Your Perception Is....

...Your Reality.

Take a look at the picture. At first glance you would think that the actual camels are the dark images but in reality those are the shadows. Someone commented on this photo and said that sometimes our problems aren't as big as we may think they are. Well guess what?! They are 100% correct.

But it isn't the events that are taking place in our lives that seem to be the problem. No. It's our perception.

Believe it or not we control how big and dramatic or small and insignificant a decision in our life can be. I can almost guarantee that all of you know that person who, no matter what event is going on in their life (even a paper cut), are always overly-dramatic and emotional. The one who spends days upon days wondering why me? Why this or that? And we might also know someone who is the opposite. You know the one who is unfazed by all of the chaotic events that go on around them. They simply handle their affairs and continue living.

This is called perception and it is controlled by the way we allow ourselves to view our own lives. When we are hit with a dilemma we have two options; either sink to the bottom and allow our problems to consume us or we can rise to the occasion and conquer our own emotions. Yes, our surrounding environment can easily capitalize on our fears and influence our decisions but realize in the end, we are in control of our beliefs, our perception. This doesn’t mean we should ignore the reality of situations, it just means that our perception will define how we will handle our affairs.

Control the events that occur in your life by changing your perception. How? Resize the events; celebrate your little victories because they will build up to something great someday and downsize your problems because in a year or so they will be so far gone you won’t even remember what they were. You create your own perception, so however you want to live your reality let your perception define it.


Till next time....

Who Is Your Role-Model?

For as far as I can remember, I have been told to draw inspiration from people I perceive as "role-models". I have asked myself time and again what constitutes or qualifies a person as a role model? Most people will tell you that the answer is "someone who has it all, and then some". I was set, but for my short-lived life this task has not been easy. Actually it is exhausting, often times disappointing. I have searched, high and low, and still am for that "role-model" to look up to. But the more I learn about this life, the more my perspective changes about the definition of a "role-model".

You see, it's not that "role-models" dont exist, they do and everywhere actually. But we forget a small detail about role-models; they are human and humans are prone to fault, err. Another detail we often attach to the term "role-model" is well-rounded; "Someone who has it ALL". This is where finding the "role-model" of inspiration proves to be exhausting.

Earlier in life, I decided that if I mirrored successful "role-models" then my life would go accordingly. So what did I do? I started picking and choosing different people that seemed to be generally content with their life's direction. For life, family, friends, love, career, outreach, etc. I chose a "role-model" for it.

That was the first step. The second step was knowing the details; this was a painful disappointment. The life lessons left more doubts than reassurance of any type.

We see the big beautiful portraits but we know nothing about the intricate details that make them up. Through my journey I learned that life goals are best reached through understanding those details. More on the why and how rather than on the what, where, and when. Those details are the driving inspiration in people that made them appear as "role-models" in the first place.

So my perspective was changed and continues to expand. Instead of labeling people as my "role-models", I began to label their inspiring actions as the real "role-model". I began to see through people and look at the goodness because we are all full of flaws. No one is perfect and if you go looking for them you are bound to find those flaws. But why waste your time on the bad when there is the good? You may not like someone but you might admire an aspect or a trait of theirs. That's ok, take that aspect as your inspiration and leave the rest. Set it as your "role-model" rather than the individual as a whole. When you began to do this you will see more goodness in people and less of the bad.

As for me, if you were to ask who my role-models are? I would have to say:
The people who forgive easily, care deeply, and love unconditionally. The ones the pick themselves up and march forward. The ones that learn with every experience and never tire of working for the greater good. The ones that simply smile because its another day, another beginning. The ones that are thankful for every gift, blessing, and trial.

The list can go on forever really. This perspective though diminishes faults and capitalize on our good aspects. Use it often and the world will become a better place.

Till next time.....

Don't Turn Back....

.....Ever!!!

Dear Future-Self:

I know that you think you might not turn back to this decision again or second-guess yourself thinking maybe you made a bad choice. But let me tell you, it's not. Yeah, yeah you don't want to take my advice because "You already know better" but trust me you will be thankful that you have this when you randomly have amnesia in a month or so and think "Oh but it was so great why did I not embrace it?"

As your Present-Self I will tell you why! Remember all those great memories that that source brought to your life? Pretty great huh? Well now remember the agony.....

Remember the uncertainty, remember the person you have become when it was in your life. Hateful? Cynical? Beyond Sarcastic? Ring a bell?

Remember the constant arguments of right and wrong, remember the fact you had to keep looking over your shoulder every second, remember sleepless nights? Goodness, I love my sleep and it took it away from me!

But most importantly remember not having a peace of mind...ever. There was good but the bad outweighed it. You are breathing easier now, smiling a lot more, and you have a sound heart. So please don't second guess your decisions. Keep looking ahead, you did the right thing, and reaping the benefits as I speak.

Sincerely,
Your Present-Self

Tip: When you leave something write yourself a letter while the elements of that decision are still fresh. So when you try to go back to it again in the future you can remind yourself of how it really was and not what picture you are painting at the moment. You are in a better place now so don't second-guess yourself.

There is a reason people stumble and fall when they walk backwards...the trail is ahead and your feet are designed to move forward.

Till Next Time.....