Is There A Monster In Your Life?

high atop the cliffs

a monster awaits sailors

drunk on berry wine

Look closely at this picture. What do you see? Most likely, you will see a ship on a successful voyage, its goods loaded with the produce from foreign lands. To celebrate their success, the sailors open several casks of the finest berry wine, and guzzle down its sparkling liquid.

Then disaster strikes. Not being fully alert, they run into a reef. The ship's hull is broken, and water quickly fills the interior. Silently, the ship slips into the sea. All hands are lost.

Do not let the "monster" drag you down to a similar fate. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pay close attention to the details in your life and be sure that nothing endangers you. You never know when the monster may strike.

Do this, and the sea of life will always be smooth sailing for you.

Where Are You Going?

green pheasants

fly towards the sun

a rising sun

Look at the green pheasants in this picture. Do you see how they fly towards the rising sun? They have purpose and patience, and their wings carry them towards their goal.

If animals have this sense of direction, why do we humans seem to stray so often? Why do we feel so lost and uncertain of our actions?

The answer is that we have no true goal. And this is what holds us back. Observe the birds and beasts and the creatures in the sea. Every one of them has a clear purpose. A need that propels them to act in order to survive.

Learn from these examples. Promise yourself that you will not go adrift in the world without a sense of purpose. Plan your goals and what you want to do. Make them happen by your willpower and determination. You can do this if you believe in yourself.

Fly towards the rising sun. Make your plans a reality.

Do You Know There Are Diamonds All Around You?

ice cubes

in the glass

diamonds

Look into the glass. What do you see? Do you see ice cubes? Or perhaps something more?

Life is so complex. We often overlook the simple things in front of us. But are they really so simple that they should be ignored?

Think about the ice cube. By itself, it may seem puny and above our notice. But look closer. What you see is a marvelous transformation. Water, the basic building block of life, is frozen for us and kept in a solid state. These ice cubes make it easier for us to store this precious life giving substance. Without it, it would be much harder to preserve our food and our drinks certainly wouldn't be as cold as we are used to. These ice cubes truly are diamonds.

Learn to appreciate the simple things around you. They are diamonds just waiting to be discovered and treasured.

Watch Your Step!

winter moon

cracked ice

on a lake

Life is filled with tricky situations. The pace of life often forces us to act faster than we should. But is this wise? What advantage do we get by jumping into things headfirst?

You must learn to be more cautious in your daily living. Think carefully, before you make a decision. Plan ahead, so there are no surprises from your brash actions.

But how do we do this? Whenever you are faced with a decision, make a note of it. Acknowledge that you have something important to solve, and that it needs careful planning. If possible, try to write down your problem on a piece of paper.

 Using a pencil or pen, draw a line straight down the middle. On the left side, write pros. On the right side, cons. Take a few minutes to write down all the advantages and disadvantages of the problem that needs to be solved.

When you are finished, take a break for five minutes. When you return, look at the pros and cons with fresh eyes. Notice if there are any serious sides to the problem. If one side seems to be more heavily favored with your notes, that is the side you want to pay special attention to. By doing this, you will make a clear, logical decision without your emotions getting in the way. 

Try this with every important problem you have. As you get used to the process, you will learn how to do this without paper, to makes these decisions in your head clearly and effectively. You will learn how to watch your step. And this will make all the difference.

Think, then act. And you will avoid the cracked ice in your life.

Which Road Will You Take?

two travelers

part at a crossroad

migrant birds

We face many choices in life. And one of them is our traveling companions. These are often family and friends. But they can be coworkers as well. In all these circumstances, we travel with them on the road of life. They guide and encourage us on the way, as we navigate through a hostile world. 

But there comes a time, when differences in opinion force us to part ways. This is not to been seen as negative, but merely a fact of life. Times change and we must learn and adapt to them in order to survive.

So the next time you are forced to part with someone, do not be grieved. As the seasons come and go, you too must be prepared. For every companion that parts ways, you will gain others that will follow you for a time. Embrace this idea, and it will bring you peace.

Follow your road. Do this with confidence in yourself, and you will relish the people you meet on the way.