Stand in Truth.

What is your revolution? For what are you willing to stand in the discomfort of the opposition for the sake of your truth? The true warrior stands in the truth of his/her being, with a knowing that does not require the destruction or elimination of others. Wisdom and the folly of the youthful ego cannot occupy the same body; the maturity of truth invites one to surrender the fears of childhood and step into true power. It is only in the moment that you are willing to define your calling that your life begins to take shape with intrinsic meaning.

What is the question for which you are the answer? What is the answer that is in need of your question to bring the world to its attention? Only when you realize that you are both of these things can you truly appreciate the paradox that resides in the deepest yearnings of your soul.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. The revolution will not be televised. What can you do today to make this world a better place? The world can no longer afford your complacency or your patience.

Success or sabotage? Success requires the commitment of the strong, those who are willing to be warriors rather than soldiers.

Is this going to be an incredible day? Live the life less ordinary--consciously create something that will serve you and others TODAY.

Know your Truth.

The greatest truths are so simple that they are often rejected by our analytical minds. When our lives are often filled with turmoil, we like to believe that there must be something of a deep mystical nature at work in order to warrant such personal drama.

When one gains wisdom and insight, the paradox is that what was once considered complex and intangible is now digestible and unworthy of explanation. The truth rejects the vocabulary of our language and simply "is." We can often live it, but can never explain it. Isn't that why scientists have been trying to prove/disprove the existence of God for over a centuries?

What do you know is true for you? Do you think it requires explanation? If so, for whom are you devising this explanation? What if (instead) you simply lived your truth and allowed it to live through you?

Success or sabotage? How much of your energy is spent trying to defend, prove or minimize what you know with simple human expression?

Is this going to be an incredible day? The trajectory of any day is simply a matter of choosing the truth that you desire and making the effort to bring it to fruition.

Live in Integrity.

Are you willing to risk discomfort, uncertainty, alienation and at times even hatred to live in integrity? Sometimes standing in your truth is a lonely process and one that, at the beginning, can seem as if you are on the road to doom. It is a walk that is most often taken alone, until you are at a place where you can meet others with a sense of confidence and tranquility, no longer doubting your place in the world. True freedom is realized when you understand that it is a choice that has always been with you (the slippers that Dorothy had all along); no one else controls your right to exercise its power.

Are you feeling imprisoned by people, circumstances or life experience? What is it that is really preventing you from moving effectively forward? Do you find that your reasons are in regards to things outside of your self?  How do these challenging circumstances serve you? What is it going to take to get you to choose differently?

Success or sabotage? Take inventory of your choices; give praise for effective thoughts, words and actions. Allow ineffective choices to be your invitation to make new choices today.

Is this going to be an incredible day? You have the choice to make it so. what is it going to be?

Take an Inventory.

Instinctively, we know how to live effectively. We are hard-wired for success and have all of the capabilities that we need to achieve it. Often, in order to access those capabilities, we must make peace and live in our truth. It sounds simple enough, but there is usually a price that must be paid. In a world that values immediate gratification, this can be a challenge. The truth is not always met with open arms. In fact, the immediate results are often seemingly negative. We must decide whether we are willing to move through the discomfort of standing in our truth even when the return on our investment is not immediate.

Take inventory in yourself. What is your truth? Do your actions support it? If you are not conscious of what IS true for you, in whose truth are you investing? In order to live at your highest potential, you must live without fear or apology, even when it is inconvenient and difficult.

Success or sabotage? There is a short-term price for long-term success. Are you willing to pay the “tax”?

Is this going to be an incredible day? When things seem to be obstructive or challenging, remember that everything that happens to you is happening for you, should you allow it. Use every opportunity for your highest good.

Live your Truth.

The greatest truths are so simple that they are often rejected by our analytical minds. When our lives are filled with trials and turmoil, we often fall victim to the belief that there must be something of a deep, mystical nature at work (otherwise, what are we doing that warrants such personal drama?).

When one gains wisdom and insight, that which was once considered complex and intangible becomes easily digestible and unworthy of further explanation. The truth often rejects the simple vocabulary of our language. Like many of the laws of physics, we live with it and by it, but may never be capable of explaining it.

What do you know to be true for you? Do these truths require explanation? If so, to whom are you providing the explanation? What if you simply lived your truth, allowing your truth to live through you?

Success or sabotage? How much of your energy is spent trying to defend, prove or minimize what you know with simple human expression?

Is this going to be an incredible day? Usually the answer is simple and personal; it belongs to you.

Break the Rules.

A mother may tell her child not to touch the burner on the stove because it is hot. It is not until the child disobeys the order and breaks the rules that he finds the truth through the pain of his own experience.  The philosophy of truth is a great conversation; the reality of the experience is much more challenging.

Who's truth are you living? Do you find yourself subscribing to the limitations of others or are you creating your own reality by virtue of your own experience?  Do you find yourself stepping boldly into a world of your own creation or do you surrender to the doubts of public opinion, statistics and odds?

You may either be the rule or the exception. Every thought, word and action is a choice. What choice are you making? You define yourself by the rules that you subscribe to in your life. What are the ten major rules that govern your life? Are these rules serving you or are they holding you back?

Today is indeed the first day of the rest of your life. Break the rules and create new boundaries of opportunity and adventure! Your life is waiting.

Success or sabotage? Don't allow others to define "success" for you; your experience is the best teacher.

 Is this going to be an incredible day?  You shape the day; the day does not shape you.

Stand in Truth.

The truth may set us free, but it often comes at a cost.  By breaking the chains of deception that have bound us, we may gain much-desired freedom for our spirit while losing those that are comfortably tethered to the lie that has become their truth. 

Secrets are toxic. If they are held long enough, they will erode at the very fabric of the soul. In many families, they are used to cover, suppress and distract from the deep-seeded dysfunction and festering illness that comfortably breed under its roof.  

We must remember that the story of our experience is our own. Never allow another's discomfort, dismissal or fear to diminish the challenges that you have conquered. Others may try to silence you or even suggest that your truth is in question. Another's story of you can never override your truth. It is only when you are able to stand in your truth, absent the need for approval or apology that you may harness your full power.

What is the untold chapter of your story? Have you allowed your concern over the consequences created by another to censor or silence you?  What is the cost of your silence?

Success or sabotage?  Success is an individual journey that requires integrity, courage and a steadfast dedication to the most uncomfortable of truths.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Within every day lies a seed of power, possibility, and potential. Your growth depends upon the seed that you choose to water.

Examine your Beliefs.

Many of us have resigned the responsibility for the understanding of truth to others.

We sit in our churches, synagogues, and temples.

We sit in front of our televisions.

We sit listening to our iPODS.

We sit reading Facebook and Twitter.

We sit in the presence of our families.

We resign to the "educated," "experienced," "wise," "indoctrinated" opinions of others--often without question or a single blink of the eye.  We are giving our ability to think away at an unprecedented rate for the sake of time management, convenience, and comfort.  We often confuse the message with the messenger and accept the words of those we admire, idolize or trust as having all the answers, without the due diligence to see if it is so.  The minister, reverend, bishop, cardinal, pope, rabbi, newscaster, political analyst, professor, celebrity, and parent will know the answer because <fill in the blank here>.

There is value in ALL opinions from the outrageous to the sublime. Gaining different perspectives can do nothing to harm your faith or beliefs.  If beliefs are challenged and you have doubts about that which you have accepted as truth, that can only strengthen your faith or open your mind to new perspectives and approaches.

That said, one might take some time to reflect: what do I believe? What evidence suggests that this is true?  What is the origin of my belief? Am I fearful of challenging my beliefs to gain my own personal truth?  What might be the cost of challenging my faith/beliefs? What is the cost of NOT challenging my beliefs/faith?

Success or sabotage?  If you truly want to achieve lasting success, you must live YOUR truth rather than another's. 

Is this going to be an incredible day?  What do you believe is necessary to make it so?

Trust your Instincts.

There are moments in your life when you must choose between societal "facts" and the truth.  You will often find that, when you are ready to speak the truth of your dream, many will present you with the "facts" for why you are making a huge mistake. Often, intuition seems to contradict the facts as we know them; we must learn to trust the instinct behind our choice and live as the exception rather than the rule. 

The rich truths of spiritual law are not in the facts, but in the stories that surround them. If you are focusing on the facts, you might be missing the moral of your own story. God truly is present in the details! Examine your own life today. Are you allowing the facts to inhibit you from seeing the truth? Are you allowing the limitations (tribal logic) of society to encourage you to live below your potential? If so, who and what are you serving? There are some who profess that the greatest of all sins is denying your own gifts and talents from yourself and the world.

Success or sabotage? Success is born and achieved in the heart; don't allow the collective consciousness to convince you to play small in a world that is comforted by the illusion of limitation. You are a child of God. If you are not living like it, you are denying your birthright--unlimited power and potential.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Step fearlessly into a day that, in some way, was designed just for you.

Express your Truth.

Destiny is created, not predestined. The delicate balance of the human condition is that we come into the world with callings (missions for our soul) but we are given the gift (or curse from some perspectives) of free will.  We are given all that we need to become fully realized.  Once we are conscious (and we are all provided with the opportunity to open our eyes), we must choose our actions accordingly. We may either live with fear as the ruler of our lives (in denial of the truth of our soul) or as a warrior in a battle that is self-created.  Make no mistake: consciousness comes with a price. There is no going back. Once you have opened your eyes to the power and potential of your own possibility, you have elevated your level of personal responsibility. You may no longer live as a victim, in bondage to a world spinning out of control. You must choose who you want to be, knowing that your intention rules your world.  You are God in expression and the creator of your experience. How does this truth express in your life?

Success or sabotage?  Are you living in full consciousness or pretending to be asleep?

Is this going to be an incredible day?  How do you choose to express yourself today? How will this day best serve your calling?

Sacrifice your Security.

If you are not making someone in your life uncomfortable, you are probably not living close enough to the edge. Living up to your full potential and possibility requires risk and discomfort; you must be willing to sacrifice your sense of security to be of greater service to the world and to yourself.  It is a frightening journey and one that is always traveled alone. Faith is not a tool for the weak, but a weapon for the warrior. You must learn to trust your inner-voice and purpose if you are going to fully actualize your true spirit.

What is the risk that you are not taking? Something just flashed through your mind; what was it? What can you do today to step out of your comfort zone and begin to live boldly and without apology?

Success or sabotage?  The creation of success begins with a step into the unknown.

Is this going to be an incredible day? The day can only be incredible if you stretch the nature of its boundaries.

Walk in Truth.

If we wish to transform ourselves and the lives around us, we must be willing to walk in the light absent of judgment, apology, and insecurity. We must learn to surrender and subscribe to a higher truth, realizing that we may never see the truth of our labor. Every action (yes, EVERY action) has a reaction. Everything that we do creates a ripple somewhere in the world and, in some way, affects us all. If we are impatient with the clerk at Walgreen's and abrupt in our manner, he/she, in turn, might be rude to another; that customer may be affected and carry their anger home. The same could be said for a smile. One might be planning to commit suicide, feeling that they had no connection with the world; your smile might have transformed their life.

It is not about pointing out what is "wrong" with others or the world. It is about walking in the truth as you see it and maintaining your integrity in all things.  The light in which you walk will shine brightly on all. You will become a mirror that reflects the truth to yourself and to others. There is nothing more rewarding than that!

Success or sabotage?  Are your thoughts, words, and actions living in the "light"? Are they aligned with your intentions?

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Children sing it best in the song..."this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...!"

Break the Rules.

A mother may tell her child not to touch the burner on the stove because it is hot. It is not until the child disobeys the order and breaks the rules that he finds the truth through the pain of his own experience.  The philosophy of truth is a great conversation; the reality of the experience is much more challenging.

Who's truth are you living? Do you find yourself subscribing to the limitations of others or are you creating your own reality by virtue of your own experience?  Do you find yourself stepping boldly into a world of your own creation or do you surrender to the doubts of public opinion, statistics and odds?

You may either be the rule or the exception. Every thought, word, and action is a choice. What choice are you making? You define yourself by the rules that you subscribe to in your life. What are the ten major rules that govern your life? Are these rules serving you or are they holding you back?

Today is indeed the first day of the rest of your life. Break the rules and create new boundaries of opportunity and adventure! Your life is waiting.

Success or sabotage? Don't allow others to define "success" for you; your experience is the best teacher.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  You shape the day; the day does not shape you.

Stand in Truth.

You may either choose to follow the followers or lead.  There are defining moments in your life when it is imperative to your soul that you stand up for your truth even at the risk of adversity. It may not result in popularity or immediate comfort, but it is instrumental in making you more of "who you are." 

How are you resisting your own truth? In what circumstances or situations have you been living outside of your integrity?  What is the cost of NOT being true to yourself? Rather than spending time on regret (wasted energy!), focus on how you can think, speak and walk in your full truth, beginning today.

Go within or go without. Who do you want to be? Who is your soul telling you that you already are?  Don't deny the music that is within!  You cannot afford to wait to dance.

Success or sabotage?  Are you denying your success by choosing the illusion of immediate comfort?

Is this going to be an incredible day?  Step to the music that you hear and allow OTHERS to follow you!

Speak your Truth.

Where is your voice? Do you speak about what matters or do you repress your inclination for fear of discomfort or alienation? When you relinquish the opportunity to speak your truth, you risk the integrity of your soul. Your voice is quietly silenced and your values are systematically devoured. You begin to live a life governed by the values of others and you contribute to the apathy of a world restless and asleep.

If you were asked to name your values (what is important to you), would you be able to easily and succinctly respond? If you are not clear about your value system, how can you be certain that you are creating a life that is aligned with the yearnings of your soul?

Take some time today to give some thought to your values. What are your three most important values? How are they reflected in your life and in your work? If they are not well represented in your life, how might this be affecting your success?

Success or sabotage?  Are you using your voice to its full advantage? Is silence an agent of self-sabotage in your life?

Is this going to be an incredible day?  What really matters to you? what must you do to create an amazing day?

Act on Truth.

The world--yours and mine--is the product of our collective consciousness. Whatever we agree upon as truth becomes a reality. The challenge is that we are not always conscious of our thoughts. It is as if we are constantly placing unconscious orders at the big "drive-thru window" that is the universe and then we feel victimized by the results that we help create. Take the economy, for example. If fearful speculation is placed in the public domain (television news, etc) and we subscribe to it by speaking of it and holding onto our money (not buying or investing), then a previously non-existent reality becomes truth. The results are directly linked to our consciousness.

In order to remain conscious in a world comfortably asleep, we must be willing to step outside of our comfort zone.  We must be willing to speak and act on the truth as we see it, rather than silently pretending to be victims in a world where we feel undervalued. 

As you begin another week, be conscious of your intentions. What is it that you wish to create this week? How have you allowed fear and discomfort to enable you to remain silent? How will you remain conscious of this intention when you begin to get caught up in the hectic activity of each day?

Success or sabotage? Success is an adversary of the status quo. One cannot survive the confines of the other.

Is this going to be an incredible day?  What are you willing to do to make it so?