Hey! Listen To My Words Of Wisdom!

I have all the answers. Seriously, go on. Ask me a question. Seven. The answer is seven. A handful of people are really freaked out right now.

Like a good beer, I’ll lift you up and won’t let you down. I simply tell you how it is, what to do, and where to go. When this post is over, I might even put one of my favorite quotes on an image of a pastel bird at a feeder so you can share it with your friends. Hashtag Fierce. No – Reborn. Hashtag Fierce Reborn. Yeah. That’s it.

Sharing my thoughts are something I enjoy doing, to be honest. I have pondered thought more than I should about things that shouldn’t linger in my head. I try to analyze the decisions of others and how they affect me. Sometimes, I worry that I don’t operate in the most practical of ways. My focus is always more “big picture” and I say things like, “If this was a movie, this would be the part where…”

So when I get to share these thoughts with others via the world wide web, it brings me peace. Getting stories out of my head and perspectives into the universe gives me a sense of purpose. Hopefully, it does something for those reading them too. Although, if I’m being honest, the split is, at best, 50/50.

Here’s the only issue, though. I will sit here and write an entire post about how to be a better person. I’ll give a laundry list of soundbites and ideas that make it seem like I’m the best thing since sliced Dalai Lama. You can stand up, dust yourself off, and move forward with a sense of purpose. You’re welcome.

Then, sometimes within minutes of posting, I turn around and do the exact opposite thing in my own life. Yeah. Exact opposite. Hi Blog. I’m Hypocrite.

It doesn’t happen every time and, since I’m being ridiculously honest right now, writing these things out helps me keep me on track more than actually reflecting my consistent behavior. My stories are real and my thoughts are genuine, but I am not perfect by any longshot.

I can punch out a thousand words about how you – yeah, you – are a strong person. You’re the sum of your actions and not your thoughts. Every single thing you do makes up who you are and, if you’re not happy with anything you have done, you can start fresh at any moment. It’s never too late to be proud. It’s never too late to be strong. Don’t let others tear you down. You should be proud of yourself every moment of every day.

Click. Save. Post. Publish. Done.

Then someone says something sideways to me and it knocks me down the emotional ladder. Rather than valuing my own self worth, I allow someone else to shape how I see myself. Although I do consider myself a confident person, that confidence can be shaken.

The worst part is that I know not to let it happen. Hell, I just wrote a soliloquy about it. I am aware of the pitfalls and haters around me. It’s as simple as going back and reading my own words telling others to not let haters define them.

Yet, here I am allowing a hater to define me.

I’m not alone in this. I know that almost every single person who has ever read an inspirational quote or posting feels the same way. The worst part about slipping from the grace that you put yourself on the path of is that, well, you know better. In fact, you know you know better. I know it too.

If you’re like me, you beat yourself up a bit for it. It’s not just about confidence either. It’s about anything. It’s about our relationships, our parenting, and how we interact with the world around us. It’s one thing to be ignorant of the right things to do. It’s another to have knowledge and then watching yourself fail to follow it.

For me, it comes down to reminding myself that I am a work in progress. We all are. The only way you’re not is if you are dying in the very moment. From the cradle to the grave, we are always learning, changing, and evolving. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and, no matter how many Monday Motivations you scroll through, you’re never going to be perfect every time.

These moments of clarity aren’t limited to brief passing missteps. You could find yourself looking back on huge chunks of your life from a fresh perspective and shaking your head over what you allowed to happen. In some cases, you revisit memories that you recalled a thousand times and can’t believe how you missed the main thing that you did wrong or, worse, allowed others to do wrong unto you. Life can be shocking sometimes. If this was a movie, this would be the part where the main character’s eyes bugged out and the screen started to swirl.

I have experienced that many times. I’ve seen my life from different points of view on countless occasions. Most times I am proud. Others, I am shocked. But regardless, I always try to learn from them.

No one has all the answers. Even those offering words of wisdom can be plagued with self-doubt and human errors from time to time. I’m no different. Take what you learn and apply it to your life, but don’t kick yourself when you find yourself less than perfect. We all go through it. There’s a reason why the phrase is “it’s easier said than done.”

Now, go out there and live your best life. Reach for the stars. Give ‘em what you got. Just remember, you get more than one take in this movie.