The Awakening
A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the
midst of all
your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere
the voice
inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And,
like a child
quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside,
you shudder
once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the
world
through new eyes. This is your awakening.
You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something
to change...or
for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next
horizon.
You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming
or
Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy
tale endings
(or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily
ever
after" must begin with you...and in the process a
sense of serenity is born of acceptance.
You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone
will
always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are...and
that's OK.
They are entitled to their own views and opinions.
And you learn the importance of loving and championing
yourself...and in the process a sense of new found confidence is
born of
self-approval You stop complaining and blaming other people
for the things
they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only
thing you can really count
on is the unexpected.
You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what
they say
and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's
not always
about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of
yourself...and in
the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.
You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept
people as they
are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties..and
in the
process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.
You realize
that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you,
is as a
result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained
into your
psyche.
And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about
how you
should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what
you should
wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should
make, what
you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should
marry, the
importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your
parents,
family, and friends.
You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.
And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you
really
stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing
and you begin to discard
the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought
into to
begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.
You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And
that there is
power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering
through
life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.
You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are
not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds
together the foundation upon which you must build a life.
You learn that you
don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that
you can't
teach a pig to sing.
You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and
the
importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.
You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry
and that
martyrs get burned at the stake.
Then you learn about love.
How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and
when to walk
away. You learn to look at relationships as they really are
and not as you
would have them be.
You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.
And you learn that alone does not mean lonely. You also stop working
so
hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring
your
needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and
that it
is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want
... and that
sometimes it is necessary to make demands.
You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated
with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle
for less.
And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin
to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet drink more water, and take more
time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty
and so you take
more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels
our soul.
So you take more time to laugh and to play.
You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you
believe you deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling
prophecy.
You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and
that wishing
for something to happen is different than working toward making
it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success
you need direction, discipline and perseverance.
You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK
to risk asking for help.
You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber
baron of all:
FEAR itself.
You learn to step right into and through your fears because you
know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear
is
to give away the right to live life on your own terms.
And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living
under a
cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get
what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen
to
unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize
things.
You learn that Creator isn't punishing you or failing to answer
your prayers.
It's just life happening.
And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the
ego.
You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and
resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate
the life
out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.
You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead
of walls.
You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple
things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon
the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running
water, a
soft warm bed, a long hot shower.
Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself
and you
make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever
settle
for less than your heart's desire.
And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen
to the wind.
And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to
stay open to
every wonderful possibility.
Finally, with courage in your heart, and Creator by your
side, you
take a stand. Smiling, you take a deep breath, and you begin to
design the
life you want to live as best you can.
There is no wrong in doing right.
Trust must be earned, as should friendship.
Growth cannot be prevented, only directed and appreciated.
Be well my people....life is Spectacular if you but notice.
Author Unknown