Tag: change

HERO TO ZERO

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

mother and child

Life is beautiful when you are considered a hero in someone’s eyes. It could be a child, a boss, a girlfriend or boyfriend. A husband or wife, married or single, being a hero can relate to just about anyone in this world. One day life changes and that child becomes a teen, your boss has found another star, and friendships are broken. In a short period of time, you go from hero to zero.

What is a hero by society’s standard? It is someone who is admired for their courage, achievements,  or other qualities, like showing courage through life’s difficulties. A hero can also be an object of extreme admiration.

Do you remember when your kids were younger? Well I do, and they looked up to you like you were a king or queen? Well as most parents know, when they become teenagers, they believe they know everything and you know nothing. The glow in their eyes and admiration diminishes. They no longer feel like you’re their hero.  You’re just mom and dad, who are imperfect beings. In today’s world, kids have learned so much through the internet that they begin to correct you even before high school.

How about working for a company for years where  you are considered one of the best employees. Year after year, you are commended and given awards. Your associates look at you with admiration and intrigue. Then one day things begin to shift in another direction.  Age becomes a factor and there is a new challenger that is being admired. There is always someone younger with more energy who may run cartwheels around you. Then one day your best isn’t good enough as someone else have taken your place. In a short period of time, you go from a hero to zero.

Friendships come and go. You can have a best friend today and sometimes foolishness crushes those relationships. In their eyes whether it is a love relationships or friendships, you can go from a hero to a zero.

These experiences could be a real life changer impacting your life in many ways if you allow it to become a thorn in your side. When you dwell upon where you are instead of where you are going, it will take over your life.

What is required is a new way of thinking. Transforming yourself and your ability to see these experiences in a positive light, will allow you to grow and develop new skills and characteristics. This will promote positive changes in order to move ahead towards the future. Maybe you needed a shift or a prompt to move in another direction. It’s easy to get stuck in one’s world while not growing mentally or spiritually. Sometimes I believe God has to give us a little nudge in order to wake us up from our mindlessness.

Nuggets of Truth: “We sometimes need a shakeup in order to wake up.”

                                       Pat Fagan

 

 

 

Free To Choose

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 2 Comments

clerk-18915_1280If you had the ability to choose whatever you wanted to do with your life today, what would you do without any boundaries? Where would you go and how would you live? What choices would you make if you had absolute freedom?

These are questions I sometime ask myself, because I realize in the world we live in, with all the responsibilities we have on our shoulders, it’s not always possible to choose. We live in a so called free world, but are we really free?

I remember when I was younger, a teenager growing up in long Island, life was a breeze. My whole life was ahead of me and I couldn’t wait until I was 21 to embark on my journey of discovery. Well, life was much simpler then and as I look back I realize how sweet life was with no real responsibility. As a grown up I have the freedom to choose, however, that freedom comes with a price.

Am I really free to choose? Well, if you are poor or middleclass, you have quite a few limitations. Unlike the rich who have more opportunities, a lot of us are living paycheck to paycheck as noted by recent statistics. A lot of people are working jobs they’re unhappy with, however it pays the bills. Relationships are complicated and sometimes cause undue stress. So, are we really living a life of freedom?

Imagine a world where freedom of choice really existed. Money was not an object you chased after for survival. It’s like chasing the wind but you can never quite grasp it because it’s always moving. Imagine living your purpose and passions with no restrictions. How about getting up everyday to do something you love rather than focusing on a paycheck. Imagine living to give to others because of your abundance.Think about how you would feel without the pressures of your current life.

Being free to choose is not an illusion. In your current state, making a move towards your new goals and striving towards a different lifestyle is attainable. Examine where you are right now and figure out where you want to be years from now. If you are happy where you are, make some small changes in order to make things better. If you are like me, I’m looking forward to a different future. One that is much lighter and freer than where I am presently. This also comes with a price and that’s the ability think smarter and make some tough choices in order to achieve your desired outcome. Time and patience is also a factor to consider when embarking on a new journey. Stay the course and eventually you will arrive at your planned destination.

Nuggets of truth: When you lose sight of your goal, you will loose sight of your dreams if you don’t stay on your path.

 

 

 

NEVER BE PERFECT

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 6 Comments

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I found this quote by Bonnie P fiester, and I had a desire to share it with people who feel the need to live in perfection. Her blog is primarily devoted to working out the body, but she also talks about the mind. Sometimes we are paralyzed by fear and are reluctant to move forward if we don’t think we can achieve our goal perfectly. But the words in this quote makes you stop, think and allows you to breathe, and accept yourself with all your imperfections. Your new objective is to focus on improving, not perfection, taking one day at a time.

We are all imperfect beings striving to become better in every aspect of our lives. Perfection is not attainable and should never be your goal. Just try to do your best at whatever you are trying to accomplish. At work, at home and in your personal life, keep trying to improve the quality of your life. None of us are perfect and if you try to walk down that path, you will run into frustration and disappointment when things don’t live up to your expectation. Let your heart be your guide and walk in truth no matter what circumstances come your way. Live your life to the best of your ability and let God direct your path. Everything takes time so don’t give up and just feel free and keep moving forward.

Nugget of Truth: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive  an inheritance from the lord as reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Colossians 3:23-24

 

 

 

 

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Opposites

~ Patricia Fagan ~ 3 Comments

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Have you ever met anyone who thinks they’re always right? In a conversation, you are like night and day or positive and negative. Sometimes you can’t get a word in edge wise as they choose to believe their opinion of the facts are correct and yours is wrong, thus dominating the conversation. You debate on various personal and impersonal topics and you never seem to have a real understanding. The older you get some things never change. Think before you speak and refuse to engage in these debates. Continuing to discus a topic with someone who is unwilling to listen, will only lead to frustration.

It can happen on your job with your boss, or an associate. Family, friendships, or personal relationships, can also lead to broken dialogue if both parties are unable to share their thoughts. We have all experienced this in life, and it’s lessons we learn how to deal with on our journey.

Beleiving you’re always right, and not giving others the opportunity to express themselves is dangerous. Healthy debates and a willingness to listen to another persons opinion will allow your mind to expand to other possibilities. We are all learning and growing and no one has cornered the market on truth or factual information.

If you encounter someone with this type of disposition, my advice is to listen and let go. Don’t engage in their negative behavior. What doesn’t serve you will only lead to exasperation. Focus on constructive thoughts rather than destructive attitudes.

 

Deadlines and Pressures

~ Patricia Fagan ~ Leave a comment

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Overwhelmed by life’s challenges

Situations which seeks to confront

Crisis that show up when we least expect it

Overloaded with pressures placed upon us

Deadlines, deadlines, and more deadlines

Detrimental to our physical and mental health

Stress can kill, if you allow it to control your life

 

Critical choices needed for a spirit of change

Let go of what doesn’t serve you

Choose a life worth living

Breathe, release, relax

 

Focus on what really matters

Shout, stretch, exercise

Develop effective strategies for coping

Loosen the tension that grips and binds

Turn stress into a positive force for growth and change

Believe God will get you through the difficult times

 

Nugget of truth: The book of psalms in the bible has helped me through many challenges. Prayer avails much and releases the tension we sometimes store within our minds.