THIS IS KINDNESS BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Sometimes You have to Suck It Up and Do It Yourself
Oh, I am sorry, is this something that makes you uncomfortable? I know. It should. I know that you know what I am saying.
This doesn’t sound like the Social-Emotional Caring that we are being told about, but it is true. People can help us through many of our life’s journeys. There are also times when no one can help, and you need the courage and motivation to do the hard thing and, well, do it. Prepare yourself mentally and physically for these challenges. Begin now. It is sometimes too late if you wait until you need the armor to start putting it on.
It is important for us to learn to self-motivate. It needs to come from within, because there are times no one but you can do this. When my kids would tell me, “but that isn’t fair”. I would tell them it is important to know life is not fair”. There will always be someone who thinks they are getting the short end of the stick. This is when you step up, pull on that armor, and with determination, move on. Can you do anything about it? Then let it go. If you can and will, then do it. Be prepared.
Don’t get stuck. Use your own power. You probably know the story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, if not, spoiler alert. Dorothy is told by the good witch that she has had the power all along. All she has to do is click her ruby slipper heals together and she can go home. Which she does do. I sometimes wonder if those shoes could also take her other places. Hmmm? Maybe that is a story for you to write. The point is, she had the power all along.
I am telling you now that you too have power that you have never tapped into. In Indiana Jones, the character has to step off into the unknown. He knows the bridge is supposed to appear from some prophecy, but until he takes that step, it won’t. This is called commitment; burning the bridges; etc. Or another example is the father and son walking to the train station. The boy is concerned because he does not have a ticket. His father tells him he will have what he needs when they get there.
Life is like this as well. You may have a lot of anxiety over a path you are being forced to take. You may want someone to carry you, but this is a path you must take, and no one can do it for you. You can’t take a pill; you can’t pay someone else to do it. This is on you now. No one ever said these journeys will be easy; they say it will be worth it.
Most people don’t regret things they said or did as they lie dying. They usually regret the things they didn’t do. We get so wrapped up in what other people tell us we should want or do from people who did what they were told to do. First of all, stop it! Life is truly a wonderful place when we put on our armor and take the journey.
What should your armor be made of? What is its purpose? The design should reflect what is needed for your journey my friend. Olympians know this. There are reasons groups and clubs and armies have uniforms for instance. They are recognized by others in their group. They are provided visual honors to remind them of their accomplishments. A little strip of color on the chest, or a patch on the arm and so on. Sometimes, people get a tattoo as a reminder. Sometimes, they get a tattoo because a friend thought it would be ‘cool’. Your armor needs to be about you and how you will relate to the journey and not your friend. It should be something that gives you the motivation to do what needs to be done and not take you to some kind of victimhood. The patches, tattoos, pins, etc. need to be a positive influence on how you will relate to the world. Create an armor that will bring out the best in you. If it makes you feel your power, then you are heading in the right direction.
There are many people scrambling around at the base of the mountain and very few at the top. There is room for you up there, or you can sit around at the bottom always wondering what that view at the top looks like in real life.
Cheers
