"THE AWAKENING" Author Unknown

"THE AWAKENING"

Author Unknown

A time comes in your life when you finally get
it...when, in the midst of all your fears and
insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere
the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!

Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold
on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind
tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder
once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin
to look at the world through new eyes.

"This is your Awakening"

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting
for something to change ... or for happiness, safety
and security to come galloping over the next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that neither of
you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the
real world there isn't always fairy tale endings (or
beginnings for that matter). You learn that any
guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with
you...and in the process a sense of serenity is born
of acceptance.

You learn that people don't always say what they
mean or mean what they say and that not everyone
will always be there for you and that it's not always
about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take
care of yourself...and in the process a sense of
safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You realize that much of the way you view
yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of
all the messages and opinions that have been
ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift
through all the junk you've been fed about how you
should behave, how you should look, how much you
should weigh, what you should wear, what you
should do for a living, how much money you should
make, what you should drive, how and where you
should live, who you should marry, the importance
of having and raising children, and what you owe
your parents, family, and friends.

You begin reassessing and redefining who you are
and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and
needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and
values you've outgrown, or should never have bought
into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to
go with your instincts.

And that there is power and glory in creating
and contributing and you stop maneuvering through
life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and
integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era
but the mortar that holds together the foundation
upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's
not your job to save the world and that you can't
teach a pig to sing.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one
you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at
the stake.

You stop trying to control people, situations
and outcomes.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are
perfectly OK....and that it is your right to want
things and to ask for the things you want ... and that
sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to
be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and
respect and you won't settle for less.

You learn that your body really is your temple;
you begin to care for it and treat it with respect.
You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water,
and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear,
and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in
life what you believe you deserve...and that much of
life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth
working for and that wishing for something to happen
is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to
achieve success you need direction, discipline and
perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all
alone...and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is
the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself.
because to give in to fear is to give away the right
to live life on your own terms.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't
always get what you think you deserve and that
sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good
people. On these occasions you learn not to
personalize things.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most
primal state - the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger,
envy and resentment must be understood and
redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you
and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to admit when you are wrong and to
build bridges instead of walls.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for
yourself by yourself and you make yourself a
promise to never betray yourself and to never,
ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

Then, with courage in your heart and God by
your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath,
and you begin to design the life you want to live as 

best you can.