Courage takes many forms, sometimes it seems great and sometimes it’s long in coming through for us.
I wonder what example you may have of courageous exploration in your life?
Please post if you are so inspired.

I wrote some thoughts of mine today and shared them with some friends. I will post them here as food for thought.

Courage is:
Admitting the worst,
Being willing to strive for the best,
Accepting failure, even when it is great,
Being willing to continue on.
Admitting that you fear being so unworthy that those around you will tire of helping you, meeting with you or worst stop caring,

… and still showing up in life.

With appreciation and Love to those who’ve encouraged me in life,
Dan

Watching the Olympics and noting with fascination, anticipation and appreciation the slalom skiing competition. Enjoying the great efforts.
Reality check, too. I asked a Russian speaking man I know, “Are you watching the Olympics?” He said, “No, I’m watching Ukraine.” (He’s from Ukraine and glued to the events taking place there). May they work things out as peacefully as possible.
Love,

Moving forward has its upside and its downside. One moves into new endeavors, pushing ahead to learn new skills, try things one hasn’t yet learned before, and moves onto new accomplishments, however, there are also challenges that come with the development of new skills. As one encounters the inevitable pushes and pulls involved in stretching yet further, one may hear oneself say “Why me?” or “I’m too busy to …” or “Will I be able to…?” This seems to be a normal part of the process as one acquires new skills. Being patient with oneself may be in order. I suspect that until the new skills are developed and one’s abilities catch up to the needs in the new endeavor, old patterns will continue to emerge. Gently we can say to ourselves, “That’s okay. This too will pass.”
May we all be encouraged to endeavor to learn new skills fully aware that with this growth will come challenges, and that we can overcome these challenges with perseverance. It won’t be easy, but then again, that is the nature of new learning.
Please share in what ways you react when you are learning new skills and are challenged in your life.

Today I saw the movie “Twelve Years a Slave.” Hard to give a response. I cried. May you you all have your own. I love people. I Love learning. May we all explore.
In loving kindness
Dan

This year as in any year on February fifth sales tax reports were due. We filed on February 2nd. Also on April fifteenth taxes are due. We filed on February 7th. This is no accident. I set a goal and achieved it. I put out to the universe that I’d be ready by February 7th, made an appointment with our accountant and met the goal. I never used to be able to do this. I have been building this skill oner the last five or more years. It takes time. I needed to forgive myself for the times when I did not follow through. Following through, thankfully, is becoming more the norm. May I continue to learn. May all beings benefit from positive endeavors as we all reach to achieve great things. In loving kindness and with a spirit of metta in my heart. Today, I am watching the Olympics with my inspiring partner, and we are inspired by the achievements we see. So the question is:

. Are the Olympics not the most inspiring human achievement? Tell me what you think, please.There is no way around it for me. I am blown away by performances.

How’s this for a unique approach? Instead of guilt regarding failure or undue joy over achievement, how about continuing our goals into the new year?

I have found that any attainments, generally, come about as a result of sustained effort (even if at times lagging) over time. Hence, the realization today while taking a moment to pause and consider a practice put into place at least four years ago. The realization is that there is balance and a kind of equanimity available in the affirmation I use, a balance that helps me to CONTINUE to learn about not being too hard on perceived failures nor unbalanced regarding the joys that are to be had.

From this morning:

It’s New Year’s Eve 2013. About four years ago I developed for myself the mantra “Joy, Sharing, Abundance; Abundance, Sharing, Joy.” This is helping to manifest many auspicious things these days. I am fortunate to have come up with something that really resonates for me. It continues to push me to learn further and more and more into being an active, purposeful being.

It is my wish to continue this journey. I wish to honor the start that has been made and to continue learning all I can as I experience “Joy, Sharing Abundance; Abundance, Sharing, Joy.”

May I learn even better to share joy and abundance in 2014 without holding back.

Happy New Year everyone from Dan O’Brien,

Author of the Japan Series