What Keeps You From Succeeding?

If you take two seeds and plant one in a sunny window and the other outside, the one outside will always be stronger. Why? The outside plant will be blown about by wind and beaten by rain. As it resists these forces, it grows a tougher stem. The one inside may have everything it needs but without these 'challenges' it will reach for the light with a slender, easily damaged stalk.

All of us would like to have a life where everything is easy, people are good, we never get hurt and as soon as we know what God has promised us, we have it. God knows that like the plant in the window, it wouldn't help us to become strong responsible members of His family. So when you get saved, He does not whisk you away out of life with all of its problems. He could have done that you know but I firmly believe that He loves us. God knows what we need better than we do and will turn all of the stuff we have to deal with for our good.

Nameless fears do not go away. If you don't face them, they simply hang around and breed anxiety.

Yesterday on Rachel Ray's program she talked about 'do overs'. We all have those moments where we have made a choice that we wish we could take back. Maybe you said something and they didn't react as you expected. It could be something you tried and failed at. In life we don't have the luxury of pressing rewind and doing it over. But ignoring what went wrong will not make it better.

On the show, there was a lady who had missed her best friend's wedding and they had never talked about it. After 15 years, they had mended the friendship, but everytime the one lady mentioned her husband this mistake was like an elephant in the room that everyone ignored. It was only after she had apologized and both had taken time to explain what happened and how it made each of them feel that they could put it behind them.

Do you have something that you could settle if you would just face up to it? Sometimes we can't do it alone. Maybe you have to share it with someone neutral like your mate so that they can help you deal with it.

Sometimes the things that hold me back aren't hurts or disappointments or even very real financial concerns. Understand, my husband is disabled and I am dealing with some of those physical challenges that come as we age. They are challenges but they can't stop me if I won't let them.

I have found that the biggest thing that holds me back is lodged between my ears. I had to realize that the little voice I sometimes hear in my head is lying. You know the one I mean. That little guy that says you can't do whatever it is you want to do. I envy the people who seem to have been born without it. Some people always seem to be ready for anything. Such is not my nature but that doesn't mean I have to give in to it.

When people are naturally cautious, they can over analyze everything. Sometimes you have to decide that you know enough and will figure out the rest as you go along. Take the first step and see where you end up. Sometimes the path turns and you find a bridge over that thing that looked so troubling at the start.

Squidoo lenses are like that. You may not know exactly what you want to put on them but you can edit them later. I had one that got as far as the title and just never seemed to develop. I let it sit a while and finally realized the title needed to be a subtitle and this lens was the result :0)