreau


As human beings we will all face adversity at one time or another in our lives. It is not what happens to us but how we handle these situations that will determine our fate.

If you are one of those people who get bent out of shape at the slightest of grievances, how are you going to handle life when something tragic strikes? It is not a case of ""if but "when". We will all lose someone we love at some time or another.

The way you handle any adversity is to have faith. Have faith that you will be strong enough to handle whatever happens to you or those you love.

When my Dad passed away suddenly last year my life changed in an instant. Immediately the day to day struggles of life melted away and all I could think of was how to get back home to England as fast as possible to be there with my family. I didn't think of anything else.

Two hours later I was booked on a flight leaving the next morning and my case was packed.

I didn't think of the expense or the ramifications of being gone for weeks. I thought of all the opportunities I had missed to tell my Dad how much I loved, admired and respected him for the great man he was.

That opportunity had now gone forever and I was left with nothing but memories.

My faith carried me through the tough times. As awful as it was losing him so suddenly I was grateful that he didn't suffer. That I could not bear.

Instead I was grateful I had Barry Gray as my father. He could never leave me as long as he remained in my heart and I would never miss another opportunity to tell those I love what they meant to me.

What are you holding onto today? Who do you need to forgive? Who do you need to say thank you to? What do you need to let go of?

If you are facing adversity today, use it as a tool to make you stronger and know that whatever happens to you, it is all about your soul growth.

After all, if we don't learn anything from our journey, why are we here?

Have faith, stay strong and anything is possible.

Living Your Life Purpose

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
 Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
 It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us"
                                                              Marianne Williamson



Are you living your life purpose?

Do you wake up in the morning full of joy or full of dread?
Are you enjoying your life? Thriving or surviving?

If not, what are you doing about it?

Sometimes it's easier to ignore that voice that keeps telling you to quit your job and all the stability that it provides, to strike out into the unknown and live your dream.

For most people, the hardest part is actually defining the dream.

What do you really want to do with your life? What fulfills you?

When are you so "in joy" that you lose track of time?

What do you want to contribute to this world?


In order to manifest what you want, you have to be really clear.

Take the time to sit down and write a list of everything that is not working in your life.

From that list, you can then create what you do want as it will be the complete opposite.

Once you have defined your dream, you can set the steps in motion to focus your energy on attracting what you do want into your life.


Cast aside the fears and doubts that it's not possible. Everything is possible if you just try.

Even if you try and fail, you won't have lived your life wondering, "What if...?"

Stop making excuses and start living the life that you want today. Time waits for no man.

Perseverance

"Press on! A better fate awaits thee"
                                                      Victor Hugo


Have you ever wondered what the outcome would have been for many experiences in your life had you just persevered?

You might be fluent in Spanish by now had you not given up after a few years of high school lessons.

You could have that ideal body you desire had you stayed on your fitness plan and kept going to the gym.

You might have finished that book you always planned on writing, if you hadn't given up after the first few chapters.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Anything worth having is worth working for or waiting for; sometimes both. So why do we give up when success could be just around the corner?

Is it a lack of motivation? Lack of desire? Maybe it just wasn't right for you?

Whatever the reason might be, you just need to make sure it isn't for lack of faith.

If you think you can, you can!

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING TODAY?

What do you need to persevere with? A relationship? A job?

Only you know the answer. Just make sure you don't give up for any other reason than you simply changed your mind and that you changed your mind for the right reasons.

If you still want "it", whatever that it might be, then go after it with all your heart, 100%, mind, body and soul.

It's everything or nothing, nothing in between will do. Make this one change in your life and see the difference it makes.

You'll have faster results and be more driven than if you just sit on the sidelines waiting for things to happen. At this point you have nothing to lose.

You, and only you, know exactly what you have to persevere with today.

All good things come to those that expect them!

Believe

"They can because they think they can"
                                                              Virgil

When you aren't seeing the results you want in your life, embrace it as an opportunity to change and transform yourself and your behaviors.

Einstein's definition of madness is

"Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result"

Are you doing that?

Have you tried numerous diets only to regain all the weight back, and often times, even more?

Are you tired of being so disillusioned that you'll ever be thin or a healthy weight?

Well then the time has come to make a change, once and for all, and finally put this demon to rest.
It has robbed you of your life so far, really living, instead of simply existing and going through the motions.

What am I talking about? Your mindset. That horrible inner critic that says you are ugly and will never be the size you want, for whatever reason.

I am here to tell you that you can have everything you want and more, if you will only change your mind.

If you believe you can. you can. If you believe you can't, you can't. It's as simple as that.

The good news is that it's all up to you!

You can decide to change your life RIGHT NOW and your very thoughts will create actions that will create consequences and change the course of your life.

How good it turns out all depends on how good those thoughts are. Choose wisely.


                                                                                          

It's as simple as that