Be the Change You Want for You Are the Genie You Seek

I've spent time attempting to learn about me, what makes me tick, what makes me who I am, and how I can change the things I don't like about me, how to learn behaviors which I do like.

Today I ran across this anonymous quote which is so very true in my experience:

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.

For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."

If you've never experienced this type of shift for yourself, you may not be able to understand how radical this is. To truly find a way to change, to become more like the person we want to be, we sometimes have to hit rock bottom.

Sometimes the changes themselves take us on a path of depression and unhappiness, even though there is nothing we want more than those changes. It's part of life, part of living, nothing stays the same if we are to grow and evolve. And through the process, it's important to give ourselves permission to feel whatever we're feeling. Changes, even those that are ultimately for the better, are accompanied by loss. And loss needs time to heal, a grieving period. Space and time and permission to acknowledge the positive that was in our former selves, and not just the negative. Space and time and permission to be sad, and scared, and confused, and worried. Space and time and permission to be happy, and certain, elated, and purposeful.

The truth is that I must be the change I want, for I am the Genie I seek. No one else can be that Genie, no matter how badly they may wish to. Magic Wands don't work out the way we dream they will, but in time, we are able to burst forth out of the coccoon and show ourselves and the world that we are, indeed, a BEEYOOTIFUL Butterfly!

Mother Teresa said:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you have anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It never was between you and the world anyway.

Be who we're meant to be. Take the road less traveled. Play the hand we're dealt. It's OK. There is no right or wrong, there is only taking care of ourselves, giving ourselves all that we need: love, nurture, acceptance, time, gentleness. We don't have to have the answers now. They often take quite awhile to discover! Be patient. And enjoy the ride along the way.

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