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Posts tagged ‘Growth’

I wish I knew then what I know now…

 

I am upon the Eve of my Birthday. This is a great time to reflect upon the things I know NOW that I wish I knew five, ten or more years ago. The idea for this article evolved after reading a blog written by Insight: My 25 Rules of Adulthood.

With each day and every new experience I feel I have grown wiser. Passing this wisdom down to my younger self would have been awesome, but was I ready to hear it or understand it? Probably not. I will never know; however, here are a few of the things I have learned thus far in my life’s journey and perhaps you can gain some wisdom from it.

I wish I knew then what I know now:

  1. The difference between IMPORTANT and URGENT; not everything that is urgent is important.
  2. I should only value what I think of myself; and, not what others think of me. And, remember that I am FABULOUS just by being me.
  3. Happiness is a choice; so is fun, joy, love, etc. I can choose to be positive or negative!
  4. Acts of love and kindness deliver more than I might expect as my heart grows bigger and bigger with each gift.
  5. The path will have obstacles, which are there to teach lessons, provide experiences and assist in my growth and development.
  6. In most instances, there is no right or wrong, only different perspectives.
  7. Time does indeed heal all wounds and grant me insight if I give myself enough time and space from my hurts and wounding.
  8. There is a reason for everything…I have lived through many challenges that I now see I needed to go through in order to be who I am today.
  9. I am always where I need to be.
  10. To listen to my inner voice, that whisper that comes when I am sitting quietly, especially outdoors in nature. 
  11. Life truly is an adventure, a never-ending, journey…I just need to show up to participate.
  12. If I truly want something, passionately and with clarity, I will get it.

What have you learned so far in your life’s journey? Please share in the comments.

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Inspiration, Life

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Reaction…Let’s Keep it Positive

We can choose how to react. No one can make you feel anything you do not choose to feel. ~ Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko

Even in the face of negative actions and verbose, we can choose how to react; however, reacting positively takes discipline. It takes practice of mentally rehearsing the following: “This action or words are not personal. It is not about me (my character); it is about them. What they said or did has nothing to do with me personally; it has to do with what is going on with them and/or how they choose to react.”

One of the keys to joy and happiness is consciously choosing joy even in the face of negative situations. There are so many examples you can mentally rehearse around, for instance: The store ran out of a product that I wanted or perhaps even needed. We can react with disappointment, blame and anger; or, we can choose to stay positive and discuss a solution with the store attendant or manager. What are the alternatives? How can I make this lemon into pie?

Consider that example from the negative point of view: We get reactive and blame the store attendant, which may lead to anger and a heated exchange of insult and negative language. Does this reaction get you what you needed from the store? Of course, NOT! It just leads to high stress levels and negative impressions. Pursuing the matter from a more positive angle may not always get you to a solution, but you will feel better, more joyful and less stressed. Right?

Road rage is one of those reactions most would like not to admit. This usually occurs when we are in a hurry and need to be somewhere at a specific time. Consider the following: “We are where we need to be, always!” If traffic is holding us up, there is a reason for it. It is not the fault of the other drivers. If another car cuts you off or didn’t see you because he or she is using their mobile phone, be grateful that you were able to prevent an accident. Bless the other driver that he or she make to their destination without causing injury to themselves and others. And breathe. Getting angry will not get you anywhere faster. It only raises your blood pressure. Right?

Consider every situation in your life that has brought ill-feelings. What alternative ways/feelings could you have chosen? Learn from these experiences, as each moment in our lives are opportunities for growth and development.

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Education, Inspiration, Life, Psychology, Relationships

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