CHALLENGE “Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”
Recently “Life By Me” described me as a writer, joyful experiencer and courage advocate. I will take that and run with it! In the article I wrote for them I said “We’re incredibly powerful beings, and yet, as Sting sings, “how fragile we are.” There’s a bridge between being broken and living in power. We get to choose which side of the bridge to be on and who we’ll assist to the other side. It takes courage to believe in ourselves, to be our true authentic selves, never apologizing for who we are. If we can create a spiritual space inside ourselves, a place where we can overcome life’s biggest challenges, we’ll truly live in courage. By navigating the bumps in the road wisely, joy becomes a very good travel partner.” I truly believe this. We are fragile, powerful, courageous beings experiencing and expressing ourselves in a multitude of ways.
Courage comes in many forms. I like to think of the everyday hero, like you and me. By making wise choices throughout the day, being the best ‘you’ is courageous, because you are making a conscious choice for good. Sometimes challenges are put in our pathway, not to discourage us, but to call up the qualities of courage that are required, to find the opportunity in the challenge. How you handle these challenges, and the choices you make determine how smooth or rough the experience will be. It takes courage to be harmless to yourself and others, to ask the question “Is the choice I am making in this moment for the highest and greatest good for myself and for all?” Life expresses out from us according to what is going on inside. Every cell of our body emanates what we are thinking, feeling and acting upon. You may be able to hide things from other people, but never from yourself. We all need ‘purpose and direction.’ Being true to yourself should be the first order of business, and that my friend takes great courage. You can grow and be strengthened by challenges. It is a choice, which can create a grand bridge to your joy.
In one of my quotes I say “Courage is required, down to the very fiber of our existence. Use your will, desire and persistence to develop the qualities you need to materialize your dreams, whether they be mental, physical, or spiritual.” You are more powerful than you realize. We all are. Step up to yourself, for yourself. Find your point of power and connect to it like your life depends upon it, and make courage your constant travel partner.
I think about what is going on in the world ‘outside’ of me. It seems very surreal out there. I grew up in a more peaceful world, or so it seemed. I have learned that the world ‘inside’ of me is the most important place for me to live, move and have my being-ness. It is also the best way I can contribute to the outer world. By remaining in peace and in my joy as much as possible, which can sometimes be challenging, I am making a difference. We are energy. What we give out, we get back. I refuse to live in fear, motivated by what the ‘outer world’ dictates. One by one, as we collectively take our power back, this world will shift. As you live from the ‘inside out’ from a place of peace and love, your personal world will shift, as well as your perspective on the world you live in.
I love my life. I am grateful for the joys and challenges that have made me who I am today. Although I have always wanted to help ‘fix’ things for certain people in my life, I now realize that is their responsibility. We each have our own path to travel, yet we can show up for others with loving support. My best contribution to the world is by being a living example of love, peace, joy, integrity, courage, really just by being my best ‘me.’ As we each hold a space of love for ourselves, each other and our world, we can be the change we want to see in the world. Think back to when you were very young. Remember the simple joy of just being you, the innocence, and wonder with which you viewed life.
I have heard it said that our life is governed by immutable laws and principles that never vary. These laws are in operation in all time and places. I have also heard that every effect is the result of the cause, and that the effect becomes the cause, which creates other effects, and on it goes. I have found my life experiences unfold beautifully when I choose from a place of love. This brings “Endless Possibilities” into my experience. The power of thought is so powerful because it creates a result. I am magnetic, you are magnetic. This poses the questions “What am I bringing into my life, and what motivates me in my decision making?” I have to say that as each day passes, and I choose love as the motivating factor, my life expands. When I go back to old habits of thought, feeling and action, it is reflected back to me very quickly.
I choose to see it as a privilege to have the ability to make a conscious choice in each moment. How I think, feel and act has a vibratory effect that flows out into the world. I want to see change in the world, just as you do. The best way I can make my individual contribution is to act in accordance with love and peace. If I see this world as broken, I am part of the problem. I prefer to see this world pristine, healed, in a state of peace, love and joy. If I have a desire yet doubt it can be a reality, how can that desire show up in my life? It can’t. I envision this world in a state of magnificence and see it as an already existing fact. I have planted a seed thought of peace. I will nurture it endlessly.
How do you see your life, your environment, the world? Wisdom requires an understanding of the basic knowledge and working principles of the Universe. These laws and principles never vary. As you learn to work with these laws, illuminated wisdom will light your way. Miracles do happen. If you have no knowledge of your power, your courage, how can you use it? Accessing and applying the knowledge deep in your heart and soul will allow you to act with purpose and determination.
What are you thinking about throughout the day? Your thoughts and feelings are being fertilized by your attention to them. Have you ever looked through a camera lens that is out of focus? The object was blurry, hard to see or unrecognizable. What is in your viewfinder? Is it blurry or in focus? What you think, feel and act upon will find you. Acting on a desire out fear and doubt will send you less than desired results. When love and joy are the motivating factor, you will develop crystal clear clarity in attaining your desired result. Be vigilant, move forward, expand and stand in your power. The Universe if infinite. The unseen can be brought into your reality, because there are unlimited resources available to the Universe that you may not be aware of. Choose to work on one desire you want more than anything else. Focus the force of your thought, feeling and action upon it, while allowing the unseen forces of the Universe to handle the details. Stay happy, on course, never lose sight of your desire and know that it must come to you. If you are not focused, doubt your desired outcome, hopping from one desire to another, your end result will scatter like leaves in a strong wind. Do not worry about the time frame in which it comes to you. Have faith, knowing it is done. Once you take back your creative powers, you will never be the same.
Today is a beautiful day. I choose it to be so. Yes, challenges come up from time to time, and they may require courage to get through, yet they strengthen me in ways I can’t imagine. Everywhere I look, I see beauty. The sun shining through the window, the trees blowing in the breeze, my heartbeat and each breath I take, people going on about their lives around me, the aroma of food cooking, children laughing and playing. The deliciousness of life and all it’s nuances are all music to my senses. I trust that as I choose joy and peace as daily companions, they will reflect their qualities back to me.
It is my responsibility to choose what I want in life, all that I desire. Once I have chosen, I remain in a knowing anticipation that my “good” is here, without doubt. There are unseen forces that go to work to bring me just what I need. My job is to to is feel good and hold my peace, without placing a time line on my “good” because I know the timing will be perfect for me.
I bless you with a beautiful day today and every day.
Time does fly doesn’t it? The beginning of a New Year always leads me to reflect on the passing year. 2010 was full of the joys and challenges of a year well lived. I am grateful for every moment, even the painful one’s. I recently heard someone say that our greatest wounds form us and put us on the path to our purpose. This is part of Living in Courage!
One of the most important things I take away from 2010, is that by connecting to the Love, Wisdom and Power in my heart, I am able to direct my life much more effectively. I learned that love gives us the wisdom to direct the power that lives inside of us. Fear never gives us that capability, and only stifles our ability to connect to our “good.” I have also learned that this list of 12 tips help contribute to a lifetime of happiness, year in and year out.
12 Tips To Create A Joyful 2011 that can form a framework for living 2011to the fullest. Make your own list. I would love to hear from you.
* Maintain gratitude as an attitude
* Never give up on your dreams. Believe in yourself and expect miracles.
* Do something today that will take you where you want to go tomorrow.
* Stay harmless to yourself and others.
* Take responsibility for your actions and know that your life is reflecting back to you what you have created.
* Remember to shine your light! The bright star in you lights up the world.
* Follow your passion. Do things you love that bring you joy. This creates a vision for your future.
* Peace is Power. Be the peace commanding presence in your own life. A living example to others.
* Connect to Mother Nature daily in some way. This journey has bumps in the road and to navigate them wisely, you will need her help.
* Be your authentic self. Never apologize for who you are and stop worrying about other people’s “opinions.”
* Pay close attention to your physical, mental and spiritual health.
* If you want change, be that change. Give out and pay forward in joy.
May your New Year year bring you wondrous gifts of courage, love and light,
Suspended Animation. Does your life feel like that sometimes? Especially in regard to manifestation of your dreams and desires. Waiting for our good, asking where it is, wondering why it is taking so freaking long to show up. Asking, meditating, praying, hoping and believing is it around the corner. A lifetime can be spent waiting for our good. Our best effort can even prove fruitless in many cases, or when “it” shows up, it is not the way you envisioned. Many people simply give up right before the moment of their perfect manifestation! It takes courage to stay the course.
When you have a dream or desire sitting in your soul, never give up on it. With applied knowledge, practice, and above all knowing-ness, you will be able to bring the unformed into the formed. Did anyone tell you this would be easy? NO! If it were that easy, everyone would have everything they wanted. For your assistance, there are universal laws and principles that can be learned, applied and lived by. Many of them hidden in plain site!
Who do you serve? Yourself in all your power, OR the outer world in all it’s distortion and misdirection? The outer world will lead you down a merry road that can distract you from the essence of who you truly are. You are a very powerful creator being, complete with all the perfection you could ever imagine. Through the choices and decisions you have made, based on the outer world, you have altered the course of your own life. By living from the inside out, you become the master of your outer life as it unfolds, moment by moment. There are millions of voices in the world and they all have an “opinion.” Listen to your heart, where you can safely navigate the waters of life. Let your soul speak to you, it has a voice prepared just for you.
As I lay in bed with the strange sensation of vertigo, I have been contemplating life and the seeming inability for humanity as a whole, to change. I have often talked about the garden of our consciousness. Pulling weeds, then planting seeds of love, wisdom, peace, gratitude and grace. All watered with unity. As we make a conscious effort to make changes within ourselves from the inside out, shifts occur.
But what about our Higher Selves? The true perfection of who and what we are. Imagine our Higher Self, or Presence trying to plant just ONE seed of a Universal Law inside us. One that can be nourished and grow! Not easy to do, as we all run around busy busy, trying to survive in the “outer” world. That one seed could deliver our true identity, or some information critical to our survival as a species, or our gift – the passion in life we came here to live. I want that connection, don’t you?
This is two fold. One, by taking responsibility for our own life’s garden. Two, by being receptive to a more important message from our one true source. It’s time to take the blinders off, to get busy living our true authentic life. Not the person the world thinks we are, or expects us to be. Reaching inside gives us the courage to look deeper, past what is in the “outer” world. Only by living from the inside out, will we survive on this planet. Unity is critical at this point. Everyone needs to come to terms with the fact that we have created quite a mess down here. We do have the ability to re-align ourselves and this beautiful planet, back to the original state of purity/perfection of creation. Our responsibility is to our Creators, the Collective, Mother Earth and all her Kingdoms. It is time to return to that divine place in our hearts that will heal everything, bringing us all back into alignment. Are you in?
Climb Your Stairway to Happiness by reading David Leonhardt’s book – Climb Your Stairway to Heaven. Everyone searches for inner happiness, but it is not something you can purchase or build. David has written a book that is funny, insightful, full of great quotes and antidotes. You will receive instructions on climbing the stairway to greater happiness. Imagine becoming happier every day. It really is possible to make your dreams come true. You will be taught nine habits that are achievable. You will enjoy the pop quizzes, quotable quotes, and stories to learn by. Most people like to learn while they are having fun, and this book delivers from cover to cover.
I quote David Leonhardt – “Many happiness books on the bookstore shelves are just some author’s personal viewpoint. That’s fine, if you happen to be extremely similar to the author. But what about facts? True, I include many of my own experiences in this book — in fact, that’s what inspired me to write. But I also spent three months with my nose in the psychological journals. This self-help book is based on both my personal experiences and the best psychological research available. I did the work so you don’t have to.
On the other hand, several happiness books are written by very knowledgeable authorities, but most tend to the boring side. Many even sound like a session on a therapist’s couch. What gives? Shouldn’t a book on happiness energize you? Motivate you? Inspire you? Pump you up? Shouldn’t a book on happiness be fun to read? So I decided to write a fun, energetic, and engaging book. Go figure!”
Book like this are inspirational, encouraging, fun, courageous, motivating, and give value to the reader. I hope you enjoy this excellent manual on Happiness!
This video was sent to me by Jack Armstrong, a man I greatly admire. His incredible book “Lessons from the Source” is a spiritual guidebook for navigating life’s journey. I have done more than one blog post about this book, because I believe it holds the keys to life in “lesson” form. I find this of value, don’t you?
Visit http://budurl.com/bhbw to vote for the book “Lessons from the Source” and http://budurl.com/agrl to buy a copy of this remarkable book. This brief video offers powerful and inspirational quotes about goodness from “Lessons from the Source.” Thank you!
What sings to your soul? What is your passion? I talk to people every day, who are reaching into their hearts, to find the joy, the passion that they know lives inside of them. Giving up is easy. Anyone and everyone can do that, and most do. Check in with yourself for some honest answers. Listen to your heart. Be brave, live courageously by living the life you came here to live.
“The potential hidden within each of us is staggering. Shed the old layers. Devote yourself to something of value that sings to the passion in your soul. Now you become the master of your destiny.”
-Debra Oakland
People want to be happy. It’s that simple. It all starts with you, not “out there” in the world. There is nothing that will make you happy for long, or satisfy you, if you are not happy inside. Take some time to connect with what brings you joy. Happiness is infectious, joy expands only when you are ready to embrace it. Be a willing participant. Become the master of your destiny.
Subscribe now to the Living In Courage Newsletter and you'll get a free download of my ebook!
Endorsements
“Debra Oakland has clearly written Living in Courage from the heart. This is a book that guides people to summon the courage to face life's biggest challenges. You will find wonderful nuggets that you can apply to your life now.”
~ David Riklan, Founder of SelfGrowth.com,
the #1 Self Improvement Website on the Internet
www.SelfGrowth.com
