I WIN

Love lifted me when nothing else could help.  

When I was caved in, enshrouded in misery, and wallowing in self pity, it was love that intervened.  Love that knocked furiously, and at other times gently at the door of my heart and rocked the sanctuary of my mind.
"To be right or to be kind?"  
"To win the battle and lose the war?" 
"To live in the past or build a better future?"
"To cut loss and retreat or insist on return?"
"To spare or take them on?"
"An eye for an eye or be gracious and merciful?"

Love says to let go.  
Free your spirit.  
Free his spirit. Free their spirit.  
Let him go.  Let them go.  
The score is settled.  For you at least.  You've seen the light.  The destroyer - the joy stealer - brings only division,  darkness and devastation.  Move to a higher level.  That way, the view is better to see the big picture.  In willing submission put down your defenses.  
Let them have their way... their need is greater.

Of course in reality everything remain the same.  The change is only in your mind but that's already sufficient.  
Enough to put matters in the proper perspective.

Everyone has to deal with his own demons of jealousy, envy, anger, strife, greed and others.  They will have theirs to contend with. 
You've dealt with yours.   Keep going.
Exorcism is a daily process.

Victory is not when you can control or lord it over another person.  That is quite simple with the use or rather misuse of power, money, muscle and authority.  
True victory is when you can control you. When you can look at and live in total peace, harmony and synchronicity with the man in the mirror.  That is when you're truly one up on the other.

Love can put things. Too much drama in the theatre of the mind opens too many options. Love throws them all out; the confusion, chaos and conflicts.  Love functions best when you are a willing partner.  

Yes, it was love that came to my rescue; raised my sinking heart, calm my raging spirit and stilled my despairing cry.
So long as I allow love to reign, I win...

PERFECT UNION

There's no pretense or hypocrisy between us.  We're not a separate act.  We don't need a quick change in public or in private.  We synchronize flawlessly.

We withhold nothing - good or bad, happy or sad - from the other.  We take pride and delight in each other's company no end.  Together we've overcome obstacles, faced challenges, taken the beatings, endured hardships and braved the storms.
But we've also done the impossible, scaled new heights, seen our dreams fulfilled and helped others fulfill theirs.  

Although one is seen and the other hidden, we are undeniably one, in perfect union.
And for certain that is good. 

I am my best company...

DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Think out of the box.  Search for a different perspective.
There's always one.
Find the balance and when you do, the tightrope of circumstances on which you tread, albeit precariously, becomes a personal platform for your life's finest performance.

For isn't life a stage ...?

MOLEHILL

How exhausting it must be to spend one's resources, time and energy being angry at another person.  It can't be much fun living that way.

Why turn a molehill into a mountain?  Storm in a tea cup.

Enmity causes a great divide which is senseless.  

Hard to believe but staying angry-displeased-dissatisfied is a comfort zone for some.  

People who bull doze their way through.  People who rather hide behind a tough demeanor rather than confront their wounded spirit, the stigma of rejection and furious frustrations. People who don't like to be exposed, to have their faults pointed out to them.  People who choose to suffocate their emotions.

Pain is manifested in many different ways.  How an individual respond to pain varies.  

Where one would choose to boldly address these inner demons that cause untold emotional turmoil, another would hide and bury himself/herself deeper in oblivion.  One chooses escapism, the other examination, self-examination.  The latter may be more bothersome, painful and revealing but it's the better way to address the issues for correction purposes. Know from where you're coming from. 

Mental pain and anguish is the distinct signal that something must give.   Psychological, physiological and sociological disorders can trigger a series of physical illnesses from heart attacks to certain types of cancer.

Pay attention.

Happy is the man who has made peace with himself.  Thereafter making peace with others is a lot easier.

P    -  Patient with yourself and others

E    -  Empathize

A    -  Accept what cannot be changed

C    -  Carry on

E    -  Enjoy; you've earned it

Everyone has great value although this thought may be alien to many of us still.  Disbelief in our 'greatness' is probably the single most crippling setback to help us achieve the greatness for which we were created. 

And so rather than aspire to be all we can be, we settle for average and mediocrity, wrapped in false modesty! We become small in our thinking; trivial and petty.  And this would be fine if not for us being the selfish creatures that we are, we want it all!  How typical. On one hand we are thinking we aren't good enough but on the other hand, we blame the universe, God, and everyone around us for our lack, loss and loose behavior.   We feign holiness and humility but in reality we all want to be gods!

This is a step-back.  I know (and so do you) people who have been angry at the world their whole lives. In essence they are angry at themselves for the thousand and one reasons they could not get their way.  There has to be a scapegoat.

Rather than reflect, review and revise their outlook of life, they take their fury out on others. Doesn't seem fair but this is a fallen imperfect world we live in.

If you choose anger, animosity, alienation over fairness, fellowship and forgiveness because it suits your purpose, so be it.

But don't at the end of the day realize that your contempt, hurt and hate have been hurled at the wrong people.  Remorse comes too late when you discover you have crucified the wrong person.

Conscience has a way of making you pay... heavily.

THINK CORRECTLY

When you realize how small and fallible you are, it's much easier to understand and forgive the failings and smallness of others.

Expect to make mistakes.  Blunders can't always be avoided.  It's okay when you fail and mess up.  Just be 'man' about it.

A grudge carried to the grave does no one any good.  So what if you've been wronged.  We are living in just such a world, full of injustices, misgivings, loss, lack and sad endings.
It's not the end of the world!

Create your own reasons to be happy and be free to feel exactly how you want to feel.  What others think of you don't matter.  What they don't approve about you is none of your business!
Work on quieting your thoughts and calming your emotions.  Don't allow anyone to steal your peace and rob your joy.  Guard your heart.

You can't prevent thieves from breaking into your house and cleaning you out.  That's something beyond your control.  They come without your invitation.

Worse still is the other type of robbers who wreak havoc in the theater of your mind.  These are more destructive than the former.
Unseen robbers who comes to rob, steal and destroy not your physical properties or possessions but your tranquility, mental wellness and peace of mind. 
Beware these ruthless 'intruders' who can do much more harm to you psychologically and emotionally.  
They lie, cheat and raise your level of fear, panic, insecurity and anxiety.  Very subtlety they invade your thoughts and make a playground of your mind. 

An alarm system may be a deterrent to break-in and safe guard possible loss but unfortunately doesn't guarantee good sleep.
Be mindful of who you take to bed with you .....think correctly.

RESURRECTION & LIFE

He was faithful to her; she remained fiercely loyal to him for as long as they were together.

She kept him in line; he kept her in love.
Theirs was the ideal - strong and enduring - relationship.
An alliance-an agreement.
One that had weathered many storms.

Bound by duty and responsibility; fueled by affection, admiration and affirmation.
They held their ground and withstood the test of time. 
Inseparable - nothing and no one came between them.

Or so they thought...
The immortality of Man is but a subtle lie.
For death came unexpectedly and took him away.

She grieved for the loss of her trusted ally; her long time companion and confidante.
Missing his laughter, his teasing and sometimes serious demeanor, she mourns.

Despairing but only for a season; she awaits the promised resurrection where death is overcome and life is celebrated in full measure...
Hope springs eternal.

IT'S ALL IN THE MIND ...

Filter your thoughts; scrutinize them.  Don't hesitate to shut the door of your mind to negativism, self hate and condemnation.
Contemplate beauty, be beautiful.  Embrace all that is good, pure and lovely.
See the world through the eyes of a child.  Vibrate with enthusiasm and zest.  
Celebrate life.
Don't become old before your time.

What goes on in your mind can be the loveliest garden of your wildest dream OR the stinkiest sewer of your worst nightmare.
You can retrace, rewrite and reedit the story of your life.

You're the master of your destiny ...

SMILE ...

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

SURVIVOR

I am a survivor of depression.

I don't say this loosely.  Depression is real and it kills.

Statistics remind us that one out of three persons suffer from some form of depression whether it's psychological, physiological, biological or sociological.   Whatever the cause may be, the price we pay is high - self hate and self annihilation.  No joke!

Anyone who has been there can relate.

Experts go on to say that at some point in every person's life, he/she would carry or display symptoms of either severe, mild, acute and chronic depression.  The degree of a person's suffering would depend largely on circumstances and the patient's ability to 'handle' his problems.  There are many who live in denial; sort of putting up a front, a charade.

So no one is exempted.

However there is hope.  Depression can be treated with expert counselling, therapy and medicine. Thankfully with early detection and appropriate attention, the percentage of patients full recovery is encouraging.

A small circle of supportive and genuine friends helps.  

Gravitate towards people who can deposit positively into your life. 

In our biological make-up we each have an 'emotional tank' - an indicator of our mental state - and when that is empty, for sure, we can't get very far.  A breakdown is imminent!

Make sure you don't run on empty.  That would be very stupid indeed.  You are inviting trouble, big trouble.  

Imagine travelling on the highway in pitch darkness all alone, not a single car or soul in sight for miles, with your fuel gauge indicator blinking frantically RED!  Ever had a panic attack? 

Well, this is it. 

You don't have to fight depression alone.  You're not meant to.  

Move with people who makes you feel good about yourself.  Steer clear of people who only befriend you for their own personal agenda and selfish reason.

Don't apologize for letting go of people who do you more harm than good.  The toxic they inject into your system is devastating.

It's sickening to think that some people are rammed with a constant supply of nonsense - words and actions that tear at a person -  as if it's mother's milk!  No wonder over a period of time, their depression level plunges from mild to hopeless!

Seeking help to overcome your mental anguish and disorder is not a sign of weakness.  In fact, to acknowledge your condition, couple with the desire to do something positive about it is an act of great courage and deserves commendation.

Depression kills which is bad but it also drives one insane which is even worse ...

DYSFUNCTIONAL...

Today's dysfunctional individual may be the product of yesterday's failed relationship.

Yours was the love withheld; the kind word withdrew; the tongue lashing; the shoulder never offered; the phone call that never came; the broken promise.
He/She never knew affection, appreciation, affirmation, adoration and admiration. 

And you wonder why the poor soul is dysfunctional.
OUCH!