Finding a new path.

I must remember that all these self help books and books which describe a vision for the future; intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. These are not real life. They are an aid to us in real life and must only be considered when we truly have that door open to us. It is not true that every door is ALWAYS open to us. There are times when life requires real sacrifice and one must remain resolved in the face of unhappiness. Everything good and worth fighting for does not lie on a journey that is pleasant and brings one riches. At times the journey may be heartbreaking, soul-wrenching, and mind-numbing. A very important aspect of this journey is forgiveness. So that we may avoid revenge and feelings of resentment toward our life path. What I truly mean to say is that acceptance is a necessary part of life and a part of life which is unavoidable if we wish to be true to ourselves. At times, sacrifice is ugly and may not even be praiseworthy in terms of glory and respect. What I speak of is personal conviction and a radical alliance to one’s perception of the world. For if we were to believe that all the self help books in the world held the keys to everlasting success and happiness, then our world would be a place where the sun always shines and the rain is always sweet. It is important to remember what we mean by the word challenging or sacrifice. As there are times where challenging means uncomfortable, and this is what most authors offering guidance speak of. And there are times where challenging means, change. Change meaning the path of acceptance in the face of uncompromising uncertainty and heightened fear. Fate is a healthy part of life which we are better off accepting lest we run into a perpetual expectation of beauty and joy in the world, without unhappiness and without true devotion. For any human can tell you, there is beauty in the struggle as well. There is joy in real sacrifice as well. There is strength in acceptance and understanding of that which is greater and more powerful than ourselves. I do not mean to preach for one side or the other if I am to be making sides. As usual in these cases, I mean to draw attention to the balance one must hold in the face of such a fine line which splits the difference between the two paths I have outlined. As usual, serenity must be relied upon as the determinant of such a decision as discerning one’s mentality in the face of growth and an ever changing world. For if I am to grow and adapt, patience and bravery must be dealt with in turn.