It’s tough to generate anything of worth that will remain longstanding in a state of chaos. This is called survival mode.

How can we expect to bring about permanent positive change in our lives if we are always in a constant state of chaos? The answer is: we can’t.

We must get back to a state of homeostasis in order to have normal functioning of our body and mind. We must learn to remember and learn to forget. Remember that a chaotic state of mind is toxic for our bodies in the long term. We must be able to forget about the past as it carries with it the burdens of stress and anxiety which have no benefits to us in the here and now.

When a gazelle is chased by a lion on the Serengeti and manages to out run it’s predator to safety, it goes back to grazing. It doesn’t remain in a constant state of imbalance as she continues to run the scenario over and over again in her head. She forgets and moves forward only to remain present in the current moment. She grazes.

If we continue to live in the past and not the present moment by focusing on what happened a day ago, a week ago or even 3 years ago, we can never move past this event/s to create new ones. We become a victim of our history only to bring on all the toxicity that comes with the stresses and anxiety of reliving the past.

We can avoid these physical and mental poisons by mindful actions to keep us present and not allow ourselves to live in the past.

It sounds simple and it can be, but nevertheless we must be vigilant in our pursuit. I think we’re worth it.

There are two different kinds of respect. Respect for others and Self-Respect.

Self-Respect is defined as, regard for one’s own standing or position. Another words, how do you view yourself. It can be a challenge to view yourself in the best light if your vision is distorted by a dysfunctional view of oneself and/or due to traumatizing events in the past or because you are currently going through tough times.

Once removed from these toxic situations, it takes small incremental tasks and accomplishments to recognize the worth in oneself. But we can build on this momentum daily one brick at a time creating a solid foundation with which we are able to rely upon when chaos is present.

It is exactly in these times when we must exercise that self-respect and remain steadfast in our beliefs on oneself.

Self-respect comes from trusting yourself that you will continue to make the strong choices into the future as you did in the past.

No compromise.

It can be a challenge for me not go to a negative space in my head when I find myself in a difficult situation. Rather than remaining neutral or silent, I can go to a darker place: Negativity.

I’m not proud of it, but it’s the truth. At this point in my life, I don’t go there very often and when I do, I don’t remain long. Nevertheless, I do visit this place.

I have obviously found over the years, this is not a productive or beneficial place for me to be and so I must break down the situation in order to make it mentally and spiritually digestible for myself. And yes, I do make it spiritual. Why? Maybe because I have a spiritual compass that guides me to continue to be the best version of myself I can be. In doing so, I have to take into account this aspect of my life in order to tie it into the big picture. Often times, that small voice within me takes on the role of my spiritual guide. Some people may call it their conscience.

Maybe it’s a way to pull back the zoom of my life and take into consideration the big picture. Another words, “letting go of the ego.” This act can often times be a game-changer for me. When we remove the desire to be: right, to win, better than another or fail to the value in others, we walk a dangerous and tempting path of eternal self-gratification.

When we are able to “let go,” it frees us up to become anyone. We don’t have to remain the character in our script our ego desires us to be – which is the most important person on the planet.

This is toxic.

I prefer alternative road of evolvement. One of risking. One of giving. One of Loving.

I intend to lay my head on my pillow at the end of the day and hear nothing but the sound of silence. This is one of the best ways I’ve found to do this.

Love is the way. Love is the answer. Love is the how. Love is the now.

Maybe it doesn’t sound practical or pragmatic, but then again there are many things in our lives with tremendous value that don’t fall into those categories. But, Love is the still the most powerful and unknown energy in the universe. Why not dive in?

The opposite of fear is Love. With Love comes Faith. Love is a choice. Love is universal. Love breaks all boundaries. Love transcends.

Let’s discover the power of Love. Let’s spread it far and wide as we leave fear behind.

Let’s all get on that Love highway.

How does one go about manifesting something into their lives? By working with one brick at a time.

We cannot forget the value of solid principles practiced on a daily basis. Often times, I want to see the results right now – which keeps me from my focus on the big picture. Rather than doing my part today. I just need to work for today and worry about tomorrow later.

It sounds so simple. So basic. Yet, I can find myself getting distracted from putting in the day to day tasks that can build something of value for myself.

This is when I get frustrated.

And then I remember: The next moment is a brand new one. Nothing is written. The past does not equal the future. I can choose a different choice in the next moment in order to manifest a different outcome.

I can choose not to get overly emotional about it. I can choose to be strong. To move forward with conviction. I can choose whatever I want in the next moment. This is the beauty of life.

I can choose to build a dream.