Daily Gratitude: I can attest to the truth of this statement. The best way to win a “battle” (any sort of struggle) is to keep plodding along no matter what stands in your way. It’s easy when there’s no pressure on you to slouch around, using the “I don’t feel like it” paper mache “armor” (the kind that a tiny stick could tear apart). But then when it’s time for the main performance, what do you have? Nothing. Instead of yielding to doubt and dislike (the infamous D twins), persevere no matter what the circumstances. If you have to stop and revise your plan then do so. If you have to stop and rest for a bit, do so. If you have to completely reorganize and reorient, do so. But do so with clarity of purpose. If you have to take a break, give yourself a schedule of when to get back on track. Don’t wait for the “I don’t feel like it” ball and chain to fall away because it probably won’t. Persist/persevere, plan and adjust but don’t let the dubious D’s get in the way.

Daily Gratitude: Take a look at how this quote has played out in your life. If fear, for instance, has presented itself, has it then become a way of life for you? You fear that same thing over and over. Or, have you pushed that boulder out of the way and courage or progressive action has become your way? It pays to look at your life and see how it’s been sculpted by your behaviors. Once you’ve done one behavior, it’s so much easier to do the same thing again and again. This works for the easy and the hard behaviors. My “fear” of making telephone calls is an example. Once I force myself to make a call (that I’ve been putting off forever), it feels freeing and makes the next time easier. I’m still not excited about doing it and can still feel the fear inside but at least I know that my world didn’t explode when i dialed the phone and actually had to talk to someone. That is a baby step but it is exactly the kind of steps i need to keep that massive rock of fear out of my path. Take a moment to examine your path and see if it’s been clear or if it’s been rocky.

Daily Gratitude: Do you know people who live this way? They may not even start doing anything because they are afraid they won’t be good at it. Of course they won’t be good at it if they’ve never tried it before. And the majority of people won’t be good at “it” for quite awhile – until they’ve practiced enough. Maybe we should eliminate the concept of winning and losing. Then we would just do things because we liked them n it would eliminate comparison (a deadly sin). It might also eliminate or at least limit competition and that you might say would be bad. Why? Is competition what gets people to practice and improve? I don’t think so – at least not when you really want to improve. You don’t need to be pitted against another person to improve. Every year when I walk across Tennessee, I am not competing with another human being. I am competing with myself and trying to improve. I don’t need to know who’s way up front winning the race to be learning things. I always “lose” this race by typical competition standards. But….i always win the race by improvement and self discovery standards. Let’s start having more fun learning how to do new things without worrying about how well you do (winning). Be alive and enjoy life as you do whatever brings you pleasure.