Tags
Advice, Change, Goal Setting, Happiness, inspiration, Meditation, Motivation, Personal Growth, Positivity, Self-help, The Message, The Voice
It’s a GREAT day!!
Today is Monday and I feel GREAT! I am reaching up and out in expectation for success, in all I do! I am very THANKFUL for all of you as we journey together. To those that are new to the series, we welcome you with open arms. As time permits, pass through some of our previous stops, this journey starts with “The Invitation”. It would be my pleasure to be your tour guide to HAPPINESS. May we all find PURPOSE, COURAGE, PERSPECTIVE, INNER PEACE, & STRENGTH.
In “The Message”, we discussed being able to step away from the hustle of our daily lives, to do the much needed work of self analysis, goal setting & achievement. During this journey, questions are raised, ideologies are challenged and paradigms are shifted. And as mentioned in “The Voice”, “…many of us will go to someone in our “inner circle”: parent, spouse, or best friend. Some of us will run it by our most trusted co-worker. And there will be some of us that will share it with the first person, who will actually take the time and listen.” This is a normal practice.
These opinions are consciously, or subconsciously, filled with comparisons from others’ perspectives. And we tend to use these opinions in our own decision making. Let me explain. When we seek out the opinion of others, those persons will base their response, solely from their own knowledge bank. Imagine. You have an issue with your finances. You seek out advice on budgeting and saving. You may mention your desire to a co-worker. This co-worker may give you the best advise that they have to give, but is it the right advice? You may or may not fully accept the advice they have given, but were they a credible source? You may even start to remember past conversations were they shared with you that they had their own trouble paying their bills or living paycheck to paycheck. Were they the right person to ask? Think about it…
Or maybe you are trying to work out some of the negatives in your personality. You may mention this to a close family member. They give you the best advise they have to give, but is it the right advise? Are they a credible source? Were they the right person to ask? When you go to think about it, you two may even have similar personalities and they may not view your concern as a real issue at all. Will you stop yourself from making a better change for your life? Think about it…
Or maybe you would like to change your profession. You’ve done all of your research and your mind is just about settled. You turn to your trusted friend for advice. Will they see your vision? Will they support you, whether they see it or not? Will they be 1000 percent honest? Are they as knowledgeable about the new profession as you are? Will they project their fear of change on you? Will they compare you to other people they’ve heard about, doing the same thing?
As humans, we base our thoughts and opinions on what we think we know and what we see. Our confidants may mean us no harm. They may offer what they have, from the best place in their heart, but they aren’t able to provide an informed opinion without all the facts. Why ask a baker for advice on purchasing diamonds? Why ask a teacher for advice on building a house? Why ask a person swamped with depression about attaining joy? Limited knowledge, slighted perspectives, and miscalculated comparisons will not put you the path you are seeking. Think about it.
Where am I going with this? Within YOU is the POTENTIAL to accomplish your DESIRES! The missing factor that your confidants cannot calculate is YOU. They can’t weigh the STRENGTH of your will, the POWER behind your conviction or the INTENSITY of your focus. YOU are your ONLY COMPETITION!!
**Let us continue in our GOOD HABIT. Block out two consecutive hours, during the week. (If possible, plan for Mondays.) Spend some good ‘ole quality time with yourself. Whatever the activity…Do it alone! Your HAPPINESS should not be contingent on anyone else to give it to you. Take a closer look at your personal definition of HAPPINESS, revise if necessary. In addition, write out a COMPLIMENT list. (In many instances, we don’t compliment ourselves enough. If necessary post it in a place that you will see every day.) Throughout your week, whisper these compliments to yourself. In order for us to be successful, WE MUST DO THE WORK.” **
Imagine with me. There is a caterpillar and it is crawling up from the ground, along the trunk of a tree (away from its fellow caterpillars). Upon reaching its first branch, it feels something from within. The caterpillar can feel that a change is coming. Without fear or second thoughts, it begins to build its cocoon. Without any certainty of its future, it trusts its guts, and conceals itself within the cocoon. What do you think the caterpillar is thinking? Is it concerned about what the others will say? Is it weighed down by the expectations of what others’ think it should be doing? My imagination says no. The caterpillar is fueled with the belief that it is exactly where it is supposed to be. The caterpillar waits with great faith that it is transforming into its better self. When the metamorphosis is complete, the entire world takes notice with awe, of a butterfly.
Family…my prayers and meditations are with you, as always. YOU are your ONLY COMPETITION! Within us ALL, is the POTENTIAL to do the impossible. I believe this to be indisputable. In this case…YOU MUST BELIEVE it as well. If you do the work, you’ll see it for yourself.
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