Inspiration – Page 3 – Inform and Inspire: C. W. Stratton

Self-Assessment

By, C.W. Stratton

During life we will be challenged and even forced to take a real close look at ourselves and our current position in life. Forced self-assessment can be fear provoking and overwhelming for the most part. The self-assessment can be catapulted by our interactions with our loved ones, colleagues, friends or other associates. The results of the self-assessment can bring about fear, shame, guilt and even pain; for some of us. There are those of us that may harbor these feelings to the point of feeling total defeat and not wanting to improve our situation. We tend to protect these harmful feelings and thoughts with all we have.

During our illogical phase, which can last a moment or for a significant period of time, we harm ourselves and others in the process. If our self-assessment indicates that bad decisions, behaviors or mistakes were made in our lives, we have the ability to resolve and restore. Making a bad decision doesn’t make us bad people. That decision can be transformed into a learning a experience that can help propel us to where we really want to be. The key is not to stay “stuck” in the bad decision or in the feelings that come with it. Looking within ourselves and finding the strength that we all possess to move forward is such an enlightening experience.

Looking at ourselves (our Inner-Self; is who we are) and acknowledging the natural gifts and talents that we possess is key. We have the tendency of being more focused on our personality (things outside of ourselves; family, careers, friends, material things, certain behaviors, etc.), opposed to digging deeper to look at our Inner Self. We can overcome the negative thoughts and feelings that we may have about ourselves by tapping into our natural abilities and talents that exist. There are those times where we may say we are having a bad day, but what I’ve found over time, it’s really a bad moment that I hold on to for a whole day. Self-assessment isn’t a bad thing, it an opportunity to see where change and growth need to occur.

Unique Like Everyone Else

By, C. W. Stratton

Wandering through life aimlessly is a reality for many. When asking a individual of there current position in this world, the response heard at times is, “It is what it is.” The phrase sounds cool and slick but when these words are relayed to a individual full of purpose and direction, it’s like a fingernail going across a chalkboard. There are circumstances in life that can actually be changed. Having direction, passions and goals are integral aspects of change. We must broaden our experiences in the world and with others.

Unfortunately, there are individuals who don’t recognize a need for change or improvement. Associates, friends, colleagues and even family of such individuals have difficulty pointing out, to that person, that there is a need for change or improvement in their lives. We will allow that individual to remain in the unproductive state they are in. Why is this? We either have difficulty with confrontation, we are selfish, don’t want to hurt that persons feelings, or we let that person remain where they are because it makes our mediocre existence look better than want it really is. The question posed may take time to actually answer, but I’m sure the response will fall within the realm of the aforementioned. If we were that individual who was at a “stuck point” in our lives, wouldn’t we want some assistance or guidance to move beyond that place?

Each individual creates their own existence along the way, but there may be obstacles and stumbling blocks on the path. There are those who have the capability of overcoming them and you have those who have great difficulty with these obstacles and as a result they remain stuck in that position. Can we find a genuine and sincere way to assist others? This assistance doesn’t have to be monetary in nature because a few spoken words of encouragement and direction can be of great value.

We tend to get caught up in the reality that we’ve created for ourselves and leave many people left out of behind in the process. As time passes and our circle becomes smaller, we become so encapsulated that we no longer can see beyond our own existence and not have the ability to see what actually exists outside of ourselves. In turn, when we make an attempt to step outside of our encapsulated lives, we can’t relate to the other parts of life that we’ve neglected. We’ve created an existence that’s full of “stuck points” and limitations. We prevent ourselves from expanding our learning and meaningful experiences in the world. We have separated ourselves as if we are not like others and we go as far as thinking that our experiences in this world are unique. Once we break through the barriers we have created and step outside the encapsulated reality we’ve created for ourselves, then we’ll find the truth.

Being Your True Self

By C. W. Stratton

You can find your purpose through your passions. This is a statement that was quite profound when I was first introduced to it. Looking deep within my being allowed me to acknowledge my natural passions in life. This wasn’t an easy task but I allowed myself to quiet my mind, shut off all the chatter and outside distractions to enter the next level of consciousness. It was difficult at times and even scary, but it was a necessary process. Once the peace and comfort was obtained, my ability to find the creativity and true passions began to emerge. Many of us have true passions that we don’t tap into. This may be due to our passions being unconventional or they don’t meet the status quo. This fear of tapping into our true selves can create unhappiness, discomfort, dissatisfaction and an abundance of unfinished projects in our lives. Never be afraid of who you truly are. Be yourself because everyone else is taken.

The Map Home

By C. W. Stratton

If we were to look at our lives as if it were a road-map; beginning with the past, it may appear that we are totally lost. We’ve hit dead ends, closed roads, some paths even under construction or no longer exist. We would eventually say, as we look at the map, “This makes no sense.” If we begin to look deep within ourselves with a keen eye, open mind and an open heart, we could see that every road leads somewhere. Organizing the pieces will show you how to reach your goal or destination. With this knowledge about your travels you can begin identifying the things that are most meaningful to you. Once we make an accurate identification, we can begin sorting out the barriers in the road to make a clearer path for ourselves.

Where the Leaf Lands

By C. W. Stratton

Throughout our lives we have been bombarded with information about ways to improve our lives and to be successful. Some of us have wandered through life aimlessly in hopes to find the one place we fit in. We’ve followed the direction of others but soon found out, “this isn’t a comfortable place either.” As a result, we move on to the next adventure that has been suggested to us. A continuation of these events eventually makes it appear that we’ve become “a jack of all trades.” We may have full resumes of things we’ve done in the past but taking a closer look we can find that nothing we’ve done really aligned with our inner being. Some of us engage in things for social status or to say “look who I am now” or “look what I’ve accomplished”, only to find that these things were temporary and were no longer fulfilling…superficial. Envision our lives as a leaf falling from a tree during the autumn season, it looks beautiful but the leaf will blow wherever the wind takes it; it has no direction or control of where it lands. Some of us have lived our lives accordingly to the point it has created suffering, confusion, frustration and total discontent. We as human beings have absolute control of what direction our lives go; during those dark times of our lives it may appear difficult to see. However, or inner selves possesses a light that can guide us in our pursuits. Taking time to sit with ourselves and begin searching within our core to find our passions in life is critical. All of us have something that we’re passionate about. This can transcend to a doorway for us to walk through. Although fear of the unknown and fear of change surfaces, we are safe to identify our passions; this identification becomes our foundation for our direction. Our passions will eventually lead us to our purpose.

More Doesn’t Mean Better

Placeholder Image By C. W. Stratton

We go through our present existence wanting and craving a variety of things to make us feel better or appear more than what’s actually inside. Some sit with thoughts of ways to improve their experiences in the world. Our society and culture has conditioned us to be the winner or most impressive in every given situation. The messages conveyed with regard to this conditioning has many of us seeking ways to become better, smarter or more accomplished than the next person. Being someone who’s ambitious isn’t a negative thing; having goals and dreams aren’t negatives either. What happens in many cases is that we become consumed, overwhelmed and confused with what being accomplished entails.

The very things we bring to our lives we feel will make us more accomplished and fulfilled are the things that keep us confined and unappreciative of the natural necessities of life we are given. The conditioning we’ve experienced has cluttered our thought process and other areas of our lives. We tend to want more of everything that may makes us feel good; at the moment. The materialistic world that we’ve become so accustomed to being a part of has taken away some of our humanistic abilities to prosper without cost. To prosper isn’t about:

*Having the most money

*Having the most attractive spouse

*Having the most friends

*Having the most expensive and fashionable attire

*Having the most advanced degree amongst your peers

*Having the biggest home

These are very important things to people and many have allowed themselves to be defined by these things. I’m a believer that anything you put before your natural care for self and others, you will eventually lose. When this occurs, where does it leave us? Are we still able to feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment despite the loss? Some may struggle this. The though alone can be terrifying and devastating for many. Think of the addicted individual (drug/alcohol addiction) who consistently needs the substance to feel good. Day after day they seek out the substance and once obtained there’s a sense of relief, happiness and even accomplishment. However, the experience soon vanishes and the individual seeks more. Then you have the individual who isn’t addicted to substances who may go through the same experience when it comes to wanting more things to make them feel good. The individual becomes satisfied with their new thing and quickly the newness wears-off and they move one to the next new thing…never being satisfied, no matter what or how much. There are those who are addicted to substances, then you have those who are addicted to “MORE.”

With this thinking and the behaviors associated with it, we can saturate our lives with “things” to the point that it encloses us and the only thing others can see are the “thing’s” we’ve brought into our lives. The individual can no longer be seen. Improving self requires that we actually look at ourselves and begin working from the inside, not from the outside in. When we get to the point of self-accomplishment, self-care, self-compassion and self-love we can place ourselves in a better position to appreciate the small natural gifts that are already given. Anything outside of that become bonuses. When making a life plan that can ultimately change your life forever, we must remember to begin internally. We should treat ourselves just as good as we treatment those “things” we incorporate in our lives.