Invite fictional characters to dinner?

Imagine the dinner conversations that would develop from a lively mixture of your favorite fictional characters. Consider what your guest list would tell you about yourself, your priorities, values, fears and expectations for your life in reality. Perhaps you dream you had the abilities and traits of these characters? What's to say your focus on these protagonists doesn't help you pinpoint meaningful purpose, ambition or traits you can develop in yourself? My top 15 choices are listed below:

1) Ellis Peter's medieval detective monk Brother Cadfael
2) Patricia Cornwell's pathologist-detective Dr. Kay Scarpetta
3) Paulo Coelho's Santiago (the Alchemist),
4) Charles Dicken's "reformed" Scrooge (*A Christmas Carol)
5) Ian Flemming's James Bond (007)
6) Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple or Hercule Poirot
7) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes
8) Jules Verne’s Phineas Fogg (*Around the World in 80 Days)
9) Pamela L. Travers’ Mary Poppins
10) J.K. Rowling's Dumbledore (okay, and Harry Potter Hermoine Granger too!)
11) J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf (*Lord of the Rings)
12) Yoda (*Star Wars)
13) L.M. Montgomery's Anne Shirley (*Anne of Green Gables)
14) Mary Magdelan (*The Bible)
15) William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Only a matter of time

Human beings live in a vast world and spend lifetimes dreaming and seeking to understand it.   Somewhere back in history, many people began to group the idea of guardian angels together with forgotten myths.  What happened to cause people to change their faith and belief systems? 

Angels exist to help remind us to keep our dreams are alive, worth out attention.  If you listen, they encourage you to seek people who can help make your dreams a reality.  They encourage you to believe in yourself.  What reasons might you have to desire to connect with your angel?

If it doesn't matter, then why do your eyes light up at the thought of believing?  You either accept the possibility or you don't.  You either seek ways to learn more about your angel, or you disregard the whole thing.  Then again, you may repeatedly experience phases of "contemplation of the existence of the angel." You may have witnessed or heard about miracles, and talk incessantly, yet, manage to doubt.

Some people ask themselves why they believe or disbelieve.  Angels may enter your dreams or slip into discussions.  Notice how they make their presence known in your life.  Is that you helping? Who are the sorts of people who draw your attention to angels? They offer new clues to why you bet, why you offer to forgive, why you're ready to break a pact not to believe in things you don't necessarily see.

The ideas you devise don't have to seem logical or rational to other people.  The fundamental question is, do these ideas seem appropriate and inspiring for you as the person you are now? You know very well what's going to happen next.  Its only a matter of time.  Make a bet with your angel.  Connecting with your core is like the key to existence.  Your angel will light the way.  Now all you need is faith, will, and to follow your chosen path.

Break your pact with defeat

As you realize you have lived and learned, how do you convince yourself that what used to motivate you hasn't lost its meaning? If these personal milestones are vital to your life, then they will not lose their meaning, so long as you continue to honestly focus on sources of motivation. 

Some people come to a point where they feel past challenges they met were not big enough or below expectations.  This may trigger a sense of regret or defeat for what wasn't done.  Its possible to continue appreciating what you have done after that chapter is over.  Its may be desirable to choose not to win when victory is possible.  You might ask what incentives exist for choosing defeat? What price would you pay for not being true to yourself?  Are you a prisoner of your own guilt?

What about distraction from things you don't choose to face? It might seem a cowardly move, but perhaps abandoning your dreams appeared agreeable somehow.  People have been known to deny or destroy what they love without logic or explanation.  Have you or anyone you know ever been that severe?  To sacrifice what you think you want most is only done for something you desire more. 

As of right now, if you believe in what you do and how you feel, then you will forgive yourself for anything that is past.  The most effective way to break you pact with defeat is to promise you will no longer reprimand yourself or choose to destroy your connection to sources of inspiration.  Rise above such self-betrayal. 

Embracing the truth will free you from the problems you have created for yourself.  Open your soul and listen to what it tells you about your dreams.  Tapping into your own courage will assist you to triumph over defeat.  Do those things that make life worth the effort.  Give yourself credit where credit is due.  Remind yourself you set the healing process in motion.

Role models & 3 Traits that stand out

The story of a role model's life amy be a story that reflects on all humanity. Do you dream of holding such a role? Examine your underlying motives. Are you ready to be responsible and accountable? What makes you think someone else is a suitable candidate?

1) Does the person have traits worthy of our attention?  In the early days, at least, some part of us admires the person.  He or she may empathize with our plight or personal situation. We seek to know more, while taking it on faith that what this person tells us is necessarily the truth. Over time, conflicting stories will arise in the media about the person who initially struck us as a leader. We choose allegiance to stories. We evolve according to stories. 

2) Is the person surrounded by powerful friends?  This may prevent people from touching them, and it goes beyond security preventing physical harm. Why do some people feel they require distance and protection? Even if you found a way to reach them, would you take that risk to speak your mind? You may be the sort of person who respects rules for what they are or, you may act based on fearing punishment for ignoring them. Consider role models who don't choose to have bodyguards and do what they can to relate to people.  They demonstrate their own patterns and character traits that don't boast of of seek help from supposedly 'powerful people.'

3) Is the person inspirational?  Some role models do not consciously choose to set standards, but they must still face consequences if people put them on a pedestal. Whether they fall into or out of this status or, whether a public chooses to keep them there, is partly due to our inclinations and partly destiny. Some people seem born to be role models and others evolve into them with help.

Paranoia got your goat?

If you do what you love, and this represents success, why has paranoia suddenly got your goat?  Dissatisfaction or fear may slowly seep in.  You feel a bit moodier.  People withdraw from you.  You feel underappreciated or resentful because of what you used to experience that is all gone. You start to wonder whether the grass must not be greener somewhere else.  Why can't you get there? What not now? 

1) Trust yourself.  Trust evolves as you realize your intentions, that you have your best interests at heart, and this feeling isn't dependent on external events.  What people say or do is separate.  Its your character that may desire the best for others and motivate you to do what you choose will be the best for you.  Can they be one in the same?  Intuition shapes your reality.

2) Relate to other people.  Read up on how other people feel about their own vulnerabilities.  Learn about the benefits other people have experienced as the result of examining perceived failures and occasions when their plans didn't turn out exactly as planned.  What did they gain? How can this help you to adopt coping models based on real people who kept on performing with a revised vision?

3) Accept imperfection.  Nobody always gets everything right.  This explains why we're human.  To make mistakes, admit faults and weaknesses is the first step to coping and managing anything well.  As you learn to combine fallibility with problem-solving,  you'll build strength to overcome things.  To recognize your strengths will reduce anxiety and enable you to gain a positive focus.

4) Don't lie, even if you think it helps.  You may promise yourself never to say things you don't mean, and then justify the exact opposite. Being real means you're brutally honest, no matter what the cost.  When people inquire about your success,  you may exaggerate in order to boost self-acceptance and avoid negative consequences.  If you accept reality, and admit it, you won't have a guilty conscience.  The results of deception are more destructive than telling the truth.