Under your own spell

If you write or dream of writing, intending to provide material for other people, it makes sense to reflect on what you think they desire to know. Would you ask them directly, infer or, try out your skills of mental telepathy? Writing for readers is a test for you. Do you tell them a little bit of detail to spark their curiosity? What would you like people to discover for themselves? Maybe you assume reading words would be a meaningful experience for anyone. What kind of experience? It may be a matter of feeling like you're under your own spell. Words can be that powerful.

If you would like to share part of yourself or leave a legacy, stories may be the least you could leave for future generations. In some priceless ways, stories may be one of the most selfless gifts you can offer the world with no strings attached, or at least few expectations. After all, you would likely hope somebody somewhere would read it and benefit somehow.

At times, you may feel you live in your own world, separate from others, maybe even experiencing things that seem impossible to overcome. Writing could give you a way to deal with this. As you look inside you, other people remain outside. The more you explore your inner world, the more connected you can feel to everyone.

1) Why do you need to learn? Writers may write because it enables them to reflect back on their words and learn. Readers may read in order to build on what they think they know or, learn completely new things. Any person may simply desire to develop self-inquiry and grow. Our minds think ceaselessly on everything that happens. Our perception can be positive or negative. It can expand us and enable us to feel strengthened or, it can contract us and make us feel troubled. As you discipline your self-talk, and how you interpret words, you'll learn to control which ideas you accept and which ideas you wish to reject.   Will you choose to change?

2) Would anyone pay to read this and why? Some writers naturally imagine how they would market their material to an audience. What would make it stand out from other writers and motivate readers to buy it? How would you honk your own horn? What about your life or style, is purely unique? Readers might look at certain published material and wonder how that ever managed to get into print. Publishers and literary agents also have to learn to think strategically, to survey best seller lists and other trends which help influence the projects they choose to believe in. If you have low self-confidence, its hard to convince others to buy your work.

3) Will I come away with anything useful? Only an individual reader or writer determines if words are worthwhile. What you drink in or churn out is subjective, yet relates to your values and vision of the world. Understand whatever job you have, whatever life choices you make, your perception will cause you to think as you always have, unless you progress along your inner journey and grow. For those people who feel over-confident in their credentials and abilities, they may not feel ready or willing to absorb new words or their implications. Whether or not a writer benefits from the writing exercise, and whether or not readers choose to learn, is based on desire to explore fact or fiction, the past or present or, wallow in fantasy.

Cease to be a problem to yourself

You may have been told that it's wise to learn to like yourself wherever you are.  If this is the case, then why might you also be told its also useful to establish goals, which would imply its desirable for you to change? To accept feelings wherever you are means you take responsibility for both negative and uplifting emotions.  Being willing to initiate a self-inquiry enables you to uncover healthy states and distinguish them from self-destructive states.

If the ultimate goal is to get-to know and accept yourself with humility, then your goals involve learning to uncover and understand what is true and false about yourself.  What you sense is true should bring relieve and inner peace.  If instead, your choices trigger increased tension or stress, then these choices aren't perhaps the best ones for you now.  Whatever outside influences may affect who you think you are, you have the mind you have and it has power to establish goals.

One of the biggest challenges may be to juggle goals. For people who have aims in different areas of their lives, which ones should be deemed the most important priorities? Would that be your personal life? Your work ambitions? Your spiritual side or, something else?

If you feel as though different areas of your life compete for attention, then it is up to you to get a grip and identify a step-by-step strategy to deal with goals individually, one step at a time.  You may come to the conclusion you could benefit from a change in how you think and when.  This would entail you can take control and cease to be a problem to yourself.

Prisoner of a boundless vision

Those things you dream are sometimes projections that represent something deeper within yourself. What do you wish to see? What sorts of characteristics would you hope to develop? Projection may fill a temporary desire that you're unable to realize directly, or feel too insecure to fulfill in reality. It's a relatively safe kind of fantasy because it connects us to our higher values yet, it may legitimize a self-view that is incompatible with who we really are.

You may know someone who idolizes himself and other people don't regard him with the same respect. His understanding of this discrepancy between how he would like to be accepted and reality, causes pain. He may project a self-image of the person he'd like to be, but gets so wrapped up in his projection, that he unexpectedly becomes a fallen hero in his mind and reality. Projection creates the meaning you choose to give it. Events are meaningless unless you give them value. Do you project a facade in hopes of winning affection or attention, based on something you're not? What would this tell you about your fear?

Western culture is built on projection. Our hopes and expectations evolve based on images we see and literature which paints a picture of ideals we're supposed to aspire toward. As you begin to attach values to people, events and dreams, you may forget its your mind that shapes what you see and relationships you forge. You decide what's real or not.

You may aim to convince people what you want them to believe, but a projection fails if you don't believe it deep down yourself. If you're blind to your fear or inadequacy, these traits may be visible through your behavior and transparent soul. As you grow willing to see beyond your ego and become more self-aware, you'll no longer be your prisoner of your fearful, boundless vision.

The end of waiting

Did you immediately recognize your dream boat? Who's the lucky lady? Who's the lucky guy? Maybe you have decided to explore relationship possibilities beyond what your culture has conditioned you to believe is expected or appropriate. That may challenge your values or cause conflict in your family because they fail to understand your choices. You own eyes will continue to see what they expect, especially when you perceive through and trust the eyes of your soul.

When someone approaches you and greets you with a look of expectancy, how do you respond? Your mind may jog your memory and make a connection from the past. You may encounter an apparent stranger who comes to play an integral role in your life. Why then? Why now? Somehow, you're ready. You may have been waiting around or anticipating for a long time. Do you think you may even seek an enduring, intimate relationship too much? Would you choose anyone just to have a relationship?

Society programs us to create meaning in our lives. We come to think we must adapt ourselves to rigid rules or stereotypes and if that deosn't work, then we put our faith in something or someone else. Your initial images of a partner may be inherited from the culture you live in. There would be no ambiguity. You could imagine the livelihood, lifestyle, habits and dreams which coincide with people or relatives you know. Yet, what happens if you don't meet someone like that that fits a mold? Love presents itself in many different forms, including those you have never seen or experienced before. Would you be willing to embrace it?

You might rent a film like, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." This story reminds us how people who care a lot for us may think they know who we are and what we want or need, but they may not. The story reminds us that if you haven't yet found someone who cherishes you, a special someone exists. When you evolve to feel ready and have the courage to believe in yourself, you'll begin to notice opportunities and people you didn't recognze before. Many people are unaware how their intuition and self-confidence is evolving. You can become more attuned. As of this moment, it may be the end of waiting. The person you seek is closer than you think.

Elephants floating in your head?

When it comes to success, people I've met have a variety of ideas.  One friend dreamed of becoming an elephant zoo keeper, and he managed it.  You might wonder, 'how does one define the steps to reaching such a path which, one would assume, would be anything but mundane?' Its not the sort of job that you'd likely find in the classifieds.  Perhaps a bulletin board at the circus? 

This person simply read about as much as possible about elephants and sought out people who knew about them.  He didn't even grow up in an area that had any elephants. This motivated him to write experts letters in the post and ask their advice.  He even found ways to visit a national park in Africa and learned new strategies used for elephant conservation.  His dreams worked out, and more.

In any long-term project, you'll likely experience uplifting feelings of motivation and discouraging feelings of disappointment.  When some approach or strategy is ineffective, you may simply decide to go back to basics, to reconnect with the 'why' which will lead you to figure out 'how.'  Its often useful to learn from people who have already travelled roads you seek to follow.  This could save you years of trials and better equip you to personalize your path. 

No matter what your plan, its desirable to create a mindset that convinces you that your dream is possible.  You can nurture that within.  How you reach out to others will assist you to expand your options.  If someone asks you to undertake a task related to your dream, and you don't initially know how, you should offer to do it anyway.  Look at it as a beneficial learning experience, an opportunity to bring you closer to what you hope to experience.  That will come.