Awakening

by anonymous

A great read! Be inspired!

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 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 realized 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 you are neighter Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginning, for that matter) and that any gurantee 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 view and opinions and you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself.

And in the process, a sense of newfound 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. You begin to accept people as they are and over look their shortcoming and human failties.

And in the process, a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realized that much of the way you view yourself and the world around you is a result of all the messages and opinions that havae 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, 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.

You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing.

You begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown or should havae brough 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.

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 by gone era, but the mortar that holdds together the foundation upon which you must build 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 responsiblity 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.

Then you stop trying to control people, situation, and outcomes and youlearn 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 thing and to ask for the things you want. And sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindess, 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 balance diet, drink more water and take more time to excercise. 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 getin life what you believe you deserve and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything world achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working towards 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 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 youknow that whatever happens

you can handle it and to give into fear is to give away the right 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 the bad things happen to unsuspecting good people

On these occassions you learn to not personalize things.

YOu learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with eveil in its most primal state...the ego

You learn that negative feeling such 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 refreigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Slowly you begin to take responsiblity for yourself and by yourself and you make yourself a promise to nver 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 God by your side you take a stand.

You take a deep breath and you begin to design, as best you can, the life you want to live.

The End