The Road Ahead

Navigating Through Life

How has your road trip been so far?  Have you been able to negotiate the twists and turns?

I’ve heard the comparison of a road map as a reference to our own lives and I can relate.

These are my analogies to travelling the road of life:

-          Construction Zones (A Reminder of Patience – Don’t sweat the small stuff)

-          Soft Shoulders (Sugar Coating Communications – Tell them how you really feel)

-          Yield ( Respecting other’s Opinions & Feelings – We are unique, we all don’t think alike) 

-          Do Not Enter (Crossing Boundaries – know when to walk away)

-          One Way Street (Negative Thinking – Not every obstacle is as big as it seems)

-          Fork in the Road ( Making a Decision – choosing the path that’s right for You)

-          Gravel or Dirt Road (A New Lesson to Learn – Could be a long or short distance, depends on You)

-          Wrong Turn (You’ve Stepped Off your Path – A mistake)

-          Gridlock (Unable to Find Compromise – Only time will reveal)

-          Bridge is Out (Forgive and Forget – Not all mistakes can be repaired, time to move forward)

-          The Runaway Lane (Not Learning a Lesson – Our ego thinking it knows better)

-          Rest Stops (Regaining your Strength – Finding your personal power)

-          Hitchhikers (The People We Allow Into our Life – Positive or Negative)

-          Detours (A New Direction Not Considered – Relying on your gut instincts)

-          The High Road (Don’t Compromise your Integrity – Don’t lower yourself to someone else’s level)

-          All Green Lights (Positive Thinking, natural flow of the Universe)

Some of the various roadblocks that come up in our lives are there for a reason, some are a result of choices made (good or bad), some are there to teach us so we can learn and grow, some are there to serve solely as a “déjà vu” reminder to keep us from straying too far from the main road.

Most of these turns, bumps and challenges are in place to keep us on the straight and narrow, although sometimes we get off course, take a wrong turn and end up on the wrong end of a one-way street. 

• Sometimes we get ourselves so far off course that our GPS is continually “re-calculating”.
• Sometimes you end up having to make a complete U-Turn and go back to where you started.
• Sometimes, you just can’t get there from here!

Not every road leads to a better life but all roads provide us with an opportunity for personal growth.  Along the way we can find great friends, love, passion, purpose and a greater understanding for how impactful positive thinking can be.

The Universe knows where we should be going but we have our own free will to ultimately decide.

 

Don’t Lose the Lesson!

Carry the wisdom forward

I’ve heard the phrase “forgive and forget” many times but I’ve learned that while it is essential to forgive, it is just as essential not to forget, carry the wisdom forward.  The most significant aspect of the events I’ve experienced so far, whether desirable or not, were the lessons I learned and the personal growth I gained.  Without some of my lessons it may have taken me longer to realize that I needed to develop a stronger set of boundaries, boundaries that should have already been in place.  If I was to forget my lessons I would lose along with them, the wisdom and experience I need to prepare me for the future I am meant to live.  I really believe that “everything happens for a reason” and if I am able to step outside these events, even for a moment, then I am able to provide myself with the necessary insight and awareness that directs me to the bigger picture.

When I have things going on in my life that are upsetting or disappointing I always find that if I were to look around there are others that have much more difficult situations to deal with.  It’s at this time that I realize how insignificant my issues are in comparison and that I need to remain thankful for the guidance and greater knowledge that these situations offer.  I’m not saying the problem or issue doesn’t matter but it does help me to scale down the severity, especially when I am too emotionally connected to a situation to be objective.

We have one of two options when faced with adversity:

1)      Use it as a positive force, a catalyst, to change and create a better future

2)      Use it as a negative force, an excuse, to hold you back from having the future you desire

I’ve read and heard so many stories of people that have come from terrible upbringings and backgrounds and have used that pain and sadness as a force of positive strength and determination to change their circumstances and create a happier and more fulfilling life.

It’s amazing how much we can learn from others if we just pay attention, and care to listen.  We are all here to learn and progress and there are so many people that have been and still are in my life that have taught me some very significant and invaluable aspects.  I don’t believe that any one person or event in my life has been a coincidence.  I believe that we all come here with a purpose and passion and those involved in our lives are here to help us along that path, our conscious is not aware of it but our inner voice is.  Our inner voice is always whispering to us and I can honestly say that since I started paying attention to my inner voice I’ve had great things occur and discovered a deeper sense of happiness.

For me experience has been a good teacher, mistakes have been an even greater teacher.  Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect, but without the mistakes I’ve made I wouldn’t have gained the knowledge or insight on how to navigate and discover my life’s purpose.  Through making mistakes I’ve developed a stronger sense of inner strength, depth of character, a clearer definition of the future I want to manifest and the importance of carrying the wisdom forward.