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It is not what happens to you. It is how you CHOOSE to react that largely determines the impact it has on you and your life. It’s nice if life deals you good cards; but it’s even more important that you play the cards you have well. Squandered potential is, unfortunately – legendary. More of our limitations are self-imposed than we would like to believe. Self-sabotaging is rampant and not always blatant. Buddhism has the concept of “The 2nd Arrow”. The 1st arrow is life’s misfortune, the 2nd arrow is the damage done by our over-reaction or dysfunctional response.

Life always turns out best for those who make the best of how life turns out. Bootstrapping, making do with what you have, is always a viable option. You are stronger and greater than you know; but to discover your fullest potential, you must go beyond, far beyond, your perceived limits deep into unexplored territory. “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” – Joseph Campbell, 1904-, writer

Closing Quotes:

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.” – Albert Camus, 1913-1960, author, ‘The Stranger’

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – A Return to Love – Marianne Williamson, 1952-, spiritual teacher

As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier