Apologies work when a mistake is made, but not when trust is broken. Only forgiveness and changed behavior works to restore trust. In life you’re going to make mistakes but try your best to never break trust. Forgiving is easy, but forgetting and trusting again feels nearly impossible. You may have trusted someone with your heart only to become heartbroken. When trying to mend the pieces they break it again. Surely this time around your heart won’t get broken again, but it did. Emotions are temporary, how you act on them determines the direction into which you are heading. Most of us decide to hold emotions in only to mask the pain. Some allow their emotions to control them instead of managing them. On the outside you smile, but on the inside, you feel like you’re screaming. Your external world feels ok until you imagine the life you could have had with them. You’re looking for a euphoric love. A love that leaves you high and never brings you down. It’s unrealistic because you’ve romanticized fantasies played over and over in your head from several sources, but the one TRUE source of love is The Creator. God offers an agape love that is unconditional and impossible to find in anyone else. However, when you’re open to this kind of love and surrender your own agenda to the agenda of The Creator’s, you end up offering yourself the best kind of love. Self-love. You no longer compromise your core values and beliefs; you begin to forgive yourself for past mistakes and relationships while opening yourself up to love again. Love is subjective with many layers. Love is also a verb; it is action and not merely just a 4-letter word. What love means for one person, may not be the same to another. Learn to understand your own love language and then understand the love languages of the people around you. When you learn to love others from how they receive love, it minimizes disconnect, discord and dysfunction. In turn teach others how to love you by forgiving, offering grace and being clear about your love language(s). We all need love.
For 30 days every morning and every night, find a mirror, stand up straight, and confidently say the following out loud:
I, _________, choose my thoughts. I know that doing my best starts with thinking my best. Like laying a path for adventure, these thoughts will set the course for my actions. I’m confident that what I think matters. I’m excited to see what happens next. I’m disciplined and dedicated to stick with it. Here are ten things I know:
- Today is brand-new and tomorrow is too.
- I’ve got a gift worth giving.
- The only person standing in my way is me, and I quit doing that yesterday
- I am the CEO of me, and I am the best boss.
- Winning is contagious. When I help others win, I win too.
- Feeling uncomfortable is just a sign that my old comfort zone is having a hard time keeping up with me.
- Momentum is messy. (As you progress forward in life, it will come with setbacks, keep going!)
- Everything is always working out for me.
- I am my biggest fan.
- The best response to obstacles is to do it anyway.
In the morning:
I pulled the slingshot back. I’m not leaving this room, I’m launching from it, ready for a day of untold opportunities. I’ve packed honesty, generosity, laughter, and bravery for the road ahead. Watch out, world! It’s time to step up, step out, and step in.
In the evening:
What a day! The best part is I left myself a lot of fun things to work on tomorrow. When my head hits that pillow, I’m off the clock, storing up energy and excitement for a brand-new day.
