Oftentimes we can be reminded of the next steps we need to take repeatedly. We know that it’s the next step. We can feel our instinctual bones wrap about that next step. It’s obvious to us that it’s the next step. Yet, we hesitate, mostly out of our fears. Our fears question whether that is the next step, and sow the seeds of doubt, no matter how obvious it is to us that it’s the next step that we must take. Not want. Not wish. But must, because the steps we have already taken are quickly disappearing beneath us because those steps have already been mastered.

Every day when you wake up, life offers a new lesson to take you to the next step, even if it’s only a small inch forward. Life is designed to completely immerse you in a new world to teach you many different lessons. Every lesson is unique, even in a small way. Some lessons we learn through others, while others we learn on a sole quest. Yet, when you go to bed at night, you put to rest the previous days’ lessons as you prepare for the next set of lessons the next day. So, honor who you are today because tomorrow you will be a different person.

Too often in today’s world we become consumed with overcoming big steps to make big moments. We believe everything needs to be on a grand scale; that we need to make these big steps in order to achieve the big goals that we have. However, most of the time when we intentionally take these big steps, we trip and fumble our way through them. The only thing the self is learning at that point is how to trip. Often, the more prudent approach is to take smaller steps to achieve bigger moments. In this, we are honoring each and everything we do and we recognize the importance of these smaller moments.

There are two types of fighters in the world: those who know how to take a punch and keep getting up, and those who avoid getting punched. Which one are you? The fighter who is always getting punched learns from being resilient and determined. They can fail, but they continue to get back up and fight on. They may initially fail at their objective, but they quickly try again after learning the lessons on what causes the initial mistakes. On the other hand, an individual who avoids the punches, thinks methodically about how to overcome a difficult challenge. They have done their homework and their math and often are seen as “having a knack” at something or “it comes naturally” to that individual.

It is difficult to remind ourselves, while consumed with a difficult situations, that we are walking away from the experience with newfound lessons and knowledge. Often while we are engaged in the situation we are angry, anxious, or even depressed. No other situation can achieve all of these emotions such as losing a dear loved on from a death. Just as one who newly discovers that their death is imminent, so too do the family and friends who surround the dying also goes through their own process of death. However, how much of an impact it has on those around the dying person, depends on how deep that relationship goes. Although all death is mourned in some fashion, there is a big difference between morning the death of someone who we met a week prior and morning the death of someone we’ve known for years.

We have all come across individuals who have done us wrong. Perhaps they took advantage of you or did something to intentionally harm you. However, does this mean we should remain perpetually angry at them? Does this mean we should be allowed to become spiteful towards them? Does it even mean we need to continue having a relationship with this individual? The answer is no, no, and no.

There is a very important question that should be asked and answered: what is the difference between the Spiritual Self providing advice, and the Mental Self providing direction. Although, both have its own important place in your life, both demands that time be spent on their “projects” more so than the others. So, what is the difference?

If we think about a child with a security blanket that he or she carries around dutifully basically everywhere they go, we can use that analogy to describe harbored energy that grown adults carry with them much like the security blanket. For adults when we hold onto certain emotions or energies, even if they are negative, we feel safer with them around as opposed to if we simply let them go. Spirit recognizes that should these emotions or energies be forcefully removed from us, it could cause some traumatic backlash. Therefore, Spirit never forces us to let a situation go. Yet Spirit will always encourage us to outgrow these emotions or energies.

We often find ourselves jumping at the opportunity to tell someone who has done us wrong how we feel about what it is that they did. Usually when this occurs, we can feel the adrenaline coursing through our veins. Our hearts beat faster. Our eyes feel as though they are bulging out of our heads. We’re angry at the individual because of how they made us feel and what they did to us. However, as natural as those feelings are, before we can properly address or confront that individual in a more productive and positive manner, we must first deal with the height of those emotions.