CourageThe Act And Art Of Facing What Is

Its only when we have the courage to face things exactly as they are without any selfdeception or illusion, that a light will develop out of events by which the path to success may be recognized. I Ching

Naked, undiluted reality can be a harsh or even bitter foe in confronting the conditions and challenges of our everyday life. On a global level, wars, natural disasters, disease, famine, political turmoil and terrorism can take a toll on our soul as we search for meaning by asking why things have to be this way. On a personal level, the economy, our financial circumstance, illness, moments of family trials and turmoil and even routine disappointments can cause us to seek an escape to a better reality through fantasy, distraction, or simple denial. Ive shucked and ducked reality more times than I care to share or admit, even to myself. Its a human reaction but it doesnt have to be our only mechanism for maintaining our mental sanity and emotional stability.

Reality can also be a joyous recognition and embodiment of the beauty that surrounds our everyday existencelove, kindness, caring, sharing, and the opportunity for growth and achievement. place. The chance to make the world and the reality in which we live a better to pursue our passions and our personal bliss. The opportunity

Both realities exists within us and within the world. Our ability to shift our attention to what we focus on is an important coping mechanism or even an element to change our perception of the reality of what is. But before we can find our way in the world that exists and create a true and lasting reality in our lives we wantwe must first face what is before moving onto what could and can be.

Looking only at the good while ignoring the bad might be a formula for short-term pleasure and pacification. Lasting happiness and meaning, however, can only come through recognizing the full reality in which we are while moving toward what reality wed rather have and accept. Subjective reality allows us to make sense of and give meaning to what already exists or whats already happened. We can make up our mind to be happy, to be positive, and to focus only on the good we see in the world. However, a made up mind is often blindthat same positive subjectiveness can often confine us to tolerating things only as they are while ignoring other possibilities as to what they could be. Ayn Rand is quoted as saying, We can evade reality, but we cannot evade the consequences of evading reality. Objective reality is the ability to observe not only what was, what is, and what will be if were willing to shine our light on the path to success as we define it. It means we have the courage not to ignore that which we dont want to see or to face. It means were open to other possibilities and perceptions about whats going on in the world, in our lives, and within ourselves. Transformation begins with a willingness to let go of who and what we were. Spike Humer

We can only change ourselves and the world through impartial and unprejudiced thinking separating what is from what and how wed like things to be. Seek out dissenting opinions and differing perspectives about reality as you see it. Challenge your assumptions and beliefs by searching for contrasting conversations and counterexamples. Lets be clearIm not advocating we argue for our limitations and liabilities. On the contrary; I am encouraging everyone to be an advocate of their own potentials and possibilities through an unbiased eye seeing what we have to do different in order to be different and have different. It takes courage to be a realist but it doesnt mean we cant be visionaries and creators of our future and new realities. It simply begins with looking into our own eyes and heart and saying, heres where I am, heres what exists, heres what I want instead, and heres what Im willing to do to change it STARTING NOW

Tags: courage, challenges, reality, circumstances, opportunity, passion, existence, growth, achievement, perception, mechanism, pacification, happiness, meaning, subjectiveness, possibilities, objective, transformation, limitations, liabilities.