" No Boundaries ... "

With every step you climb another mountain

With every breath it's harder to believe

You make it through the pain

Weather the hurricanes

To get to that one thing

Just when you think the road is going no where

Just when you almost gave up on your dreams

They take you by the hand and show you that you can

There are no boundaries...

There are no boundaries

You can go higher

You can go deeper

There are no boundaries above and beneath you ...

~ Adam Lambert ~ No Boundaries ~

***

Setting boundaries can be uncomfortable, but it is the most effective way to claim your power.  Boundaries are tools you can use to overcome oppression and resist negativity.  

There is a connection between healthy boundaries and self-love.  Self-love enables us to have strong boundaries and then these exact boundaries enhance our lives.  A boundary can be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual and within these four domains, we have receptive boundaries which are self- protective and expressive boundaries which are respectful of others.  

So where does the negative reaction come from ... when others think you have alienated yourself, built a wall and “have changed or seem angry”.  You see whether your boundary seems like a high and thick wall built of strong boulders with no way in, or low and weak and easily to breech ... neither of these types of boundaries serves us well.  You can ensure that no one can get in but you can also isolate yourself from possible intimacy and support.  

... our first and last love is self love ...

Maybe personal boundaries have been given a bad rap.  Personally it is not about keeping others out, or being secretive.  It is about selectively choosing ... whom you have in your life and how you spend your moments.  When you have like-minded people in your life, the boundaries don’t seem to matter.  Why? because boundaries are as important to them as they are to you.  It seems pretty simple and it really is.  Making the most of THIS life is the secret.  Always, always, always the choice is yours.  And at times when you are unsure ... sit in stillness and listen to what you already know within ...

www.walkstrong.ca

" What Did You Expect? … "

I've been here before ...

But I've learned from experience

Don't tell me that I'll be fine ...

So far gone my mind is racing, 

Back and forth I can't stop pacing, 

I won't be in sight when you realize that 

I might just have been a more stable support, 

To the life that you'll build

Take all I am ...

who I am

~ Neck Deep ~ What Did You Expect? ~

***

What do you expect of others?  Do you find yourself thinking of what others should or shouldn’t be doing?  Do you have find yourself thinking of how others should respond to you? ... of course, we all do it.

Personally I thought this was just part of our nature, we cannot help ourselves, it is just the way it is.  Because if we love someone, we are critical of what they say or do because we expect something different .. and this can be exhausting ... but it is also deliberate.  How so ... free will ... we can choose to have or not to have expectations, pretty simple.

From experience, having let go of expectations and opinions around certain people, relationships and situations has provide me the freedom to welcome what is coming ... bringing excitement and curiosity into my life.

So if it is “that” easy then why do hold on these expectations that only set us up for disappointment?  

Well, first and foremost, we believe that others think as we do.  Until we accept each others thoughts and emotions as unique imprints, specific to them, we will not be able to embrace a society with healthy differing opinions.  

Next, ask yourself if you are looking for a certain outcome.  Possibly trying to control the outcome raises expectations and sets the path for judgement.

And finally, if there is something within us we don’t care for, we usually judge that quality in others.  We crave affirmation and can get defensive if we don’t get what we want.

Ultimately detachment is the key.  

Releasing our attachment to an outcome will eliminate that need for validation.  Expectations will fall by the side and opinions won’t matter.  

We cannot control others, yet we can release our expectations of others.  This allows you to be and others to do the same ... you to accept others for who they really are ... you to stop passing judgement ... and you to accept yourself

www.walkstrong.ca

" I Deserve It … "

Many miles many roads I have traveled

Fallen down on the way

Many hearts many years have unraveled

Leading up to today ...

I have no regrets

There's nothing to forget

All the pain

Was worth it

Not running from the past

I tried to do what's best

I know that I deserve it

***

~ Madonna ~ I Deserve It ~

***

Have you ever thought about what you deserve in your life?  

And do you believe you deserve it?  

I love the saying, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” by Wayne Dyer, because we tend to get caught up in others opinions.  And this leads to making excuses as to why we don’t deserve the very best.  Think about it ... we don’t try to improve our relationship with our spouse rather we compare to much worse relationships and therefore we figure it is good enough.  Or we don’t reach for our dreams because we feel it may project selfishness.  

Realize that the only thing holding YOU back is YOU .... 

Personally, I started to make a list ... a list as to what I think I deserve, in hopes to live this code, and focus on what & whom I accept in my life.  This provides clarity, alignment and a release of what is blocking and propels me forward.  This, I believe, is in full support of the Universe.

The following is my list which I continue to add to … I Deserve ...

• GOOD HEALTH ~ my journey for the last 3 years has allowed me to take care of my body from the inside out.  I have learned a wealth of information regarding wellness, continue to do so and hope to continue to pay it forward

• LOVE ~ I am blessed to have meaningful friendships dating back to over 30 years, while others are still budding.  I am excited to meet more beautiful souls.

• PEACE ~ I support my mental health with meditation & yoga, as I am committed to keeping my practice going on my personal growth journey.

• HAPPINESS  ~ the key is to learn to live you dream ... love what you do and do what you love

• RESPECT ~ there is no room for relationships in my life that are not respectful as the serve you no purpose

• ABUNDANCE ~ I’ve developed the self-worth to know in my heart that I deserve success and abundance as equally as others

Knowing what you deserve and practicing what you deserve are two totally different things.  The bridge is ... commitment.  A commitment to yourself.  This involves times when you have to have the ability to speak up and stand your ground, say your truth because YOU now know what YOU deserve … 

" Judge Not ... "

Don't you look at me so smug

And say I'm going bad

Who are you to judge me

And the life that I live?

I know that I'm not perfect

And that I don't claim to be

So before you point your fingers

Be sure your hands are clean

Judge not

Before you judge yourself

Judge not

If you're not ready for judgement-Whoa oh oh!

~ Bob Marley ~ Judge Not ~ 

***

We all do it.  Every one of us.  We tell ourselves that we don’t want to and maybe we don’t really mean to.  But we do.  We judge people ... especially when someone keeps on doing the same annoying thing day after day.  We point out their faults and therefore judge.

To promise we won’t, In practice, it is easier said than done, yet if we honestly monitor our minds, we realize how difficult or even impossible it may be to judge nothing that occurs.  

So what is it about judging that makes it so hard to let go of?

Considering that to judge, drains our energy, is debilitating and makes us tired ... why do we feel compelled to pronounce our judgement and correct the errors of the world around us?  

Perhaps conflict and judgement are connected, and our conflict with authority is the source of all our judgements.  First, consider the authority figures in our lives ... boss, parents, teachers, etc ... then determine how we feel about them.  If they express an opinion that affects us and carries some weight with us, they can be considered an authority figure.  And depending on if we respect, fear, admire, resist or resent them, directly affects how much we value their opinion.

Oh and of course, we inadvertently learn from them too.  If their opinion matters, when they judge us, we judge us.  Then we issue our proclamation, and determine the true nature of reality ... 

but is reality truly up to us?  

So we continue the cycle and ultimately we judge others because we want to.  It establishes us as superior and validates our independent authority.  Just as previously done to us.  Basically, it builds up our ego by allowing us to perceive differences.  Allowing us to maintain our place as the ultimate authority.  We evaluate to justify our own autonomy and feel we must judge against all competitors.  We play the judgement game ... but how is our rule better than others? 

Instead, prior to judging, maybe we could ask ourselves  “Am I choosing not to know him?”.  Maybe we can chose to know the true worth of others instead of perceiving wrong in them.  

Isn’t it our choice of judgement that causes our perception? 

Realize that when you judge you are trying to be the author of reality.  Judgement imprisons you by making you into something you are not.  Striving for a peaceful existence, you can live this simply by knowing who you are ... the freedom of total acceptance just as you are, as you are in reality.