Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live my friend I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Thank you. In January 2010 I wrote an article to share some of my foundational beliefs. In this article, I am going to reprint that article to share my beliefs with you.
These beliefs have helped me to stay anchored to hope. As you read the below bullet statements may you find yourself also being anchored to hope. As you read the below statements may you also be encouraged, empowered and inspired to trust the process, a loving God and that more will be revealed to you.
Second Chance to Live — Happy New Year 2010
Posted by Second Chance to Live on January 3, 2010
Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. Today is January 1, 2010 and the start of a new year and a new decade. If no one has yet to tell you, let me be the first to say Happy New Year. May your new year and decade be filled with satisfaction and contentment. I look forward to being on the path with you — one day at a time.
In a little more than a month — on February 6, 2010 — Second Chance to Live will celebrate a 3 year anniversary.
At the inception of Second Chance to Live I decided to encapsulate my mission and my vision into a one line phrase.“Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up”. As I flew back from visiting with my family during the Christmas break, I thought about what the phrase means to me.As I reflected, several thought came to mind. I will share several of those thoughts with you.
- My experience has taught me that what happens in and to my life is not as important as how I respond to what happens in and to my life today.
- What I once saw as a gauntlet of independent and indiscriminate circumstances, I now see as essential pieces of the puzzles, all working together for my good to create my destiny — one piece at a time.
- Consequently, I have discovered that I am empowered by how I chose to respond to the circumstances and experiences that become part of my life because:
- I realize that I no longer need to believe that I am being victimized by what happens to me.
- I realize that I can be empowered by each and every circumstance and the experiences that becomes part of my life.
- I realize that my circumstances and experiences — regardless of how they may look at the present time — are in reality gifts.
- I realize that the lessons that I am learning — through the gifts that I am given — prepare me for the opportunities that are given to me.
- I realize that the lessons that I am learning and the opportunities that I am given are collectively pointing me in the direction of my destiny.
- I realize that I do not have to know or have the big picture, because the process and the journey is more important than the destination.
- I realize that I can trust the process and a loving God because I no longer have to rely on my own understanding. More will be revealed with time.
- I realize that I can own how I react to people, places and things — in my life — because my reactions are more about me than about anyone or anything.
- I realize that I can own my uncomfortable feelings, instead of projecting my uncomfortable feelings onto my relationships.
- I realize that I no longer have to be perfect, but instead when I have wronged someone I can take the necessary steps to make amends.
- I realize that I can change what I am doing — when I become sick and tired of being sick and tired — to get different results. And I do not have to beat up on myself in this process.
- I realize that perfection is an illusion, but excellence is a goal that I can pursue in all that I put my hand to in this life.
- I believe that I can pray for the knowledge of loving God’s will for me and the power to carry that out and then trust the outcomes of my footwork into the care of a loving God.
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to life the life you have imagined…you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation, but of the adopted talent of another you only have an extemporaneous half-possession…Do that which is assigned to you , and you can not hope too much, or dare too much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“For I know the plans that I have for you – says the Lord – plans for good and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Old Testament
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evanlaar1922 says
thank you for a glimpse of God’s story in your life!
Second Chance to Live says
You are welcome my friend. Thank you for leaving a comment. You are a blessing to me. Have a pleasant and peaceful day and God bless you my friend. Craig