Saturday, October 19

Taking Risk, Enjoying the Benefits

     Good evening everyone, I found this laying around in the attic of this cozy inn.  I'm bumping it up.   Let me know your thoughts.

Here it is:
      I hope you are enjoying your day.  If not, you are at the right place.  Having an Attitude of Gratitude helps.  It moves us forward.  For more information, read here.  It's best seeing what can be done and bask in the good, than living with regret and fear.  

       Fear is self-sabotaging.  Here are some thoughts about this subject.  May they help us face our fears and master them. 
Part of my growth has involved reversing some old ways of thinking.  It had been my habit of avoiding painful feelings and situations, to play it safe and keep away from risk.  But life involves one risk after another, and pain is unavoidable.  Life is learning to accept what is.
Instead of running away, I'm learning to look at the source of my distress.  As a result, I find that pain passes much more quickly, and what I gain is freedom from fear.  I can learn to take an honest look at myself and my situation.  I can reach out to a supportive friend, God, prayer, and meet with others who care to help me to find the courage to deal with fear, pain, and risk. 
When I was avoiding taking risks, fear was always with me, just over my  shoulder. Now I go through it and come out the other side, often unscathed. I no longer have to keep a constant watch for dangers.   Instead, I can occupy myself with living.
Wonderful things can happen today because I welcome the thrill of participating in my own life.
'Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.  Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.'     Helen Keller
"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."    William Shakespeare, "Measure for Measure"Act 1 scene 4
        These last words were spoken more than four hundred years ago.  They ring true today.  I see progress when placing principles above not only my personality, but fear. 

         This sometimes happen by living life in smaller increments, like fifteen minutes at a time, placing one foot in front of the other, doing what's necessary, seeking God's will. His power allows me to carry it out.  Next, I B-R-E-A-T-H-E !  I repeat this routine for the next fifteen minutes,  and the next, and so on.

          It helps having friends and family who provide support.  Serenity is enjoyed because I no longer need to make decisions or take action alone.  I'm in braided relationships with wise, emotionally healthy and discerning others who have my back. 

          On the airplane of life, my dear ones help me move forward. I step out, taking the plunge, doing the next right thing, no matter how scarey it is.  My Balcony People remind me I have positive options. The parachute of principles hold me afloat, as I soar towards my goals.

 How About You? 
What is a challenge you are facing? 

        For me, it's dealing with someone who's trying to undermine me. I tackling this problem while maintaining balance. I don't want others to distract me from the Great Big Life God has for me. 
        May your day be bold and fearless.

3 comments:

Carl H said...

Dear Innkeeper,

I guess this day is becoming a kind of guys, weekend, Sunday Night Football Gratitude Day!

On this Sunday night, in sunny, Sunnyside, Queens, NYC, I am grateful for...

1. A rare, long-overdue and lovely weekend with my old friend and his family here in NYC.

2. The NY Jets exciting overtime victory over the New England (Boston) Patriots! The underdog prevails!

3. My hometown team; the San Francisco 49ers 3rd Quarter (as of now...) 24-0 lead over the Tennessee Titans! Looks like it will be a blow-out!

4. Some pleasant conversation with my friends oldest daughter, Tanya who lives and works in NYC. In this very small world, it turns out she is a good friend of my second oldest sons ex-wife, who lives in San Diego. I never want to put another in the middle of someone else's history. "Live and Let Live!"

Carl H said...

Dear Innkeeper,

On this Tuesday night, as my modern typing fingers clunk away on my wife's ancient desktop computer keyboard, I am grateful...

1. To be home again in the SF/Bay Area of Northern California; home to family, friends, colleagues and the morning fog on the "Dock of the Bay."

2. For a fabulous, inspiring, comforting and revealing conversation over Val's Burgers in Hayward, with our youngest son, as he fast approaches his 21st birthday in December.

3. That my lifelong friend in Sunnyside, Queens ran an elaborate series of cleaners and disk defragmenting software on my old, Sony laptop, so that it would run so much faster than before (once I get it to turn on again!)

4. That even though the on/off button on my laptop is broken, I am confident a friend or honest person will emerge soon to help me fix it.

5. Once again that the Jet's and the 49'ers won on Sunday...

Pablo said...

Dear Carl,

I appreciate your consistency in sharing gratitudes. No one models this better than you! You are doing so, here, even though you are on vacation and across the country. Wow, and double wow!

I like how the slogans help you keep perspective. That's applying your recovery in a healthy way.

Thank you for your gratitudes. How do you feel, after connecting with an old buddy? What needs of yours were met?

Some day, I'll get a chance to watch the Niners. Lately, I've been swamped, busy. Tomorrow, however, I'll be in Napa, cycling. Ya ay!

Quotes from the Posts

"I'm mindful that our thoughts affect the words we use, our words influence our actions, our actions shape our character and our character determines our destiny."

From "My Character Determines My Destiny." To read it, please click here.

"Progress not perfection, is better than no progress at all, especially when we're trying to rid ourselves from unwelcome dragons that dwell within the closets of our soul."

From, "Still Learning" which, within four days, became the most popular post
written. To read it, please click here.

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its trouble, but it does empty today of its strength"
From the post: "Life Is Not a Correspondence Program." Click here to read it.

"Even though we cannot control our circumstances, we can control how we choose to respond to them."

From, "Handling Stress and Dealing With an Emotional Bully."Click here to read this post.

"Nope, being busy isn't exciting. Boring is good. Because boring is not boring; boring is being healthy, living a balanced life that has serenity"

From: "Do You Know What It Means If You Are Too Busy?" For more, please click here.

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