You Can Become Better... Are You Doing This?

   ​What is your Vision?

I have a vision, many visions,  I want more, yet I want to quit more often than not, but something inside me keeps me fighting back.  It's my crazy, creative mind at work followed by depressive episodes...it's a  difficult cycle of motivated and inspired followed by not wanting to do anything! Ahh ​

​ I'm learning to recognize my patterns, and devising plans to keep myself on the right track, the positive track, moving in the forward direction! It's not easy, and I fight everyday to push on, but I won't give up. My wish is one day I won't have to fight back, I won't need to fight at all! 
...Until then, I keep searching, fighting back, believing there has to be more! 
Recently, I believe the universe has been speaking to me. I've found myself feeling sheltered, stagnant, and generally unhappy.

​Oh, there are things in my life that make me happy, but overall I'm not at peace with my life. I'm the hippie, brought up in a conservative world, living a mostly conservative life! 

Are You Listening?
Are You Living in the Moment
​or racing through life?

,​I believe there is purpose in everything, and though some things seem unbearably difficult, they happen for a reason.  It's hard to understand at first, but in time, if we see from a different perspective, we realize why some things happen, things we may not understand for a long time, or ever.
I really try to listen to what's happening around me, listen to my surroundings.  
For example, all of a sudden, my Instagram has had many new followers, most reminding me that the world is much bigger! I am reminded that there truly are happy, peaceful, kind people out there and there are absolutely beautiful places too! I hope one day to visit some of these places that I'm intimidated to visit due to language barriers. This reminder of a bigger world, inspires me to continue to travel, to work hard daily so I can travel and see these beautiful destinations, and meet more amazing people!

​Another lesson I've had came to me through my dog, Pajamas!  Recently she has been acting strangely.  Whenever we are home together and I'm trying to cook, clean or work on the computer, she behaves in a way that isn't her normal behavior, whimpering, hiding, seeking my attention. The only time she stops is if I sit with her, in the living room, with the tv on, doing nothing! I believe there is a purpose for everything, and this one is telling me to take time to be in the moment, to embrace my relationships, to find balance once again! I never sit and watch tv, but since my lesson,  I've been making more time for people/animals close to my heart! 
One more lesson comes to me from my nephew, 8 year old Sean! I was explaining to him that his younger cousin Ben absolutely adores him and it's important he make time to play with Ben.  My lesson came when I was explaining to Sean that Ben felt about Sean the way he would feel if he got to play with someone he deems amazing, like a star athlete... This is when he stopped me and said, "oh, you mean like you Aunt Kerri?" Instantly, I was reminded to push on...because to this child I am that important!  

BECOME THE BEST VERSION OF YOU!

​In the pursuit of finding my purpose, living my passion, I am constantly challenging myself to continue on, to try something new, to build outside the box, to be unique,  follow my own path, to push harder when it seems impossible, to unlock more of my potential! 
As I continue to work on keeping myself on the positive track, I have systems in place to help me, especially during difficult times.  Some things I do include the following: everyday I look up people that inspire me for motivation,  I listen to something moving, I read about what interests me, I look at pictures that inspire me, I attempt to eat a balanced diet, I train with purpose and intention, I focus on the positives, not the negatives, I limit social media time instead I try to learn something new, I rest, I smile, I listen, I help other people to become better, I call my family... all of these things are helping me to be positive, to become better, to find more!

What inspires you?
Are you doing anything to become better
​or are you just going through the motions?  

​Being mindful means being present.

Are you living in the moment, really appreciating what you are doing, who you are speaking with, what you are experiencing at that very moment, or are you too busy moving quickly just trying to get through everything life throws at you?  
Do you finish a meal without really tasting it?
Do you finish a conversation and have no clue what you just said?
Are you always waiting for your turn to speak instead of really listening?
Are you going through the motions or are you thinking about what you are doing?
Do you go somewhere and wonder how you got there? 
Being mindful, means slowing down and enjoying the journey! 
At work, if I am overwhelmed by a very full day, sometimes I have a tendency to worry about what's ahead, instead of enjoying what is right in front of me at the moment. I work very hard on being present at the time, taking one thing at a time, one interaction at a time.  In the past, I wasn't so good at being present, I don't have many memories of my past from age 8-30 and believe it's because I was always worried, always performing instead of genuinely living in the moment, enjoying the present! 

In order to improve my situation, it is going to take focus! I can't just "kind of" want to make it better,  I need to really want it! If I "just kind of want it" I won't change anything because it requires too much work! I've got to really want it, to push myself when making changes gets hard.  This requires focus, will power and determination! I've got to address my thoughts, feelings and actions and adjust along the way!  Sometimes we get into a comfort zone and stop trying new things, stop learning, stop becoming better.  I believe we are born with potential, super powers unique to each individual  but it is up to us to unlock them! It is important to become the best version of you, not a copycat of someone else! To unlock your potential, it takes effort, hard work, uncomfortableness, failures, and more but we all have the ability to do great things!  Unfortunately too many people sit on the sidelines wasting their potential, sitting in their comfort zone, either not believing in themselves or being too lazy to do the work required.  You can become better, it may not be overnight, but you can! Decide that you want more, don't settle, don't believe you have reached your ultimate potential, your potential runs deep, find more! Small steps everyday, along the way,help us to become better! ​

​Keep your vision alive, see it, dream it, think it, speak it, write it, learn about it, get it! Take responsibility for where you are and quit making excuses why you aren't where you want to be... Start now, unlock more of your potential, you are gifted with greatness within!

---

Every time I'm faced with the thought of giving up, I fight back!

You've got to talk yourself into believing you can become more! No matter what your situation, what hand you've been dealt, it doesn't define you! Become more! Expect more of yourself! ​

The opinions of others are just that, opinions, it makes the other person no better than you, don't let their opinion determine your future! When you have a dream, a vision, it's unique to you, no one else may understand it because it isn't theirs to understand! They may think you are crazy bc they aren't you and don't have the same vision.  Don't let that deter you, go after what you believe in, but be willing to do the work! Just bc you decide to do something doesn't mean it will be easy, it will require sacrifice, effort, experience, and time, but if you never give up, you will get there in time! Everything good takes time! 
Be patient, be mindful, take responsibility, get focused, push back harder, unlock more of your potential, enjoy the journey! 
Become the best version of you! 
​​