I have to agree with this. You start your life perfect...  and then: 

You are raised in/with: Abuse, Addictions, Poverty, Adoption, Illness – mental or physical, Handicaps, or some circumstance we have no control over. We acquire feelings of abandonment, low self esteem, unworthiness, complexes, syndromes and/or all of the above, before we ever reach adulthood. These feelings will decide which direction we will take on our life’s journey. We stockpile hurts, injustices, resentment and anger to build colossal walls around ourselves, never to be hurt again. There is always some cross to bear. 

This is what we have to overcome. Up until this point, we have been running our lives with the beliefs instilled in our childhood. But at some point as adults, we  decide to take a look at how we act, what we are doing, where we are lacking because something has come to a head. Life has not worked out as we planned.. Everything is a mess, we are unhappy. Then, the journey starts... we take a look at this life, we start to work on ourselves to undo all the harm that has been done living on this planet... we ask the tough questions, we look into why we are sabotaging ourselves and finally we start the climb up the mountain toward finding out who we really are. 

Nobody said it would be easy; but with each step of your journey, you learn something new, something that opens the doors to the next level. You are on your way to who you were meant to be in the first place. Never worry, you are right where you need to be and you are not alone. Everything will be OK.

This is the best day, the day when you take your life back. The day that you, finally, become the most important person....to YOU. 

This 'giving our lives, our power away', seems to be a women's issue for the main part. We are the nurturers and habitually devote much of our lives to others. That is, until this day, when we awaken to the fact that it is our turn. I would say that it is an age thing, that it takes a certain amount of years to get to this point, but it isn't true. It is different for all of us. For me, I had to wait for divorce, and my children to be grown before I could think clearly enough to notice that I, too, was part of the picture. But, I have found since that time, that many much younger women seem to have been born with this info. Whenever it hits you, whenever you realize that you have not been in charge of your own life, the journey will begin. It is very uplifting to take the reins and drive your own carriage.

You are responsible for your own life. You are the only one responsible. You can’t continue to blame your parents, the government, your friends or some unknown factor, for all your self-inflicted sorrow. At some point you have get up, get over it, put your big girl/boy pants on and strut your stuff. 

No one can do it for you, and it is such a relief when you only have yourself to worry about. What everyone else is doing is none of your business. How freeing is that statement? After looking after a family, it may come as a shock to realize it is only about you, it's always only been about you. Obviously, the children are dependant on you while they are young, but it has to end. You will always be supportive of their endeavors, but they can look after themselves now.  You, definitely will continue to be kind and loving, and be much happier now that your life is your own.

So enjoy 'the best day of your life,' whenever it arrives, it will be worth the wait.

This is about silencing the mind, about ceasing to listen to the constant chatter in your head; and going with your heart. 

The fact is your heart KNOWS what to do, your heart KNOWS what you want, but outside influences interfere with your resolve. There is always the 'voice of reason,' 'the voice in your head' that says you are not to go forward with that lamebrain idea of yours. So many people die with their dreams still in them, because of someone else's idea about what they SHOULD do. 

We all have been raised with a list of DO's and DON'Ts, imposed by parents, society, culture and religion. Most rebel in their teens and then get reined in and start following the 'RULES.' The fact is these rules are imposed by fear and the need to control. The whole idea of this society is follow the 'norm.' The 'norm' is acceptable and everyone can breathe a sigh of relief when those previously rebellious teens are now 'toeing the line.' If your desire is to do something outside of the 'norm' it is generally unacceptable.

Children need to have guidelines, there does need to be order in the world, but nothing is worth burying your hopes and dreams. Actually living your life requires you to do it your way. It does not matter the opinion of others, but it never seems to be the easy way.  The 'norm' is the easy way to co-operate in the world we live in. BUT, is the soul fulfilled following this path? The people that you remember from the history books, the ones that really made a difference, followed their hearts and did what they were meant to do. 

My feeling is, you need to listen to your heart, loose your mind, and have the fulfilling life you are here to experience. What about you, are living someone else's dream? What is your opinion? What do you feel about this 'heart versus head' idea? Please feel free to tell me 'I am out of my mind,' I couldn't agree more.

Most of us have preconceived ideas and expectations as to how things should work out. We plan the whole thing, have everything wrapped up in pretty little boxes with a bow on top. We are ready... and then the truth rears it's ugly head, and it is nothing like we expected. Disappointed doesn't nearly describe the feeling we experience.

"Expectation is the root of all heartache." William Shakespeare

Life will go on... and so will the expectations. This is a hard one to get over, at least it was for me. We project our ideas on to everything, it seems; from events to purchasing a home. We have the house decorated before we even have the mortgage approval. We feel we have control if we have it all 'set up' in our minds, if we know how it will turn out.

We project expectations onto our partners, our kids etc. We want them to do, be or say what we want them to do, be or say. And again with the disappointment. At some point we have to realize that they are who they are, and they will do, be or say what THEY want to do, be or say. And, of course, the same goes for any situation, it is what it is. Are you confused yet? 

Although it may be difficult to just let go of all the expectations surrounding any given situation; once you accept it as it is and let it play out, there is no more drama or disappointment. So, surrender to what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be. 

Life will have it's ups and downs and your job is to just go with the flow, and enjoy your time here on this planet. The world was set up by a higher power than you, so it will continue to spin, even if you let go. 

Que sera sera, what will be, will be. That's life.

You are exactly where you are meant to be, you are doing exactly what you are meant to be doing, the universe is unfolding as it should.

During conversations, the statement that is shared the most is; "I stayed too long, I wish I had left 'it' years ago." The 'it' could be anything, a marriage, a business, a friendship, even your location: anything or anywhere that you were attached to, that you wanted to get out of or away from.  

You will not leave until you are ready to leave. Don't waste your time mourning the fact that you stayed for some time after you realized that it was over for you. You were in the midst of a lesson, and right where you needed to be. No time or experience was ever lost, every piece of your life was part of the whole. You are who you are because of where you have been.

Sometimes it is difficult to swallow, the situation that you find yourself in may seem completely ridiculous; and you find it hard to imagine WHY you have to go through this. WHY do I have to spend all this time on this again? WHY can't my life just be easy? WHY do I stay so long? WHY MEEEEE? 

It is part of the plan, it is for your growth, if it is meant to be, it will be. This is where hindsight comes into play, you WILL understand, and for now, just recognize that this is a lesson, and go with it. 

You are learning something, you are growing, you are becoming aware, you are opening up... you are doing life, really doing life. If you can convince yourself not to fight against the current the process will speed up... go with it. This is YOUR journey, you will spend the required amount of time on each lesson, and then move on to the next. We might not be exactly where we WANT to be, but we are precisely where we’re SUPPOSED to be; and RIGHT ON TIME!

That little voice.... the one my Mom called my conscience, the voice that knows everything. The voice that tries to warn you not to do what you so want to do, and lets you know, when you go right ahead and do it anyway. 

Remember when life was simple? Picture it.... 

You are a child and you have done something 'bad', something you knew you were not supposed to do. And what happened when you did it? You did not feel good, you had a stomach ache, you felt it; and you knew you were 'in trouble.' 

What happened to that signal, that gut reaction, that knot in your stomach? Where did the voice go?

Rest assured....it is still there. We have simply learned to ignore it, with years of practice we have gotten so we rarely notice it at all. Life has stepped in; giving us deadlines, details, commitments etc. that steal our focus. We feel we no longer have time to assess a situation, let alone be considerate or concerned about how we do it. We say and do things randomly, with no forethought; in the guise of getting things done... taking care of business. We no longer notice the simple things, or hear the voice warning us that we are going too far. We get manipulated because our early warning system is on the blink. What do we do now?  We need to reconnect.

You are either running your life on previously installed 'buttons' or intuition. The 'buttons' are causing this lack of purpose, this robotic life you are living. You are merely reacting. Conversely,  your intuition is divine, the voice, the conscience. Tune in, be aware of what is going on in your world, what you are doing and saying. Once you focus on the voice, you will find the answers. Blame, fear, and resentment will melt away and you will start to live your life with purpose.

You know what is right for you, listen to you inner voice.  

Most of us remember the old adage - "The best things is life are free." I think most of us figured out that meant not to be fooled by riches and material possessions. Nonetheless, this now seems to be the version, 'they are not things'.

The best things in life are the feelings, the emotions, the experiences, the love. All those 'things' that take place within you. The are what is real, what sustains you, what fills you up, what completes you. 

So many of us are not fulfilled, at some point in our lives, or perhaps never have been. We are not receiving what we need, leading to depression, and/or addictions. There is something missing, something we long for within, that no one seems able to touch. 

This lack, starts the search for something to fill us up, and/or dull the pain; a partner, a lover, shopping, drugs, alcohol etc. This is the beginning of looking for something outside of ourselves to make us feel whole, accepted or loved. 

The problem with all these 'answers' is the fact that they are temporary, you can never maintain the high, you must constantly be re-medicated with your addiction of choice. Instant gratification feels good only in the moment... and under it all....the ache is still there. Desperation and depression result when this is the case.. It is a never ending cycle.

"Peace comes from within.

Do not seek it without " 

Buddah

The answer to all the pain, is inside of you. You cannot blame others, because, even if you feel that they are the cause of your pain, it is the way you received/processed it that is causing your turmoil... you alone are responsible for how you feel, and you alone can make it right... for you. The things of life are not the answer. You are the answer. Seek within