The Power of You

Do you realize that you are powerful?

I am serious.

You are important!

You have a defined purpose and reason for being here.

You mean something.

Your job, your friends, your family, your church, your community are all better off because you are who you are and because you play the role of being you. Say that outloud to yourself....things are better because I am here. Empowering self statement if I ever saw one!

Understanding and appreciating that we are all here for a defined purpose is something I myself have only begun contemplating for my own life but I have to admit the process has been amazing and incredibly enlightening for me. Maybe this is something that comes with age and experience but I honestly believe that isn't it. For me it was focusing on the wrong sorts of things; waiting somehow for life to magically make things good for me. My life has always been incredible and I have been lucky to have abundance of enormous proportions much of which I have always failed to understand and appreciate. But yet it wasn't until I started looking inward and seeing me for who I really am (and destined to be) that the real blinders came flying off.

What would your life look like if you rose tomorrow, looked at yourself in the mirror and thanked God, the universe or whatever you believe in for having another day on this Earth to make your contribution; a literal thank you for having the ability to be powerful in your presence and impact on the here and now! How might your perspective be shifted? How might your priorities magically realign to focus less on the small stuff and perhaps embrace more of the bigger picture? What challenges might not look so insurmountable? What changes in the world might you decide right there that you are going ot be responsible for? What brush strokes might you use to paint the new landscape you call your life?

I write this tonight knowing that I am a valuable person and I am here right now living my life for a specific purpose. I honor that which created me by embracing this fact and trying each day to find yet another piece of the puzzle to complete the picture of what makes Steve Harper Steve Harper. I also realize that I have largely spent a huge portion of my 36 short years taking with no thought of giving back.

The landscape isn't perfect. Life is hard...especially at certain times. Things aren't always going to go my way. I am owed NOTHING! But somehow that's okay. The good and the bad is what makes me who I am. It's all of that and then some and that's what I think people somehow seem to be drawn to. The power in me is the fact that "me" is a work in progress and my comfortableness in knowing that and verablizing it is what I think at times inspires others. They find power in what powers me and that fuels me to get out of bed every day. It inspires me to continue working towards being me and to further my journey and collect more pieces of my puzzle.

I also write this tonight knowing full well that the same can be said of you too. Take the time to recognize the enormous power that you bring to the lives that you touch and those you have yet to touch. Decide to take the time to realize that you are here for a purpose and give thanks for the opportunity. If you, like me, are still trying to figure out exactly what that purpose is...that's okay. Your journey of a million miles begins with that first step. Let your power be your guide and the steps come easier I promise. I guarantee a new perspective, a new reality awaits.

And imagine what Ripples this just might bring forth for you!

Ripple On!!!

Steve

Believe! I Give You Permission.

"We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

E. E. cummings
American Poet, Playwright and Essayist

I think Mr. Cummings might be onto something with this quote. In my own personal experience I found that I didn't really start believing in myself until I surrounded myself with people that believed in me. I don't understand why that is. Where did I lose my ability to believe in myself along the way?

No matter where you are in your life, your career or your own personal journey, let me declare here and now you are valuable, worth listening to and worthy of our trust. Don't let the negativity of life, however it happens or whoever offers it to you, define you. Release yourself from the grips of the people who say you can not and surround yourself with people who say you can.

If it is permission you seek to believe in yourself then consider it granted. You no longer require anything from those who hold you down. Their hold on you is now gone.

Now, what might life look like? What might it mean?

The canvass of your life starts right now! It is blank, just waiting for you to add today's brush stroke, today's color. The masterpiece that you shall paint is your life and the brush you hold is your belief.

Belief in yourself.
Belief in your abilities.
Belief in all that you are destined to accomplish.

I believe in you. Believe in yourself. Experience your life.

If you ever begin to doubt, remember this Ripple. It was begun on this day for you!


Your friend in Ripples and Belief!

Steve