Inspiraelevation

One thing all mankind has in common is that they age.

As long as breath is in your body and time passes you age.

Age can be seen as an asset or barrier to achievement. 

In one’s youth, when one thinks of all the time that is ahead of them, there is a sense of invincibility. It seems like you have an eternity to do what is necessary to make dreams a reality. And sometimes building becomes less of a priority.

In one’s autumn and winter, perspectives change.

Limitations loom large, sometimes larger than life. And it is easy to often think about the time that is left to make dreams a reality.

The individual begins to see their mortality clearer.

Sometimes, I sit and ponder, and though I still feel all the vitality of life I see the signs that time imposes on my body. Eyesight is a little less acute. Muscles that strain against their normal occupation, and it gives me pause.

But, I know that it is not about the years you have to live.

It is about the life and love you put into the years that you are living.

There is no timestamp on mortality.

Time is the great equalizer and stops for both the young and aged alike.

The best we can do is to live every day to the full, giving everything we got, loving as much as we can, and continuing to build upon our dreams.

Whether you have passed little or much time on this earth, keep building, because as long as there is life in your years it is never too late to dream or achieve.

Sometimes your biggest disadvantage can be your advantage.

You have to find the opportunity, the edge.

According to world-renown author Malcolm Gladwell, author of the book Underdog Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants: David &Goliath history has proven that disadvantages do not impede success. In many cases, it has been shown that disadvantages have benefited those on their path to success. Gladwell refers to this concept as a desirable difficulty.  “The idea of desirable difficulty suggests that not all difficulties are negative”  (Gladwell 133).

Sometimes What seems like something that will hold you back is exactly what you need to propel you forward, but you have to change the way you look at things.

“For some reason, this is a very difficult lesson for us to learn. We have, I think, a very rigid and limited definition of what an advantage is” (Gladwell 25).

A disadvantage can equip you to achieve the very thing that is desired and turn out to be a bigger advantage than what was once realized. Often times a disadvantage is really a lesson that prepares you for what is up ahead.

Personal Anecdote

I had my last child two years ago almost 15 years from the birth of my last child., it was a much-welcomed gift but has taught me so much. Now it is no secret that I have at times had a hard time adjusting to change. But, nothing teaches you about adjusting to change like a child. Children are spontaneous, their schedules constantly adjust and readjust, at least for the first years of their life.  Your world and time revolve completely around them.

 

You sleep when they sleep or don’t sleep at all. You learn their schedule and try to work your day around their schedule especially if you want to get anything done.

In fact, a lot that comes with rearing a child from infancy to adulthood requires spontaneous change, the type of change that can completely alter plans.

You have to take what looks like a disadvantage in the way of time and turn it into an advantage. This is a lesson that can be applied to all of life. Not to say that it is easy to do but extremely necessary.

Find whatever seems like a disadvantage and use it in your favor.

You are not an underdog no matter what life throws at you, you have a real chance at success and achievement but you just have to believe it.

 

 

Gladwell, Malcolm. (2013). Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants:

     David and Goliath, London, England. Penguin Books.

 

Every builder that considers constructing a house never jumps right in without making the proper considerations. Each choice is vital. The builder knows that the choice that is made will impact the structure, value, and integrity of that house.

Everything that we build requires the same consideration.

Build wisely by choosing wisely

About a week ago I was reminded of the power of the impact we have in life. That we have not only the power to shape our lives but the lives of generations with just a few simple choices, choices that can’t be undone.

In a conversation, I had with someone very dear to me they informed me of some pain and anguish some girls they knew were going through.

The pain ran so deep in the lives of these girls that it had become cyclical. One poor decision after another had led to a prison of pain and misfortune. The saddest thing was that much of the pain and anguish that these girls suffered resulted from choices made, poor choices, not made by them themselves but by their parents.

These girls inherited pain.

The choices of their parents reflected heavily on the life they now lived.

They were born with a burden.

Even sadder is that the choices they now make are now flowing over into the lives of their very own children.

Our choices have a ripple effect, even when we can’t see it.

Knowing this, one comes to realize that he or she cannot afford not to consider the choices they make.

Choose wisely, and  build a lasting dream

 

 

Some days are hard really hard.

Everything is a struggle.  Your thinking is not always clear.

A few days ago the day was particularly difficult. There were so many challenges.

There were times when I wanted to just give up on the day, throw in the towel.

I was particularly challenged in how I framed my experiences that day.

I automatically wanted to frame my day as a bad day.

I could hear myself saying , wow you are having such a bad day.

But, then I had to stop and give myself time to breathe and reflect. Then I could reframe my outlook.

Sure I had some challenging experiences that day but that did not in any way, shape, or form make the day a bad day.

It was actually a really good day. There was so much that was great on that day. Taking the time out, to reframe my thinking had a major impact on what I accomplished thereafter and my interactions with my husband and children. For me, that is growing and that is what we should aspire to every day, grow in some area.

One of the most important things to remember as you redesign your life is that being successful is a lot about how you approach something.

I set a goal. I write it down. I put my foot on the path to work toward achievement.

But sometimes I get in my own way.

I come up with a million and one reasons why I can’t put in the effort, why I can’t do just a little bit more, why I can’t commit to taking a step that day.

The truth is there is no rationale for why I cannot put in the work. There is nothing standing in my way but me.

I have to let go of excuses.

If I am honest with myself, I never fail to put in the work for those things I really want.

So there is no excuse.

Excuses are indicators, red flags, that perhaps you (I) don’t really want to achieve what is set forth.

They are like little termites that gradually eat away at the infrastructure that has been constructed and if not careful will totally destroy everything built.

So, No excuses.

It takes more than a decision to do something

“Making a decision is only the beginning of things” (Cohelo).

It takes dogged determination and grit to achieve anything. Even if you (I)  don’t see it now if we are working towards something, even just a little bit every day we are building a foundation and an infrastructure that will stand tall.

We are being an effective architect in designing our best life.  

“It is only those who are persistent, and willing to study things deeply, who achieve the masterwork” (Cohelo).

But first, you (I) have to believe in who we are and what we can accomplish.

We have to believe that we can achieve whatever we set our mind to if we put in the work.

We have to believe that we are worthy and we deserve the best in life.

No Excuses

“People are afraid to pursue the most important dreams because they feel that they don’t deserve them, or that they’ll be unable to achieve them” (Cohelo).

We do deserve it, and you(I) can do this. Let us keep this at the forefront of our mind especially when the process gets tedious, hard, or seems to not be working.

So NO EXCUSES

We got this!

Cohelo Paul. The Alchemist. Harper Collins.

https://www.scribd.com/book/254663574/The-Alchemist