We are Beautiful, We are Strong

Today’s message is simple.  It is that we must constantly find ways to raise our awareness of our own inner strength and beauty.  That’s it. 

In our world we are surrounded by messages that want to bring us down.  These messages lead us to believe things about ourselves that are not true.  These misguided messages persuade too many of us to live below our standards and not become all that we can become.  This results in needless misery, unhappiness, and dissatisfaction in life.  But we don’t have to accept this!    

In order to raise our awareness of our own inner strength and beauty we can do a few things.  First, we must be mindful of our own inner voice.  This is easier said than done but when we allow ourselves to think negatively, we live below our potential.  Simply saying in our head 100 times a day I am beautiful, I am strong, I can accomplish anything I put my mind to, can have a big impact.  Second, we must make an effort to surround ourselves with good people who help us believe in our inner beauty and strength.  If we can offer positive encouragement to each other, and have good friends and associations, it will go a long way in raising our awareness about the truth of ourselves.  Finally, we must recognize and eliminate those things in our life that do tear us down.   As a population, I believe we waste too much time on superfluous things that have a negative influence on us and do nothing to build us up.    

The truth is that each of us is unique, special, and has an individual capacity to do something great every day.  I am inspired how seemingly ordinary people each day have such a profound influence for good on others.  Most of the time these individuals go unnoticed but their simple activities make a tremendous difference in others’ lives and in their own.

We are beautiful, we are strong.  This is the truth.  We must believe this, and we must own it!  Though many in the outside world would have us believe otherwise, we must know with a surety who we really are and what our true potential is.  As we do our success and satisfaction in life will grow!    

Applying Natural Law

Natural laws surround us in our world and as we learn what they are through studying and personal experience, and strive to use them to our advantage, we will become much happier and successful in life. One such natural law is the Law of Restoration.  The basic gist of this law is that which we do will be restored unto us again.  So, when we are trustworthy, we invite trust into our lives and when we are dishonest, we invite dishonesty, it is that simple.  Because of this law, it is impossible to do evil and hope for sustained good in our lives.  The universe does not operate this way. 

Restoration means to bring back again—good for good, evil for evil, mercy for mercy, justice for justice, etc.  We will be restored to that which we do.  What we send out into the universe shall return to us again.  This is a universal law. 

Another way to describe this law is we will reap what we sow.  If a farmer plants carrots, he cannot expect to have corn at harvest time.  Likewise, when we sow good seeds, we can expect to eventually receive good things.  When we are dishonest, mean spirited, rude, etc., we can eventually expect the same in return.  We cannot plant apples and expect oranges.  We will partake of the fruit of our labors. 

Too often we hope to do one thing and receive something else in return.  Believing that we can get away from this law, that we are somehow above it, shows our lack of understanding of natural or universal laws. 

Now the Law of Restoration does not happen instantaneously.  In fact, many can be dishonest for example and find success but in the long run, the Law of Restoration will always come through.  Sometimes it takes weeks, sometimes months, and other times many years but the Law of Restoration will always manifest itself in our lives.  Do not be deceived into believing this law does not exist.  There are always consequences to our actions.       

The Law of Restoration is a powerful universal law that can and will help us tremendously in our life.  Because of it, we must recommit ourselves to proven principles and values including hard work, honesty, service to our fellow men, and kindness toward others for that which we do will be returned unto us again.   

The Apprenticeship of Success

Since it is Labor Day week I thought it only appropriate to speak on one of my favorite topics and that is work or labor.  My little dictionary app on my phone defines labor as “productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain.” 

One of the tragedies of our modern era is the pursuit of “economic gain” without labor.  Much of society has become obsessed with gaining something for nothing.  This get-rich-quick attitude unfortunately deprives us of the greatest satisfaction, learning, and discipline that come from working hard to gain riches. 

When we have economic gain without labor, the sweetness of our success is lost and tragically the maturation and discipline necessary to retain the riches is never achieved.  For this reason, we find all too often people who “inherit” success literally go from riches to rags.

We can learn from this that there is a certain apprenticeship that one must go through in order to obtain lifelong riches or success.  This apprenticeship usually requires great effort and substantial sacrifice.  It requires sweat, toil, and tears.  It must be so important to us that we give up a lot in order to get it and through this process; it can never be taken away from us because we’ve learned how to be successful or rich—it literally resides within us.  When we cheat this system, this natural law, and gain or inherit riches too easily, my guess is 9.999 times out of 10, our riches won’t last. 

To truly be successful and enjoy the blessings and happiness of economic gain, we have got to earn it through “productive activity”, hard work, sacrifice, and time.  Therefore, let us take joy and pleasure in our labor, especially during this time of year as we pursue our goals and dreams.