Monday 24 December 2012

Homer Speaks the truth



Homer Simpson has said some pretty cool things, which is very impressive given he is portrayed as being a Neanderthal. But never the less one of his best was when he crashed his car, after doing something else idiotic,  and he yelled "why do my actions always have consequences ".

The consequences of our actions don't always directly have an effect on us but our actions do have consequences, and they can be either positive or negative to us or others. The best result of our actions is one that both benefit others and ourselves.

Now I actually started this post before the events of the 2day FM station prank call incident and the tragic massacre in the US. So in light of that fact I say with all sensitivity, that our actions will always have a consequence, and our forethought doesn't and won't always allow us to envisage the consequence of our actions. The prank was one of any number that these kinds of stations play all the time and never did they think that something like this would happen. Though I am not saying either that they are at fault for the suicide that occurred after the prank, but that there is and always will be an effect, result, an outcome, a Consequence of every action. Consequence - the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier

What happens most of the time is, we see the end result of earlier actions but we don't always get to see the preceding actions that culminate, at times, in the final tragic act. And even saying "final tragic act" isn't correct, as it doesn't finish their, because obviously  now we have the effect of those actions on those that it has affected and so on and so forth. But it doesn't always have to be doom and gloom, some actions will have good or positive consequences and in the end we have the ability to decide whether we are going to make it positive or not despite the earlier action.

In this post I'm not taking into account any form of mental health or psychiatric illness, I am however taking the easy road and putting everyone on a level playing field when I say that we have control over our actions and the ability to control the path our life takes, in spite, despite and regardless of what has happened to us.  If examples are needed, then you really don't need to look much further than Nelson Mandela. The man spends 27 years in prison for sabotage, whatever is meant by that, but instead of becoming a bitter man with revenge at the forefront of his thoughts and actions, he instead becomes one of the most inspirational and recognisable people that has walked the earth, and as history now shows he went on to be the president of South Africa and one of the world’s most influential people.

This following passage was credited to Nelson Mandela and although he did use it in his Inauguration speech it was actually written by Maryanne Williamson, and is just an awesome passage and it also makes an appearance in one of my favorite movies "Coach Carter".



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, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.


 
There are endless other examples, but rather than give more I will just finish with, be the example and the inspiration rather than looking for them, it’s definitely in all of us.
Merry Christmas to you all!

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Live and let live


Stand up and be proud of who you are and never stop pushing yourself to achieve what you want out of life. This is your life after all and being happy and creating a life that gives you that happiness is a worthwhile achievement.
I believe and I say "I believe" that life is less about a predetermined destiny or finding your purpose, and more about creating your destiny and purpose. And I think we can all help each other to create their ideal life rather than impose our will on others in an attempt to create our ideal life for them. People would much rather be their on creators, and there's no doubt that a little guidance and a helping hand from time to time is handy, but its no doubt more fun doing it the way you want even if you do stuff up from time to time.
The biggest problem seems to come from either trying too hard to not screw up or being to scared to make a mistake that we do relatively nothing and just go with the flow. There is also the other side of the coin where we do make a few mistakes and get told how stupid, dumb, or useless we are and how we are never going to be anything. For some reason we would rather believe this than believe in ourselves and our ability to succeed as I guess it must seem easier at first to not have the stress about  trying achieving anything and if others think your nothing special then why not just fade into the background and amble along.

But what happens when you stop believing the rubbish spouted by others and decide that you are more, and want more? People are always going to doubt themselves and others, and it seems to be an inbuilt mechanism to save us from heartache, but instead it leads to more heartache if you find that day to day your not doing what makes you happy. It takes a bit of a leap of faith, it's scary not knowing what's out there or what's the end result ( it would make life easier if we knew the score before the game started, but I reckon not as much fun, or frustrating) but like with most things having belief and faith in yourself can be something that can be worked on until it feels natural and going for what you want is less daunting and more exciting regardless of the result.
Now no doubt we don't always want to come up short, but so long as once we've had a hissy fit and condemned the world and all it's inhabitants ( which is all fair and reasonable as it must be their fault not ours) for your misfortune, you take the time check where it went wrong and assess If this is what you really want, and if it is then set a new course and go at it again. And again, and again until you get there, always remembering not to waste too much time feeling sorry for yourself but instead always looking at where you came up short and changing it until you hit the mark.

This is your life, and whether you believe that you will back again, or go to heaven or hell, or that this is it, then live the life that will make you happy, and let others to do the same.

Expect the best because you know or at least you should know you Deserve the Best.


Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller