 If you have started this awesome journey at Day One... ...your new journey has truly begun. You are 33 Steps along The Path. You have moved from there to here, literally and figuratively. Maybe this e-course is a refresher; you may have heard of or read some of the concepts and ideals presented in the previous e-notes. Or perhaps you have gleaned one or two new tidbits – things of which you never gave any real thought – or so you thought. As I have presented my writings over the past 33 days, I have received feedback along the way. Many of you have provided feedback and appreciation for my venture into the lesser-appreciated realms everyday challenges and associated victories; thank you for sharing your various views. Please know that my primary intent is not to garner a reaction. My intent is to offer an opportunity to look intently at how we interact with our self. In other words, I am hoping we become more aware of how we choose to identify and represent our self to the world. Because, as much as we would like to think we are the ones who have defined our own self, we actually choose to allow and empower so many other things to define and shape us. On Day 27, I discussed fear, and the ironic fact that fear is created and destroyed within our mind. Fear can also be a thunderously powerful architect in your life – if you create it and give it a home. Notice I make the clear distinction that you are the one who creates fear and gives it a home. In fact, in all of the last Seven Days, each two-word title is meant for you… no one else. Yes, you are one lone vessel in a virtual sea of souls. There are billions of people in this world. In addition to the earth's current living population, consider the billions of souls who have lived long before you, he, she, and me. When we give the enormity of that fact some serious thought, we can begin to realize the significance of our insignificance – or the insignificance of our significance (take your pick). However, as big as the world may seem, and as small as we may appear, the Absolute Truth about you is that you are the most important person in the world -- to you. You are the one who drives the vehicle that holds your soul along the path in life. You are the only one who is ultimately responsible and accountable to chart the only path you will ever know – YOUR path. Yes… when it comes to wading through this vast sea of humanity, YOU are the one who sets your sail to the wind. And like the little tyke that stands up and falls, only to stand, fall, and stand again… on his way to falling forward into one solid step – and then another… YOU are the only one who steps forward, once more, into the great unknown we call The Future. You are the captain of your soul. Accordingly, you must be the one who makes your way. Get overwhelmingly clear about your intentions. Confront and conquer your real and imaginary fears. You simply must make way along your charted course… one day at a time. And if you encounter that tempest of a storm, continue making (your) way. "Make way," in this context, is a nautical term that describes a ship's travel and progress through water. On the other hand... Stopping "dead in the water" amidst a storm in life is the last thing you should do. "Dead in the water" is also a nautical term - one that describes a ship that is not going anywhere; it’s just sitting there, dead in the water. And though being dead in the water is not necessarily always a bad thing, when we are there for an extended period of time, being DIW can be truly dead… in the water. It’s not just the lack of movement that’s the imminent killer; it’s the constant tossing and battering caused by the wind, waves, and other weather. Moreover, when the serious winds kick in, a ship not making way is likely to capsize, which is to say "turn upside down" and drown the occupants who do not escape the interior of the ship. So what must we captains of our very own souls do in this vast sea of life? Shall we just keep making way? The easy answer is “Yes.” The two-word answer is “Yes, and…” The best answer is... “Yes, and continue making your way.” What’s my point? In our darkest nights, amidst the stormiest of circumstances, sometimes we think the best we can do is to keep our head above the swirling waters of life. We begin paying more and more attention to the storm, and we begin to assimilate (yes… assimilate) into becoming part of the storm. We become less concerned about our path, and we become more satisfied – and even happy - with the mere fact that we have not yet gone under. We pat ourselves on the back for having made it this far. But this far is not your intended course… and it’s certainly not your destination. So let’s rethink how we will choose to respond to the storm. Continue making way… just make sure it’s your way. How? First, review the last, past week of "Two Little Words." And remember this: A little bit of faith goes a long ways. Why is this important? Well, if we are going to set our sails to the wind, we are going to have to learn to either harness the wind, trust the wind, or both. I suggest we opt for the third option: do both. And trusting our soul's vessel to the Source is definitely not a bad thing. Trust me on this one. Your mission for today: MAKE WAY! How? (1) Review your dreams, your goals, and your loosely made plans (chart your course) (2) Meet yourself in the mirror and say:
Feel free to pray along... Please don't just play along. This is real life. Aloha,   |
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