Don't leave any leaf unturned.

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I know that the original line says not to leave any stone unturned, but truth be told, I love the fall and leaves, and this picture just spoke to me.  That being said, whether we are talking stones or leafs, the end result is the same: doing everything possible to get the desired outcome.

When it comes to seeing one's dreams come to fruition or walking out a vision of something you desire in your life, there is never going to be a time when you don't control the outcome.  There will be countless ways that things will be made known to you.  These ideas, thoughts, feelings might come in a myriad of ways, but they will come I assure you.  Your one responsibility is to recognize them when they do appear, and to do something with the information that you receive.  I have witnessed those who have in fact gotten everything they need to achieve their goals, and yet they never seem to do anything with those things that have been handed to them.  This is such a shame and so avoidable.

As you know by now I have had my share of knock downs in my life.  I have also had my share of successes, and of course success feels much better than failure, but each has a part to play in how we see things, how we handle situations, and ultimately where we end up.  The key to almost anything in life is realizing that you have to do something if you want any type of result.  If you sit around waiting for things to be perfect, waiting for others to do what you are supposed to do, or simply waiting for that miracle to appear, I can assure you that you will be spending a whole lot of extra time  and nothing is going to be accomplished.  When we talk about not leaving anything unturned we are simply stating that you need to look at everything and then make a decision on what to do.  The key is always making a decision.  I would much rather have the decision making power resting with me rather than resting with someone else, who quite frankly doesn't have a clue to what I really desire.  When you give over the ability to make decisions to someone else you are just asking for trouble.

There will come a time when you will try to do something and that something will not quite have the results you were hoping for.  In this moment you are going to have to make a decision.  Now you can let failure stop you thereby giving up any hope of having what you truly desire, or you can move forward knowing that you have another opportunity to have what you want.  There will be times when you should have zigged instead of zagged.  There will be times when you should of turned left and not right.  There will even be times when you should have waited for a while and you choose not to.  It really doesn't matter if things go right the first time, what matters is that you allow there to be a second time, and if need be a third and forth.  Quitting is the only thing that can stop you from achieving your dreams: well quitting and simply not believing in your dreams.  When you loose the desire to achieve your dreams I can tell you with one hundred percent accuracy and assurance that you will never have to worry about achieving anything.  This is not the place I want to be, but sadly it is the place that many people end up because they have given up.

How bad do you want the things you are dreaming about or those things that you have a desire for?  I can ask that question to you a gazillion times, but you are the only one who can make the determination of what you truly want and if in fact you are willing to go after those things closest to you.  If you make the determination that nothing is going to stop you from achieving your dreams then you are going to have to realize that there can not be a stone or leaf left unturned.  Beneath each and every stone or leaf is a tad bit of information that is going to help you along your journey.  It may seem like a inconsequential bit of information, but when it is all said and done those tiny bits of info are the things that will finalize what you have been wanting.

I know there are people who are looking for answers, but at the same time they are setting down conditions for how they will get the information they desire.  If the information does not come to them in the way they think it should, they simply ignore it.  If the information is not presented in a way they deem correct, then they ignore the information.  If the information is somehow contrary to what they have already planned, well they more than just ignore it, they discount it, they belittle it, and worst of all they know better than it.  Hey, we're human, and there will come a time when each of us will decide not to follow guidance that really was put right in front of us.  I've done it, you've done it, and honestly it will probably happen again in the future.  The big lesson to be learned is not to do it.  There will be times when you get very valid information, and then you will need to decide when to use it, and how to use it.  There is nothing wrong with being cautious, but don't let caution derail your plans because you let caution turn to doubt.

Be open to different signs. Be open to different ideas.  Just be open to receive what the universe wants you to receive.  I know people who will beg for answers and then when they get them decide it wasn't what they wanted to hear so they disregard everything.  No one ever said you were going to get the answer you want, but if you ask the universe for an answer you will get it.  It will come to you in a lot of different ways, you just need to accept that.  Once again if you really want something in life, are you really going to discount what is given to you simply because it may not be in the form or way you thought it would be?  Don't be foolish, be open and in that openness you will have all you need, when you need it.

There are a lot of stones and leafs out there, and each one has something for you so start turning them over.  Discovering an answer is sometimes more thrilling then the answer itself.

Ride the Crest.

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Now I'm not a surfer, but even I know that the place to be is on top of the wave and not below it. Riding the crest of a wave must be thrilling.  I can't do it, but that's only because I haven't tried it.  I can remember as a kid watching the surfing contest from Hawaii and just sitting there in amazement at the size of the waves and the how those people could do what they did.

Life is kind of like that wave; heck you had to know there was an analogy in there somewhere.  Anyhow, life is like a wave, and just like a surfer desires to remain on top of the wave, so to must we as humans make the decision to stay above things in life.  Just what those things are is dependent on what you are doing or what you are facing.  The first thing you have to understand is that you dictate how you will see things in life and how you handle the different situations that each of us face each and every day.  If you are the type to always see doom and gloom then it's a good bet that your day is going to be filled with challenges and difficulties.  If on the other hand you realize the beauty that is life, and that you are here for a specific reason, well then, you will find yourself always riding the crest of the wave.

Let me draw you a picture and see if what I'm saying makes sense.  Picture yourself gliding on top of one of those monstrous waves in Hawaii.  Some of those behemoths are 30 to 40 feet high, and  you're riding the crest but you know that sooner or later you are going to have to make a move.  If you make the right move you will shoot the tunnel and come out a winner.  If you make the wrong move you are going to have thousands of gallons of water coming down right on top of you.  I've been swamped by a wave a few times in my life and the last thing you want to do is get hit by one and not be prepared.  When that wave is about to hit you take a huge breath, brace yourself for the blunt force, and just hope that you come back to the surface.  When you are underwater it seems like everything is in slow motion, and it's hard to get your bearings straight.  Now think for a moment some of the challenges you have faced in life.  Often you take a deep breath, things tend to be in slow motion, and hell no one seems to be able to keep their bearings straight.  The similarities are uncanny.

Now I'm trying to be light hearted about the whole thing, but let's face it there are some things in life that we face that are anything but light hearted.  There are times when the pressure of life is so intense that it feels like a giant wave is crushing down on you and you can't seem to get a breath of air.  This is not the place that most people want to find themselves in, but alas, this is the place that many people find themselves in on an almost daily basis.  So how is it that there are those who can continue to ride the crest of the wave, while others are constantly falling beneath the surface having to hold their breath and just praying that they get back to the surface?  It all starts with how you see yourself and whether or not you understand the reason you are here.

When a surfer starts out on a wave do you think they picture themselves just being beaten up by the wave, or do they in fact see themselves conquering it?  My guess is that they see themselves riding it safely to shore and then they get right back out there to do it again.  If you have been beaten up by the surf the better part of the day my guess is that you will put the board away and come back another day, if you come back at all.  And this is what I see in so many people's lives.  Those who are successful see their success.  Those who are defeated seem to live in that defeat and almost take comfort in it.  I don't know about you, but to me defeat sucks and I want to stay as far away from it as possible.  The question then arises:  how do you escape defeat or how do you conquer it?  You conquer it by first understanding that defeat is often brought about by our own words, thoughts and feelings.  If you constantly bemoan everything in life and are always stating that things will go wrong, then how can you expect any other outcome?  If on the other hand you see yourself as victorious in all things, then victory is almost assured, assuming you never fall victim to words of doubt, feelings of fear, and thoughts of dread.

Riding the crest in life is nothing more than accepting the fact that you are indeed a divine being, and with that divinity knowing that all things are as they need to be.  I have been buffeted by life in the past, but it wasn't until I finally believed in who and what I was that things began to turn around and I was able to stay above the water's surface and see life in a different way.  Trust me, riding the crest of a wave is far more enjoyable then having to hold your breath and hoping against hope that you make it back to the surface.

Surfers, those who have been doing it for a while, know what waves to tackle and what waves to leave alone.  Their experience of the past has prepared them to know which wave to choose and which ones to stay far, far away from.  If you can learn from your past, then you can stay away from those things that would love to take you below the water's surface.

Riding the crest of a wave is invigorating, it is thrilling, and it is the preferred way of doing things.  Knowing what to do, when to do it, and how to do it, comes with experience.  If you want to experience the thrill of life, then learn from others who have already done things, and don't always try to re-invent the wheel.  I have long held the belief that I would rather have the help of others then try to do it all by myself.  If you want to learn to surf talk to a surfer who has done it for a while and learn from them.  If you want to learn about life, then talk to those who have done it for a while and learn from them.  Trust me, life can be a whole lot easier if you do it the right way.

In a land of Giants

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Has there even been a time in your life when you just felt small?  I mean, you felt as though everything and everyone around you was bigger than life, and there was no way for you to measure up to them?  Try as you might there just wasn't anyway for you to compete with those around you, at least that's what you thought.

Society and the conditioning of man has a way of making people feel small. Most of this is because inside many people is a feeling of smallness, and the only way for them to feel better about themselves is to transfer those feelings to others, in an attempt to make them feel less about them, and better about themselves.  There is only one way to combat these emotions and that is to understand the beauty and significance of who you really are.  Once you understand just how phenomenal you are I promise you that even in a Land of Giants you will tower over everyone else.

I have observed people who get all of their worth from the position they may hold at the time.  They are what they do.  God help those people if they ever loose that position because they would have nothing to claim as their own and life as they know it will crumble into a million tiny little pieces.  If you cannot see yourself as significant without all the trappings of a big fancy job, then even when you do process such things you will still not have a clue as to the real you.

Greatness, true greatness, starts from within.  Greatness is not based on the square footage of your corner office on the top floor of the Corporate Headquarters.  Greatness is measured in the size of, and your own understanding, of your heart.  Society has sold most people a bill of goods in making them think that success is measured in the job you have, or the stuff you might have accumulated over the years.  There are so many people who gain their self worth by obtaining stuff.  Problem arises when they have to get rid of that stuff, and as it is rolling down the street so is their self worth.  In a Land of Giants, stuff means very little as giants could smash all of your hard earned bobbles into tiny little worthless pieces.

I know of very few people who have not been faced with obstacles in their life.  How one sees these obstacle is in direct correlation to how they see themselves.  If you see yourself as small then these obstacles will almost appear insurmountable.  If on the other hand you see yourself as Spirit sees you, then the pitfalls and setbacks in life will be nothing more then a minor nuisance.  So let me ask you: how do you see yourself?  Are you a giant or are you just a tiny little speck on the butt of humanity?

You were not created to be just an "insignificant" nobody.  You were created to have dominion over all things.  Now let me clarify:  I'm not saying you were put here to dominate others.  That is nothing but ego and pride and quite frankly I have no room in my life for those who want to dominate others simply because if makes them feel superior.  The heart of a person who desires to be of service to others is never focused on ruling, but rather supporting and helping others become what they were destined to become.  I cannot stand those who stand around feeling superior to others.  We are all equal without regard to what one has, what one does, or even where one might end up.  Superiority is not measured in status or wealth, but rather a knowing that there is a purpose for you being here.

I have known many, many people who all they care about is being better then everyone else.  Most of these people are masking insecurities.  Many of these people have to maintain this image of superiority because without it, they really are nothing.  Be honest, you know people like this, and if you are anything like me it sickens you.  I love people and I desire that everyone know the real them. It bothers me when others try to make others feel small just so they can feel better about themselves.  God you can smell this garbage a mile away, and I try to stay as far away from this type of stench as I can.  Don't get me wrong, I will still try to help those who think they are better then others, but I will admit that I have to hold my nose from time to time.

Until such time as you can recognize and accept who you are, you will always be trying to hide from the giants.  Until such time as you can grasp your own true identity, you will always be looking for that big giant foot to come down on top of you, crushing you and any dreams you might have.  Are you going to start living equally with the giants, or are you going to continue to run and hide from them because of how you perceive them and how you see yourself?  You are who you were always intended to be.  You are unique, special, and every bit as phenomenal as anyone else walking the planet today.  When you can begin to see yourself in this light, then the giants that have been hovering about you will all of a sudden shrink down to your size and all those things that you once feared will simply fall away.

It is time for you to take your rightful place, and that place is one where you will reign over a land where others look to you for guidance, for understanding, and for love.  When you can display this type of majesty, then you will no longer be running from others, but running to them, to share what you know, what you feel, and who you are.  Get out there and share you with the rest of the land, and slay those giants.

Too Little, Too Late? Never!!!

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It's never too late to change things up.  It's never to late to try something new.  It's never to late to do the right thing.  Quite frankly, it's never too late to step out into your destiny and accept the one thing you were always intended to be.

I've known so many people in my life who feel as though life has passed them by and what's the point of working yourself into a frenzy just to be smacked down again by those around you.  I'm kind of an expert when it comes to being smacked down, but I've also become quite the professional at getting back up and then kicking the crap out of those who want me to stay down.

I don't believe in the premise of "Too little, too late".  I feel as though you will be given every opportunity there is to discover why you are here right now, and what it is you are supposed to do with your life.  The plans I had for my life when I was younger seem to pale in comparison with those that I have now.  My earlier plans were laced with pride and arrogance.  They were all about me, and what my success would look like to those around me.  I wasn't interested in helping humanity, I was only interested in obtaining power and then using that power to get what I wanted.  I have no doubt that I could have achieved all of that, but when I look back on life I am so stinking happy that things didn't work out like I had wanted way back then.

If I told you that you could do anything you wanted, be anything you wanted, and it didn't matter what other people thought, how would you feel?  If I told you that you could have the desires of your heart, how would you feel?  If I told you that it's never too late to step out into your True Destiny, would it bring a tear to your eye?  The honest truth is that it doesn't matter what others think, or say, or even feel: what matters is what you think, say, or feel.  I know how frustrating life can be when you seem to be stuck in a dead end job.  I know what it feels like when others around you seem to keep pushing you down, never allowing you to become or do what is in your heart to do.  I know all too well what it feels like to want something so bad, so deep, and yet you don't have the foggiest notion of how to get there.  Here's my question to you:  is this the place you want to remain, or are you willing to do something to get out of this trap and start doing what truly will make you happy?

We tend to live on a time schedule that man determines.  Time means nothing when it comes to destiny.  Forget about time!  When we live our life according to other's standards of time we are only setting ourselves up for failure and let's face it, failure sucks.  I'm going to say something again that I have said hundreds of times already:  time is an illusion.  We only set ourselves up for additional failure when we fall victim to time.  You have to start believing that you are perfection, and in that perfection time is meaningless.  When you base your life on what others think, or tell you is right and proper, you are allowing others to dictate your actions, and there is only one thing that can come from that, it's called controlled chaos.

Take a look around you at those people who continually tell you what you should be doing.  Do these people seem happy, or is their attempt at telling you what to do covering up their own insecurities in life?  It seems to me that those who want to always offer you advise are the same people who are stuck in that dead end job, or have given up on their dreams and visions.  It's easy to offer up advise and judgment when you have nothing to loose.  Do you really need to heed the advise of those who can't seem to find the real them?

It has taken me years to get to the point I am at right now.  Had I followed the good intentions of others, I still would be lost and I would have undoubtedly given up on my dreams.  People love to control other people because maybe it gives them a sense of superiority. People love to crap on the ideas of others because maybe they feel guilty that they never went after their own dreams.  I have seen others who are so filled with envy and jealousy over the success of others that they are spitting bullets.  If you cannot be happy for the success of others around you I will bet you dimes to donuts that you have yet to see any real success in your life.

The time has come to lay the ax to the root of that which has limited you, slowed you down, or kept you boxed into a life that you were never intended to be boxed into.  It is never too late to walk in your destiny.  You might be saying you are too old to do it now: knock it off!  You're only too old if you allow yourself to feel you're too old.  If it is pity you are looking for, let me tell you, you won't get it from me.  What you will get from me is someone who will tell you to take a chance and forget about the past.  If you want things to change up in your life, then you are going to have to change up the things you have always done.  You can't sit there and complain that things are getting no better, when you are not doing anything differently then what you have done in the past.

It's never too late to go after your dreams.  If you still have dreams that come to you, that you think about, then you still have time to go after them.  Trust me, you will only stop dreaming when you stop breathing.  You may not follow your dreams, you may not believe in your dreams, you may run from your dreams, but I assure you, you will never stop dreaming until the day you die.

Do yourself a favor and realize that it is never too late to do something, even if that something is tiny and would seem inconsequential, at least you're putting it out there.  When you take action, things come back to you, and when things come back you begin the cycle again.  Get out there and do something, and watch as things change up for you.  It's never too late, never ever.

Take a walk on the wild side.

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If you're ever going to go anywhere, do anything, be something, you're going to have to get wild.  If you're ever going to discover your True Destiny, then you're just going to have to give up on traditional wisdom and take a walk on the wild side of life.

"Who are you kidding:  why would I want to take risk, especially when my livelihood is dependent on it?"  "Right, just throw wisdom out the door, are you crazy?"  Well maybe I am and maybe I'm not, but I'll take crazy over man's conventional wisdom any day.  Now before you go off half cocked hear me out:  I am not saying not to use common sense in what you do. I am speaking about falling prey to what man says is normal in life.  We've talked about this so many times in the past: you are not slave to the conditioning of man, period, end of story.  Your path to walking in your destiny is not dependent on what man thinks is prudent, wise, or even common place.  Your path is just that your path, and nothing that anyone else says or does is going to alter the path you have to go on.  That being said, if you are going to go on this journey, why not make the most of it and enjoy the hell out of it while you're getting there?

I'm thinking back on many of the achievements man has made on my short time on this planet.  I'm not quite sure how we survived life before the invention of the smart phone, the IPad, or any other of the modern day marvels most everyone has available to them.  I do know this: each one of these devices began with an idea, and then someone ran with it.  Conventional wisdom would say that prudence is required when trying something new, something revolutionary, something unheard of.  OK, if conventional wisdom says to hold back, what does your gut tell you?  Does your intuition tell you that you should wait it out, and once all the planets line up perfectly you can begin to investigate this glorious idea of yours?  Let me tell you, if you wait for all the planets to line up perfectly, someone else is going to beat you to the punch, and then you are going to be left holding an empty bag of ideas.  Please forgive me for being crude, but just get off your ass and do something with those things that are running around your brain.  Trust me, sitting around waiting for a miracle to open up in front of you so you can do what is in your heart to do is just stupid.  Don't misunderstand: I believe in miracles, but I also believe that things will begin to happen miraculously when you start something.

Let me ask you this simple question:  is what you have done so far worked?  I mean, if you are still waiting for things to begin to happen with your dreams and stuff, how long are you going to wait?  Take a walk on the wild side and maybe just maybe things will begin to click and then watch as your view of things changes up.

When I talk to people about destiny I am amazed at the people who will resonate with what I am saying.  I would say that 8 out of 10 people I talk to agree with my thoughts.  The remaining 20% wouldn't recognize destiny if it were a snake biting them on the Arse!   Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, destiny is not something that you have to worry about.  Your destiny is already inside of you.  You simply have to take it, and do something with it.  If you ever plan on getting to the promised land, then you are going to have to take a walk on the wild side.  If you spend all your time playing with all the other people who refuse to step out, then you are simply wasting time.  The tame side of things is nothing more then a smoke screen created by those who haven't the guts to step out into their destiny.

If you are still doing the same old thing day in and day out, is there any reason not to change things up and take a walk on the wild side?  If you are content with your place in life, and I mean total contentment, I applaud you, and I share in your joy.  If on the other hand you fall into the remaining 80% of the population that has yet to discover the joys of living and walking in their destiny, maybe it's time to get wild.  Certainly those around you may talk, they may feel you have gone off the deep end, but who cares?  It's your destiny that matters, not theirs.  You are always going to have the doubters, the haters, the one's so blinded by envy that they are going to do anything to derail you.  Stay clear of all these types and just be who you were intended to be.

Take a walk on the wild side of life and see if this new way of doing things doesn't become the norm for you.  Get moving my darlings, there is much to do, much to experience, and the sooner you start, the better things will become.  I love walking on the wild side, and when you try it, you will love it too.

The true measure of a person.

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What is the true measure of a person?  Is it the job they have, the house they live in, or is it something completely different?  How you answer these questions is going to depend on how you see yourself in relation to the rest of the planet.  If you only see yourself as an insignificant person, only taking up space and just waiting for the world to come to an end, then my guess is you would say that success is solely based on position, processions, and other worldly things.  If on the other hand you realize the significance of your being here, that you in fact are a master of your domain, then you will see the true measure of a person as what that person is doing for the rest of humanity.

I've known many people in my life who had the abilities to do whatever they desired, but what they lacked was the will or desire to do for others.  They had been taught the value of a dollar, but in that teaching there was a vital part of the puzzle missing:  that which you do to the least among you.   We live in a world today where many have forgotten that giving and loving, sharing and caring, are benchmarks of those who truly love life, who understand the meaning of humanity, and who desire everyone to experience life to the fullest.

I do not begrudge someone from being successful and having all the spoils of that success.  I work hard for what I have, but I freely give because quite frankly I have been blessed beyond measure when it comes to what I do.  If I decided to keep my gifts all to myself what good would that do the rest of the world?  If I decided to keep all of my processions, simply because I earned them, what does that say to the rest of the population?  I give not because I have a lot to give, I give because that is my nature, and my nature is reflective of the nature of the one that created me.  Trust me, I have freely given even when that meant going without myself.  I'm not telling you this to solicit sympathy or words of praise.  I'm telling you this because I want you to begin to think about the things you are doing, and the reason behind doing them.  If you are trying to take over the world simply to be remembered for it, then you are doing it for the wrong reason.  If you are attempting to do something great because it will benefit the rest of the world, then by all means move forward, and let me know how I can help you achieve your goal.

The true measure of a person is how deeply do you love your neighbor, how badly do you want to reach out and help another person in need, and how much can you give away and realize that there is still more then you could ever use in a lifetime?  The true measure of a person is the capacity to love, to nurture, to educate, and to be there for others even when it is inconvenient to do so.  I know lots of people who profess to want to help others, but that help is only going to happen if it falls into their timetable and does not upset their plans in any way.  Trust me I'm not beating those people up.  I'm sure they have a very valid reason why they do what they do, but let me ask you this:  is it always convenient to help those in need?  I can't say yes to every request made to me, there just aren't enough hours in the week, or days in the month to do so.  I will however swear to my own hurt.  If I tell someone I will do something you can take it to the bank that I will do what I say I will do.  I have always believed that you let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

 There are going to be times in your life when you are not going to be able to help someone.  That's OK.  There have been plenty of times in my life that I wished I had more money to do for someone.  I guarantee if I had the money I would have given it.  What I had to learn was that it was OK not to be the one to help.  There are plenty of other people out there with the means to help others, you don't have to be the only one doing good things.  There is a huge difference between being willing to do something and just not recognizing the need.  If you don't have the means to financially help someone, that doesn't mean you are less a person.  Your hearts desire is what is important, not the actual act itself.  There are plenty of people who have an over abundance and yet are stingy with their bounty.  Conversely there are people out there who have very little, but they do find ways to be givers, because that is their nature.

The true measure of a person is not what you do, what you give, but what is in your heart to do.  The true measure of a person is not measure in dollars and cents, minutes and hours, or even months and years.  The true measure of a person is how much do you love your fellow man, and just how important is it to you that they find happiness and love?  It's great to have the nice house, the fancy car, the never ending list of toys to play with, but at the end of the day all that stuff is going to fall apart and there is nothing you will be able to do about it.  However, that smile that you shared with that stranger the other day, now that is something that will eventually travel around the world.   The hug that came just at the right time to the person living down the hall, now that will pay off dividends to future generations.

It is time to get away from measuring everything in ways that we feel is appropriate.  You can't put a money figure on love.  You can't measure the weight of a caring touch, or a loving embrace.  The real important things in life are never going to be measured by how much it is worth, or what it can do for you to make your life more comfortable.  The real important things in life are priceless, and yet most of them are free.

The true measure of a person is in their capacity to love unconditionally.  I love what I do for a living, but I assure you I would still do it even if it never brought in a single penny.  I do what I do because I love it, and I want to share it with others.  I do what I do because I know that someone where down the line someone else will pick up my mantle and do the same things.  You may never know the true measure of your worth, but I can promise you this:  the rest of the world will know it.  When you give from your heart, you give to the rest of humanity.  Those gifts of love, of time, of patience, and of understanding, are fostering those same traits in others for them to give as well.  It is the cycle of love, caring, and understanding that is the true measure of a person, and quite frankly it is the true measure of any society.  It is time to teach the rest of the world just what the true measure of a person is, and you can do that by displaying each and every day.  Try it, you will like it.

I'm still standing!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85608594@N00/15053056352

As the picture in today's blog says, "A person's true nature is revealed at times of the greatest adversity."  This is such truth, and this is what separates those who have, and those who have not.

I'm sure almost everyone has had their share of adversity in life.  Some have handled it with grace, while others have shed tear after tear while going through struggles that would boggle other's minds.  The key to any successful endeavor is how you handle adversity, and if in the end of it all you can state with absolute certainly, "I'm still standing", then you will be in a very select group of people.

Adversity is something everyone is going to have to come face to face with a some point in their life. While I hope that your adversity is slight, there is always that chance that what you are facing is daunting and simply remaining upright is a feat in itself.  No matter what you might be going through there is a source of strength that you can draw from.  This strength was placed in you the moment you were created, and this strength is what has helped others before you change the face of nations.

I was out on the town the other night and as is pretty normal for me the conversations I was having with a few new acquaintances went directly to the themes of much of my writing.  It's amazing when people find out you are an author, the questions come to you at mach speed.  Don't get me wrong, I love talking about my writing and Destiny, but I've got to tell you, some of the questions I get are pretty deep, and even I have to pause to think about a response.  Anyway, I was talking about knowing the "Real" you, and I had some pretty stunned looks from those around me listening to the conversation.  It was as if they had never heard about being the real you, the authentic you, the you that was created for this particular time.  The feeling I got from this crowd, and the feeling I get from some of the groups I talk in front of, is that you are just going to have to take what is given to you in life and make the best of it.  Now I guess when you are talking about adversity in one's life it would be easy to accept this premise.  After all, look at some of the things we have done in the past when confronted with challenges.

I've had my share of adversity in life.  Now I'm not brazen enough to think that what I have gone through in life is any tougher or any worse then others around me.  When I look at my life compared to others that I know, I would say that my life has been a cake walk.  That being said, what I have gone through is completely different then what others have gone through, and how I handle adversity is going to be different then the way others handle their own problems.  The key to it all is being able to state without worry of contradiction that "I'm still standing."  I'm still kicking and breathing no matter what the world has thrown my way.  How am I able to do this?  I recognize the source of my strength.  I recognize the perfection of my design, and the perfection of me being here right now.  I recognize that I am first and foremost a creation of the Creator of the Universe, and I have within me the ability to walk in complete enlightenment.  It is only when we fall prey to the conditioning of man that our world turns upside down.  It is only when we listen to the conditioning of man that we feel as though we have to suffer in this life.  It is only when we accept the conditioning of man that we lay down and want to give up, because our struggles have become to great.

My friends, you were never intended to have to suffer the way you have been conditioned to believe. Lack, scarcity, depression, sickness, are all things that man has perpetrated on others, it was never God's plan for you.  Spirit's plan for you was for you to display the nature of who you really are, not what others have said you are.  I can sit here and tell you all day long who and what you are, but until such time as you believe it, there isn't much I can do to change the situations you might find yourself in.  Do you think that God's nature is one of lack, or scarcity?  Do you think that when the Universe was created that there was doubt when it came into existence?  If you can display the nature of God, you can overcome any adversity.  I stand on my knowing who and what I am.  I stand on the knowledge that I am created in the image of my creator.  Man did not create me, Spirit did.

So you really have two choices:  you can either follow the nature of man, or you can follow and step out into the nature of God.  One will lead you down the same old path, reliving the same old adversities, or you can go down the right path and boldly stand up and proclaim "I'm still standing."   If you're sick and tired of being sick and tired; if you're sitting around and wondering if this is as good as it gets, then maybe it's time to realize the beauty of your design and begin to accept certain truths.  When you look at past historical figures, Jesus the Christ, Buddha, they walked around in enlightenment.  You were created by the same being as they were.  It is not blasphemous to see yourself as Christ saw himself.  Christ said that greater things you will do.  How many people do you know who have done greater things?

It is time to display the nature of your creator and in doing so show the world that you are still standing.  It may take you some time to accept all this and incorporate it into you daily life, but I will promise you this:  when you do, life will take on a whole new meaning and all those things that wanted to shot you down, pull you apart, and break you down, will no longer have any power over you.  I'm still standing, and will continue to stand because I know who and what I am.  Now it is time for you to do the same.