Monday, November 4, 2013

365 Inspirations—308: Sky in NOT the Limit

"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve."—Mary Kay Ash

I wrote this post as part of my 365 Lessons in 2010. I think I need this post today. Today I came home from work feeling like I need a major change. I feel stuck and feel like there's no way out. I can't really explain. I want to do something new with my life. I want to explore a new career, but it just seems too difficult. I had a bad case of "I can't do anything." I decided to go back to Lesson 308 from 2010 since today will be my 308th Inspiration for today. I was surprised to find that I wrote a post called Sky is NOT the limit. This post gave me new hope and oddly these were my own words on this exact day in November 2010. Here it is:


Sky is not the limit to what you can do in this life. Humans use so little of their potential. BUT WE ALL HAVE SO MUCH. People have probably told you that before and perhaps you've looked at them through slanted eyes and thought, "Yeah, right.." Well, you get to decide in this life. You make the decisions. If you decide that there is a limit to what you can do and you are o.k. with that, then carry on. But I'm here to tell you that there really is NO LIMIT.

You've heard the expression "seeing is believing" but I think it should be "believing is seeing." What you believe is what ends up becoming your world. If you believe that you are worthless, then you probably are. If you believe you'll be late to work, it will rain and you'll have a bad day, then you probably will. I've been accused of being too positive, but I can't help it anymore. It's become my life. I'm not exaggerating. I chose it. I couldn't write everything here on this blog if it weren't part of my reality. The thing is, this positivity isn't limited to a select few. It's available to anyone, but you have to choose it. You have to want to bring positivity into your life and believe that you have no limit if it is really going to happen. Sound idealistic? I don't think so anymore, but I know there was a time when I scoffed at at this idea.

My life used to be wrought with so much negativity. It used to seep from my pores. I'm sure anyone who came in contact with me wanted to run. I chose darkness over light. I was comfortable with my negativity. It had become my comfort zone. Plus, people were used to me being like this. What if I were suddenly positive. Then I'd lose my cover.

But I got tired of living in the dark. I really just couldn't take it anymore. I had to do something, so I traveled and I started searching for something, anything that could help me find light. The good thing about being in other countries was that no one knew who I was. I was anonymous so I could blow my negative cover and become anyone I wanted to be. I was no longer restricted to how friends and family viewed me. I wasn't trying to conform anymore to others idea of me. I was free, completely free. But I don't think you have to leave the country to find out who you are or to decide to change your view of life. You just have to have the courage to go within and be with yourself and insist on who you want to be even if it doesn't fit with the idea of who you once were or who people have believed you to be. It takes a lot of courage to abandon all that is on the outside in order to go in and find out who you really are.

To be honest, traveling and meditation really helped me there. I was able to see that there really is no limit. That I get to choose my life everyday.

Today I chose to go to Discovery Park this morning with my husband. It's an amazingly beautiful day in Seattle. The skies are blue and its in the upper 60s. This is so rare for a November in Washington. We walked slowly along the beach around the light house. Rocks covered in seaweed stuck out of the sand. Waves lapped against the shore. A man walking the other direction said, "Isn't it the most beautiful day?" I responded by saying, "It sure is!"


Further down on the beach I looked up and saw a rainbow in the sky. I don't think I've ever seen a rainbow on a perfectly clear day, but anything is possible (see photo above). My husband decided to take my photo. Here's a picture we took today. Behind me are the Olympic mountains and Puget Sound.


Walking in nature really helps me see the expansiveness of the world. Nature is a perfect example of limitless possibilities. Like dozens of seagulls soaring in the sky.


Did you ever make a career change later in life? Do you believe that there is a limit to what you can do?

2 comments:

  1. Dear Kathleen,

    Late in Life? Come, come, you are in your prime my dear. Besides, there is no late in life, just the moment.

    I suspect you do not need a career change as much as a reordering of priorities. I am going to make a bold suggestion: that you take a year off from teaching and focus on your writing. I suspect you can apply for grants and artist residencies that will ease the way and clarify the Path. The MacDowell Colony in N.H. is a fabulous place where 30 artists/writers/musicians gather together for a month or two and create on truly hallowed ground.

    Sometimes the direction we seek is right in front of us.

    Looking forward,
    Christine

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    1. Thanks Christine,

      I'm ready to make that BOLD move, but it's scary! I think I have to do it and I will do it. Thanks for your words, they mean so much to me.

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