Blessed
is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.
George Eliot
George Eliot
One person CAN make a difference. I was recently reminded that
sometimes I can be a bit overly pessimistic. I won’t refute that claim because
sometimes it’s very true. I’d be willing to admit that I need motivation and
inspiration just as much, if not more, than most people. But it is possible to
be a positive influence; a positive force for good in life, and not just your
own. Everyone has influences. It is unavoidable to be uninfluenced by something
around you. What we can focus on here is the degree to which something affects
you, both positively and negatively.
Sometimes we can choose the company we keep; sometimes we are
forced to be associated unfavorable people. The key to surviving and prospering
in various environments and situations is to recognize the positive from the
negative and then separate yourself from things that detract from your life. Clichéd
as it seems, that sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, sometimes it’s not. I’ve been
in situations where I couldn’t recognize the negative for what it really was
and I suffered for it. There were times when I saw the negative forces in my
life working directly against me, and still felt powerless to do anything about
it. Why? The answer was and is fear.
We all fear the unknown, whether we’d like to admit it or not. Sometimes,
we actually rather deal with the terrible thing in front of us than to cut it
out of our lives and face the great unknown without that negative. It’s that
fear that holds you back, and finding someone that can help you navigate the
unknown waters of life is vital. That person can be you; it could be a friend,
loved one, or even a stranger in a support group. The point is there is someone
out there who has dealt with a situation similar to yours, no matter how
outrageous or incredible it may seem. You must be open to the possibility of
learning from someone else’s experience to improve your situation.
You can’t change the past. You can change the future. Use the
present to move in the right direction.
Thanks for reading, questions and comments are welcome.
