Dear Me,

What we tell ourselves is important. Our words have meaning, and that meaning affects what we believe. Often I hear the words “I can’t.” This is the idea that we are unable, incapable, not permitted. Another similar line I hear is “I don’t know how.” Again, the idea that we are unable, incapable, and in this case we have not permitted ourselves to try, to find out, to learn. I’m a stickler for how this is phrased and for correcting and rephrasing it.

My two favorite rephrases are the addition of a small but significant word on the end – the word “yet;” and the rephrasing of “I cant,” or “I don’t know how,” into “I’m learning. Both of these rephrases denote a hopeful future state of “can” – of possibility, of being able to do so in some future state. Both of these also make the present moment an active process of acquiring what is necessary to turn “can’t” into “can.” They also form a decision of commitment to the process of learning. And, finally, these two rephrases give us permission; to try, to make mistakes, to fail, to learn, to try again, to succeed in the process and empower ourselves; proving and instilling in ourselves that “can’ts” and “don’t know hows” do become “cans” and “know hows.”

-Dear Me Original Thought

Dear Me,

Dear Me,

Dear Me,

“Action in life can be reduced to two factors: positioning and timing. If we are not in the right place at the right time, we can not possibly take advantage of what life has to offer us. Almost anything is appropriate if an action is in accord with the time and the place. But we must be vigilant and prepared. Even if the time and the place are right we can still miss our chance if we do not notice the moment, if we act inadequately, or if we hamper ourselves with doubt and second thought. When life presents an opportunity, we must be ready to seize it without hesitation or inhibition. Position is useless without awareness. If we have both we make no mistakes

– Deng Ming-Cao

Dear Me,

Dear Me,

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

– Søren Kierkegaard

Dear Me,

Empty the cup. Let go. Release.

Dear Me,

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”

–Martin Luther

Dear Me

“It is better to walk one’s own path poorly, than to walk another’s path exquisitely.”

Bhagavad Gita

Dear Me,

“Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out — it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.”

-Unknown