What Life Holds for You

Author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, created the engaging series called Anne of Green Gables. To the delight of many public broadcast viewers, these books became movies. The main character, Anne Shirley, won the hearts of people from the moment we were first introduced to her. At the close of one series, she makes this statement to her chum, Gil: "I went looking for my ideals outside of myself and discovered it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it."

We've heard and read, quite often, that our thoughts co-create how we experience reality. Since we are both inner and outer beings, that's one-half of the formula. The other half is derived from the quote above.

How often do we do everything we know at the inner level, but stop short of doing the rest? If we wait for life to bring our experiences to us or for luck to come our way, we deny ourselves opportunities to fully engage with others, ourselves, and life.

There are those we call go-getters. They live fearless lives, or so it appears. We can't be certain that these individuals are fearless. We can only witness that they say Yes as often as they feel is appropriate. A person who doesn't respond to life in this way, but wishes he or she could, doesn't have to make a huge, uncomfortable switch. Just a few small steps will do it. As desired outcomes result, it becomes easier to say Yes.

If you're in the latter category, don't consider yourself less than those who seem bold. You don't know they were always that way. Perhaps they, too, decided one day to change a No to a Yes and see what happens. The thing to remember is that the outcome actually isn't the most important aspect of this dynamic. It's a willingness to bring something into your life by virtue of saying Yes in spite of fears or doubts. It may seem a simple thing to do; but for some, it's a brave act.

Never judge where you are in life. That's unfair to you and the courageous process of living you've engaged in since birth. The root of saying No more than we say Yes is often about resistence to allow ourselves to be who we are and who we want to become. Many feel pressured to fit into a mold. You might follow certain rules of society and the job, but the way to remove the biggest obstacle to true enjoyment of your life requires one specific action: Don't try to create your self, allow your self. Once you agree to do this, you will find it becomes natural to bring to your life, more of what you want.