Inspiraelevation

We live truly miraculous lives.

Unfortunately, many forget or never realize how miraculous their lives really are.

I could spend an incalculable amount of time expounding on what I have come to learn in the last couple of months of my life.

I digress for there is not enough time to expound to such depths.

In short,  there were so many things that I thought I should have known. Now, I have come to realize that there is still so much I don’t know and some things that I may never know.

It has been a transformative and painful process, but a necessary process.

I have come to certain realizations.

#1 Lack of knowledge is a plague upon humanity and the source of what ails many.

#2 Our failure to recognize the miracles in our lives is at the root of the rot. 

I believe that sometimes things appear to happen so easily in our lives that we miss the miracles.

As a result, we as a people begin to become sure and boastful.

We develop formulas, methods, and strategies ensuring outcomes.

And boastfully proclaim, if carefully applied success will result.

After all 1 + 1 = 2, right

And, what if that outcome is different than it is extrapolated to be?

Why, then, we scrutinize and patronize. We become fastened steadfastly to the assumption that output error is due to something was done incorrectly in the application,  in the process,  or that there is probably a flaw in the applier.

This could not be further from the truth.

The truth is while 1+1 should equal 2, and it more often does. 1+1  doesn’t always equal 2.  In fact, it is a miracle that it does 98% of the time.

Truthfully, some people no matter how hard they try to get 2 from 1+1 they will not or will not without some difficulty.

Sadly these people come to feel inferior, flawed or broken.

However, as my husband recently reminded me, we are not broken, flawed, or inferior. We just live in a complex world where the formula does not always apply and a lot of what does go right is the result of external factors.

Yet, the trueist sadness is that we try to pass off miracles as certainties.

Regrettably, these people are blinded. As a result of their blindness, they are hardened, prideful, unempathetic, cruel, and pretentious.

I think this occurs because of a lack of awareness. Rarely are we truly aware of how miraculous our lives are.  So, it is easy to take so much for granted and then to become full, of assumption, surety, and pride.

As I have come to surmise, there is no definitive guarantee of a specific outcome regardless of how much effort we put in.

This fact is hard-hitting.

It’s real and raw

When you do become aware, when life hits you so hard that you can’t possibly breathe or think; it is then that you begin to realize that you are to an extent powerless.

 It is then that you begin to see the true miracle of your life and recognize your role in it. 

While the process is always in our control. The outcome is and always will be out of our control.

We can only do the best we can to move toward the desired outcome, improving our probability of reaching the desired outcome.

What about science?

Science is a methodology a process by where hypotheses are confirmed through experimentation and verification using the if, then premise, ultimately resulting in a new truth, rule, process, or product.

 

Fundamentally confirming as once hypothesized, if you apply a then b should result. If you perform in a certain manner then a specific achievement should be reached.

This is said to be verified by many tests, which have been replicated resulting in a confirmed outcome.

The thing is there is no exact science. There are many variables and conditions that exist that can at anytime nullify a confirmed scientific truth.

Why do we cling so strongly to these truths?

For the most part, since things seem to work out in our favor and on our behalf a lot of the time, we attribute the success to the science, the formula, or the method. It is easier that way.

We, in turn, apply this same standard to the whole (everyone).

But, what happens when everything is done right( according to formula), but still it doesn’t work out.

To what does one attribute the failure?

You cannot always contribute a failed outcome to an error in process or the individual.

No outcome is assured 100% of the time.

Given closer introspection, you will begin to see things more clearly and understand that those successes that you have had, though you had a hand in it,  had nothing to do with you. It is outside of your realm of power.

Let me give you a few examples:

1. Although you may apply for a job and meet all the desired qualifications to assume the position, that position is in no way guaranteed. Someone  (outside of yourself) has to offer you the job.  Ultimately, you have no control of this.
2. Suppose you audition for a role in a movie. Suppose you had acted in many roles prior to the one you are auditioning for. You have the experience, the education, and the look. You should be a guaranteed shoo-in. But, you still don’t get the role. Why?  It is because being selected is outside of your control.

Remember, if you write the book customers have to decide to buy it. Even if you run for office others have to elect you. You can make a petition but someone has to be willing to answer. Although you do everything you can to conceive, you cannot without a miracle happening within your body.

This is when you realize.

Whatever success you celebrate or have celebrated was and can never be totally attributed to you.

You cannot make anything happen.

When you awaken to this, you start to really begin to count your blessings. You really begin to appreciate what you have and what you have accomplished. You become more humbled and less prideful. You understand that the world is much more complex than we make it. You learn to be empathetic.

And when the formula does work for you, you are less likely to look down upon others who are still struggling to try to make things work.  You become more human and begin to reach out your hand in understanding because you have come to an understanding.

In the end, despite what it may seem, everything that has been achieved is because we have been favored, or blessed.

I am not here to pass on any guarantees to you but I want to give you the tools and knowledge to put you in the best position to accept your blessing if and when they come to you.

Through my growth, I want to help you also grow.

 

Commitment is integral to achievement.

Commitment is a tie that binds you to your goals. Commitment is not always easy, but it is absolutely necessary.

How does one become fully committed?

To maintain your vigor and tenacity in achieving goals you must tie your commitment to the right things.

True and pure commitment is often born when one is authentically inspired.

Superficial desires or goals are often not strong enough to bear the tenuous journey on the way to excellence.  One’s success is often more solidified when individual commitment is driven by something stronger and deeper. This assures the translation of goals to reality.

In a book entitled The Mindset of Achievement by Scott Abel, this is summed up beautifully

 

Success can be elusive.

It can be baffling when it seems that no matter how hard you try you can’t seem to hang in there long enough to see your goals to fruition.

The truth is, often what we use as our muse is not strong enough to maintain our commitment. The pull is not strong enough to inspire us to continue to push.

I heard someone say recently your goal should be enough to inspire you to push, to commit, to follow through.

Fundamentally, one has to be inspired on a much deeper level.

I challenge you to dig deep and find a strong reason for wanting to achieve the particular goal you have chosen. Choose a muse that will continue to inspire you long after the ethereal feeling of starting something new has worn off and you are in the trenches getting down and dirty.

 

Often times in life it seems as if some things are certain. Things such as our breathing, mobility,  and heartbeat.

We move about and plan with an assurance that there will be a tomorrow and that all the factors will align permitting us to do what is necessary to carry out our goals.

It is almost safe to say that many of us walk about a great deal of time feeling invincible, immortal, and untouchable. And often our actions reflect this type of thinking, lending us to act below a certain threshold and perform below a certain standard.

Thus, we achieve much less than we could.

There is an evident lack, a gap in the level of passion we exhibit as opposed to that we would assume if we kept in mind our mortality.

Consider if we planned and acted as if we understood that time is limited, life is short, and we are merely mortal.

Imagine the outcome, if we moved and performed as if all we had was today, perhaps the level of our achievement would rise beyond all that we have ever expected or could fathom possible.

As Author Robin Sharma suggests ” Connect with your mortality. Understand that your days are numbered. Keep the shortness of life at the forefront of your focus. Don’t put off your happiness until you have more time, or you get the promotion, or you have more money in the bank. Tomorrow is a promise, not a fact. Enjoy every morning and appreciate each day you have on earth. (297)

 

Sharma Robin. (2018).  The 5Am Club: Own Your Morning Elevate Your Life. Harper Collins.

Treasures are things that we hold dear to us and close to our hearts.  They are things that we as individuals place extreme value on. But they don’t necessarily carry the same valuation to others.

Wise men are careful with their treasures.  They know not everyone has mutual respect for the treasures of others. So they guard those things most valuable with extreme care.

There are many treasures that an individual may have, some material and other immaterial. However, the most valuable treasures are the immaterial ones, the ones that can’t be held with the hand but are held in the heart. Treasures, such as your dreams and goals, they are irreplaceable.

Goals and dreams are distinct treasures. They are extremely valuable because they represent your most intimate desires and are outflows of the heart and soul. Those goals and dreams represent who you are and intend to be. It will take some of your most intense energy and a wealth of resources to fulfill them. You pour all of yourself into making your dreams a reality.

Treat your dreams as invaluable. Recognize the value of your dreams and goals, and choose wisely who to share them with.

Only share your goals and dreams with people that you are sure will share in and help you reach your highest potential.

By all means, don’t expect everyone to value your dreams and goals.

Don’t expect everyone to get it or to get you.

Guard your goals and your success as you would the most valuable of jewels.

Don’t let anyone destroy them. In destroying them they are seeking to destroy you.

 

Light is important to achievement

Light illuminates and makes everything a little bit clearer.

The right light provides the clarity needed to make the changes necessary to improve and grow to newer levels

Sometimes people go through life not ever really knowing why they are not excelling beyond a certain point.

To them, everything appears clear.

They have checked off all the checklists.

They have executed plans perfectly.

Yet, still, there is no progress

From every angle, it seems as if there is nothing that has been left out.

This is not the case

Sometimes we simply are not seeing as clearly as we think

 

Our vision is actually clouded and the light from which we are looking at things is simply too dim.

The sad thing is, sometimes we don’t even realize that our vision is dimmed

And, even when it seems that we are seeing things clearly, we are not seeing them as clearly as we should.

We need different lighting to ensure that we are on the right track, and this may require a change.

You may have to go to another place, talk to different people, change your patterns of behavior. Whatever the case you have to get a new perspective.

Often a change in light (perspective) is what you need to get you to the next level to elevate your progress.

Seeing things in a new light changes things,  it is transformative.

This was a lesson that I have recently learned.

Not too long ago, I underwent a change in my life. This change brought a new light that helped me to see things with more clarity. When my eyes were open by this new light I was astonished. All at once I felt as if I could finally see things clearly as I had been deprived of actual, real, illuminating light for quite some time.

Before the change, I was convinced that I was doing a great job, convinced what I was doing was working. I was convinced that my outputs were brilliant. I was proud of all my efforts.

From that current perspective, I had every right to be proud.

After the change, I saw more. I had a clearer vision. I saw that from that point of change my outputs were subpar at best. In the new light what I had done before was simply not good enough.

I felt sad that from my past perspective I could not see the flaws, that the light that I was using to look at things was so dim, that I took pride in things that were subpar.

What I really needed was a new perspective a new way to see things so that I could rise beyond where I was.

Now that I see different, I know different, I am challenged to do different and be better.

So I challenge you to take time to inspect your goals and accomplishments in a different light so that you can live up to your full potential.