Moving in a Positive Direction

"The Buddha's teaching on causes and their results makes clear that accepting responsibility for our actions is the foundation for personal well-being and fulfillment. Denying your shortcomings and blaming the world for your discontent keeps you mired in unhappiness. Bad things happen to everyone. As long as you blame your parents or society for your problems, you give yourself an excuse not to change. The moment you accept responsibility for your situation, even though others may have contributed to it, you begin to move in a positive direction."

                                                                                            Josh Bartok
                                                                                            365 Buddhist Inspirations

If you are serious about going in a positive direction in life, here are some very basic principles to help you along the way.

First things first, take responsibility for your life. Begin by understanding the link between your thoughts, your feelings, your words, and your actions. This is key in how we make sense of our human experience. Here's a simple way of looking at it. Our thoughts and feelings influence each other, always. The words we speak reflect those thoughts and bring those feelings to life inside of us and directly influences how we behave. In the circle of thoughts, feelings, words, and actions, each influences the others. And so, change in one, can change the others.

Embrace your strengths and work with your shortcomings. Denying them will keep you stuck while acknowledgment and acceptance of them will help you discover your own self-empowerment, voice, and choice power.

Stop blaming others for your problems. You give away your personal power and take on the role of victim when you play the blame game. Instead, look to yourself first and get in the habit of asking,  "What's my part in this?"

No excuses. Be accountable for choices made, actions taken, and the results of your decisions.

There is a value in looking back, but we must not live or dwell in the past. If you do, the present will slip away. Choose to live in the here and now. Focus on what you DO HAVE, what you CAN DO, and what you can CHANGE NOW.

Tell the truth, beginning with yourself. Don't hide or cover up what is, instead deal with it.

Keep moving forward. We get to where we want to be, not by doing it perfectly, but because we're moving. As you move, you will see that life responds.

Remember to just do. Stay actively engaged with life and give your attention to the right things you should be doing.

Do more of what makes you happy; do less of things that make you unhappy.

Find gratitude in your daily life. There is a strong correlation between an attitude of gratitude and happiness.

Focus on your goals in spite of setbacks, mistakes or failures. If you fall, get back up, and carry on.

Live your values. When our choices and behavior match our core values, life feels right.

Give yourself permission to move ahead. Realizing that no one is holding us back except ourselves can be truly liberating.

Know when to leave people, places, and things that undermine your self-worth, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

Choose self-compassion over self-pity; one builds while the other keeps us self-absorbed in our own misery.

Often, what is needed to move us in a positive direction are the small steps we are willing to take on our behalf every single day. Any step in the right direction is better than no step at all.

Here's to moving ourselves forward!

Thank you for reading.