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There are times when I feel as though I'm stuck in a rut, & I'm almost always confused as to how to get out of it. Most of the time, this is because I am afraid to face what I'm really wanting.
It may sound weird, but fear is often the reason we find ourselves not able to make decisions, not able to move forward, not able to truly decide what we want in life.
Overcoming fear will always be hard, in any situation. We're afraid of the unknown... Think about it - if we could see into the future, there wouldn't be anymore confusion, except in what we should look forward towards, & we wouldn't be afraid because we would know what was happening.
So, how do you overcome fear? Take risks. Take chances. Make the decision that your gut is telling you to. We cannot sit around waiting for something else to make the decisions for us... Just do it.
There are many ways to pull yourself away from fear - face your fears head-on. Although my dream journal is a way for me to overcome my fears, maybe yours is something else. Find it - and don't loose it. Do everything you can to stay focused on your main goal and DO NOT be afraid. Fear may just cause you regret in the future. ~ Don't let fear stop you from being the best that you can be. Anything is possible. ~

A.E.C.

Every once in a while, there's a thought process that goes through my head when it comes to the nouns in my life. LOL (My peoples, my places, my things.) I sit and think to myself: Alright, if this is really meant to be, then I will receive a sign. This or that will happen if this is really meant to be.
This process happens a lot more in my head than I realize, & it's my way of trying to make a tough decision when I just don't know.
I've finally come to the conclusion that life's really all about taking chances. And, sometimes... you just need to go with your gut & try to make the best decision possible. This will never be easy. Often times, others can get hurt because of this. However, there will come a time when you need to think about you... & what this risk has to offer you. You can come a long way in two months, in two weeks, in two hours... if you just put yourself out there.
Many people are afraid to take risks because of the possible outcomes. And, yes, there will be times when the negative outcomes are more likely than the positive outcome. But, you need to sit yourself down & decide how much the positive outcome will truly mean to you. Sometimes, it can often out-weigh the negative outcomes with a land slide.
I no longer believe in fate - you create your own destiny. And I no longer believe in luck. Although there will be times when the world just won't seem to give you a break, change the path your on.
Don't be afraid anymore. Don't let those fears take away what your the greatest at. When you come across YOUR chance of a life time - take it. When you go to make that life-changing decision, & you simply know that not taking this risk will cause regret. Stop & think for a moment about what you truly want & what you truly deserve. Take Action. Change Your Destiny.
A.E.C.

I've added a few more goals to my list. :) New adventures are coming my way!!!

• Drive past the Playboy Mansion (No worries people, I'm just curious.)
• Meet Gene Simmons.
• Audition for a Soap Opera
• Get on a plane to anywhere
• See an eclipse
• Meet Kendra Basket
• Go To A Wax Museum
• Take More Risks
• Inspire As Many Others As You Can

A.E.C.

Yesterday I spoke with a close friend who asked me how I face these fears. I'm not quite sure if she was referring to when I went to try something I wouldn't normally try, and ate some sushi, but I suppose I could use this as an example.
When I write down my goals, I try to think of things that would be a challenge. Something that I am afraid of and/or have always wanted to do or accomplish. For example, I wanted to try a food I wouldn't normally try. For some reason, sushi seemed to be there with me, so I went for it. - Ick - And, although it's not an unbelievable task, it was still a challenge for myself - a fear to overcome, if you will.
So... how do I do it? Well, the sushi wasn't that hard to get through. However, the ones that I fear the most are getting over my fear of bees & touching the bottom of the lake (in a deep spot). ~ These will be a challenge, but I've never choose any goal that I didn't think I could ever accomplish. You've just got to give yourself everything you've got. And that's what I choose to do. :)
I hope this helps you! :)

A.E.C.

Today is a beautiful sunny day, highs in the upper sixties,  with a slight chance of rain today in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It seems as though each day of my life since February has been a complete dream. I've started accomplishing goals at an unbelievable & consistent rate. I've fallen in love with my life again, lost a few pounds, & am almost completely free of the stresses in my life. For the first time in years, I truly feel emotionally healthy.
While I've been building this health, the drama has continued without me. Although it is hard to not step in & make my little karma comments, I somehow remain miles above the harsh emotional weather, in the sunny clear skies.
You could say that my head is in the clouds, focused on the adventure that awaits me in the very near future. But, mostly, I think I've finally found the forgiveness I've needed. Now I can really focus on what's important to me in life. My goals, dream, hopes, & finding ways to inspire those that matter to me most. :)
Today's moral: Believe in yourself & fight for your dreams, this is where you will find your life completely fulfilled. :)
I hope all of you have a wonderful day!

A.E.C.

As I started reading Message In A Bottle last night, I began to wonder about how big some of my goals are, and it really started to get to me. There are times when I want to scream at the top of my lungs that one day I'll be famous, that I just know it. But, other days, I'm rather nervous about all of the things I'll need to do to get there. Yes, it's all about the climb, but the climb can be intimidating.
There are many ways in which my being a perfectionist can help me get to where I want, but there are also many ways in which that will hold me back. I can't let that get to me. Many of my goals are fears, and this is just one more obstacle that I will face each day.

So, if you are facing difficult obstacles in your life, try to think hard about the positive aspects of it. (If you can't find any, go out there and get past that obstacle anyways.) Sometimes there are fears or past issues in your life that may seem impossible to get over. But, anything is possible. You just need to find the will to push yourself past that obstacle live the rest of your life.

A.E.C.

The year 2010 is a year of change. There's so much to look forward to, so much that I still look back on.
When you have a moment, take a look at the life that you have and think about what you're thankful for. Tell your loved ones how much you love them. Let your friends know how much you miss them or are thinking about them. Although it may all sound so silly, these people should know how much you care.

A.E.C.

My day was spent in St. Maries making no-bakes with my grandma. It's been one of my long-time goals to perfect no-bake cookies. And I've done it!
I know this seems very silly, as it's such a small goal, but if you've ever tried to make no-bakes, you know what I mean.
This time, it only took me two batches, and I'm very excited! :) One more goal down... and the closer I get to the BIG goals, the more accomplished I feel.
My dad and I also went into town for propane & propane accessories, LOL. We stopped at a gas station that was selling baby chicks. In the big tub of chicks was a baby duck and it took everything I had not to buy that baby duck. :( LOL
A.E.C.

People have been asking why I haven't written about friendship. Well, lately it seems like a very hard topic for me to really get into, especially online... to however many people visit my site.
A few months back, it dawned on me that I was letting myself go, almost completely.And, when I realized this, I knew something must change - and quickly. There were a couple of people who I knew would help me get through this hard time in my life, but there were some who let me down.
Today, I focus on the great friends I do have, and am thankful each and every day for my life, and for my future.
Lastly, I must say that it's amazing what you can find with independence. When you stop to focus on yourself for a while, you don't just learn about you. Even in hard times, when you're all alone, you'll realize that there will be people out there who just don't click with you, and that people grow apart.
That's okay. It's how the world works. And you just need to get brave and, like my mom would say, "Build A Bridge, And Get Over It."

Thank you's: Mom, KM, BS, MB, AR, AS, SW, & KR
A.E.C.

Today I spent my day at home, quite a bit under the weather. There's nothing that bugs me more than a day in bed, filled with nothingness when you know there's so much to be done at work.
I kept myself busy doing homework and reading an autobiography, but cannot wait to get back to work tomorrow morning.
With that said, I was thinking about my goals on a different level today. I noticed that, after scheduling my goals in my planner, I've been more likely to accomplish them in the specific time frame. I realized just how important deadlines are when it comes to yourself.
When I began working my current job, I was taught about deadlines and pushed myself to meet those deadlines with everything I had. However, it seems as though the deadlines that are the most important to me are getting a tad bit left behind - not because of my job - but because I seem to be more lenient with my own goals.
I'm curious. Our goals, even the most important ones, are often set aside because we are relying just on ourselves. When you're just relying on yourself for something, you're more likely to put it off. This is a result with so many things; weight loss, car oil changes, cleaning your room, working your own business, etc.
>> Somehow, this inspires me to push myself further. <<
Hopefully it does the same for you. Don't forget about your goals and how important they are to YOU. Spend some time on yourself every once in a while!

A.E.C.