You are what you believe

When you feel as though you're mistreated or overlooked, you have choices about how to view what has happened and how to feel inside. Depending on how you perceive how you are treated you determine if its urgent to act or whether it is more prudent to bide your time.

I know a guy who was struggling to ascend the corporate ladder. He felt that he met obstacles every step of the way. Although he was known to do more than was expected, he was criticized by superiors for not achieving enough. Although he was conscientious and significantly increased his sales, he was repeatedly snubbed by co-workers who nabbed some of his clients. Although he was diligent and submitted reports on-time, computers would crash and digest precious documents before his big presentations. Still, he kept a cool head, remained open to learning, and told himself all his hard work would pay off. He didn't harbor pain or negative feelings. He decided every experience was meant to reveal useful things.

Time passed, some of his dishonest peers were promoted to the next level but he wasn't. Still, he refused to be discouraged. He simply told himself that he was meant for something more suitable and had to be patient. Rather than dwell on what he wasn't doing, he focused on what he was doing, only better than before. He decided reasons exist for everything and if he wasn't ready to understand why he was where he was, then he wouldn't have opportunities to go anywhere else. It made sense. He accepted he had more learning to do and focused on that.

When directors decided to organize a huge company expansion, they were prepared to take calculated risks.  He was approached personally to head a brand new division. Directors were taking a leap of faith with their business projections, but they also had faith this was an appropriate role for their promoted employee.  He had waited and opportunity knocked.  The responsibility he was given rewarded the energy and attention he had devoted to previous posts.

Rather than rest on his laurels, he chose to give regular motivational talks on the side.  He reasoned that being open to learning what we do wrong is actually an opportunity to get better. He chose to believe it’s a blessing to be told what we're not meant to do, because that brings us that much closer to discovering what we are.  He learned that wasting energy complaining about what you're not is actually distracting you from getting-to-know who you are.  Fulfillment is innate. Think positively and how you view your life changes.  After all, you are what you believe.

Know thyself

The same words as those in the title are inscribed above the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the site of the sacred Oracle in Greece.  You may be unaware that in ancient Greece, people waited as long as it took to be given the chance to consult the Oracle.  This was a person who provided clues to destiny and offered ideas of a course of action one could take to possibly reach destinations faster. 

Funny thing is, even in modern times, the best clues you can get a hold of to guide the evolution of your life come from within not from something outside yourself.  Some people interpret "within" as one's conscience or inner voice.  Other people believe they communicate with angels who help them find their true path, or get back on it if they stray.  Do you hear them?

Unconscious people are blind to their traits, their strengths and weaknesses.  These people may be trapped within limited perception throughout their entire life.  They don't learn of the joy they would experience as the result of accepting who they are and applying their potential. Don't let yourself miss out.  You have the choice about whether to continue or not.  Choose progress. 

Getting-to know who you are means going further than understanding from whom you adopt your beliefs or why you condition certain perspectives of the mind.  You need to reach beyond that to explore the senses you know and don't know.  This is part of your process of illumination.  Uncover those dreams you forgot.  They eagerly await your attention.

How you react to people, situations and everything around you is the best gauge of how well you know yourself.  How open-minded are you about venturing into uncertainty? As you discover sources of doubt and fear, you find opportunities to test your wisdom and courage.   How would you feel to know you are never alone? Knowing yourself is also reassuring.  You're already well on your way.

Simplify your life

As you live your life, do you feel as though life is far more complex than it needs to be? If so, stop a moment.  Who do you think has put that kind of an idea into your mind.  You did.  You come to believe what you want to believe.  If its your goal to make your life difficult, you could be well on your way.   Yet, it doesn't have to be that way.   You can reframe your goals.  What kind of life do you really want? How do you think greater simplicity can realistically come to pass?

Goal-setting can be straight-forward.  It can be a step-by-step process which enables you to organize your life in ways that motivate and uplift you.  These things can be learned by anyone.  You must change you thought process an believe you can lead a different kind of life.  Setting your mind to do something is the first step to making that happen.  Its time to get a new vision. 

You may be wondering, "how can I train my mind to think differently?" Well, a good place to start is to realize you wish to make a change. The goals themselves will fall into place as you begin to work toward things.  The 'how' is something you figure out as you go along.  Mind training can get you where you wish to go, but only after you know your designated direction.  from the moment you decide your situation and attitude and mindset need to change, they will because you say so.  Making decisions about goals will enable you to discover that the life you desire is possible.

If at first you don't succeed

Many people have heard of the law of attraction, the idea that you are and you become what you think. Are you aware that you create your circumstances based on your beliefs? Do you focus on your potential or on what people tell you isn't possible? Could it be time to change your mind? What could you be doing differently? What are you doing to bring on uplifting conditions for you?

Rules exist and you may feel as though the world is against you. Things may not be going your way. You may initially feel discouraged because you permit yourself to doubt what's possible. Hold up a minute. Recognize what you're doing. Recognize you have the power to turn your life around for the better.

Consider the medical student who had applied for a position in a foregin country. She was very qualified and there was a clear need abroad for her services. She had time constraints by which time she had to begin serving or the arrangement wouldn't be possible. Bureaucratic roadblocks continued to present themselves. Her visa application was repeatedly held up and it looked like she wouldn't be able to go. The period of waiting involved made it easy to give up.

Finally, she received a letter in the mail and phoned the number listed at the end of the document. She explained her situation and was told by the woman at the other end of the line that nothing could be done. The patient, young physician kept her composure and asked to speak with the woman's boss. The physician was told the boss was unavailable, so she got the person's name and contact details. She phoned his secretary and arranged to meet with him.  In person, he was also adamant and inflexible. Still, she remained calm. As per protocol, she asked her lawyer to write a letter and request an appointment to his boss. She was invited to see this boss and was told nothing would be done. She asked to speak with his superior. The man became angry yet, provided the name of the appropriate authority. When the physician saw him, he didn't make a decision right away. He listened to her story and her motivation.  He said he'd get back to her. 

A week went by.  Then, the physician received a phone call from the woman she spoke with initially in foreign affairs. The physician was told exceptions hadn’t been made before, but the required visa was being processed in record time.  The physician smiled to herself and listened. 

Throughout the weeks of turmoil, the physician continued to believe she would be able to go on this journey and help others. She nurtured the promise inside her. She kept thanking the world for giving her the abilities she had. She sensed the answer she hoped for was on the way. She believed it.  She had come to far to give up on herself. She reflected on that process while on the plane to her destination to join the international team from Doctors without Borders.

As it happened, this physician has a friend who gave up on getting the required paperwork for the same trip. He complained about the process, the cost, and described how big his problems were.  He focused on what he wasn't doing, gave up before he started.  He was unable to join the other physician because he didn’t get organized and didn't believe he could.  When she returned from her expeirence abroad, she told her colleague that his best days were ahead of him, and that there was always next year.  She instilled faith in him to try again.

Blink in order to see

Have you ever dreamed that your guardian was nearby? Throughout your life, as you look around, you will encounter different kinds of people. How could you know whether any of them was really a heavenly messenger? Would that influence how you treat other people and what life choices you make? Wherever you are and whatever you do, people are watching.  As you embrace challenges that life provides, you will be less likely to deny the extraordinary.  You will learn to rescue your dreams.    

To believe that angels exist is a preliminary step.  If anyone you know or don't know chooses not to believe in angels, this doesn't mean they do not exist for you.  This doesn't prove that skeptics are wrong yet, existence of anything will be strengthened by your own will and inner power.  Faith resumes its importance when you love and cherish an idea.  Whatever you desire to see, if your heart is in it, and you exert earnest efforts with good intentions, you will see it.

It has been said that whatever your belief system, Higher Forces are 'out there' and must be experienced to be believed.  The slower you walk through your life, the more apt you will be to notice the presence of things beyond you.  We each choose points to fixate on at different periods in our lives. 

All the while, your dreams may be in the background, waiting for you to nourish them.  The guardian angels echo your inner soul which tells you to never cease to dream.  Your dreams are only as difficult to realize as you believe they are.  The more you learn about life, the more plausible your dreams become and the sillier your excuses seem for not devoting yourself to them.  Be like the thermostat that changes the room temperature.  Be the person who is inspired by mysteries and possibilities.  Blink in order to see what others don't choose to see.