Details, Details.

Faith does not challenge the details, “When, where, why, how?”
When I walk in the light––fear, doubt, and negativity are lost in the shadows;
All that remains is a bright path.
In that radiance, the specifics become clear and the present is all that matters.

Acknowledge the Present

Sometimes––when I’m feeling sad or I’ve give weight to the thoughts in my head––I allow myself to live in a space of negativity.
A destructive habit that feeds my ego, especially because I know that nothing creative or productive is cultivated in the type of energy.
With one breath and a gentle reminder, I identify the issue causing my negativity, release the fear, accept the current circumstances for what they are, and take action to get back on track.
The simple act of acknowledgement inspires positive action, creativity, and the ability to see that the past and future are no match for the present.

The Light in You

When the negative energy is overwhelming;
The mind becomes concentrated on giving into the doubt.
When you are surrounded by darkness externally;
Close your eyes and find the light inside––it will always be there.
We have the tools to triumph in even the darkest storms.

Express Yourself

Express yourself.
It’s more than just a song by Madonna;
It is our greatest tool to shine.
When our hidden shadow and our conscious-self collaborate to manifest an authentic experience––we become aware, and therefore create the most enlightened version of ourself.

Grandpa Knew Best

My grandpa used to tell me that I worried, too much.
I would sit at the table while my grandma and grandpa read the morning paper, and my mind would be lost in thought;
Grandpa would ask, “What’s wrong Matt?”
I would shake my head and say, “nothing.”
He would laugh, and then remind me, “Life is short––don’t worry so much. Whatever you’re thinking about, if you want to do it––do it; if you don’t want to do it––don’t do it.”
It was simple, albeit lost on me at the time.
But grandpa was right, and it works this way, too:
If you want to be angry––be angry; if you don’t want to be angry––don’t be angry.
There’s no point in allowing someone or something to effect your life.
Release and move on.
The past is gone, why live there in your mind?

Courage

In order to live a full life––I have to release the ideas and expectations I perceive from society;
Self-inflicted thoughts bully me into unproductive patterns.
Staying aware, present in the moment and open to the opportunity that exist today; not waiting for a bigger, better, brighter experience tomorrow.
Every adventure starts NOW and leads to a journey that is more magnificent than any plan or dream.

Take The Step

The first step can be overwhelming;
Anticipation, fear of the unknown, and doubt make it hard to lift your leg.
With a deep breath you find the strength to lift your leg––soon you’re walking one foot in front of the other.
Soon you’re in a full stride with grace and confidence;
Pushing yourself toward new opportunities.
With action comes adventure!

Reaction

Some people seek a reaction in order to validate their presence.
Others complain in search of being heard.
Awareness means letting go of the judgment––often a non-response says everything you need it to;
By silencing your thoughts, you gain consciousness in the present.
The inner voice can rest, free from labeling a situation good or bad:
You are at peace.

I Am

I am here in this moment;
Nothing more, nothing less––
The past is behind me and cannot be changed,
The future is in the distance and cannot be promised.
I exist in this moment: Aware, Grateful, Focused; seeking enlightenment.

Be Happy

My grandpa used to say, “If you want to be happy, be happy. If you want to be upset, be upset.”
The lighthearted wisdom with which he spoke would encourage me to think rather than react in anger, which is what would happen if anyone else would try to talk me out of a bad mood.
I was never able to grasp the ability to, “be happy” as a teenager; I was too busy caught up in the need to express my disappointment.
My grandpa was the only man I’ve ever met, who was able to stay calm and smile through almost any circumstance.
Even on his deathbed he reminded me, “Don’t be sad Matt, I’m so proud of you.”
For grandpa, Faith and the power of making a choice was all he needed to accept everything that life delivered to him.
“Happy” is a choice.  It requires releasing everything that is provoking un-happy feelings––which is tough to do if you love the drama, but necessary if you want to find inner peace.

Escape Negativity and Shine

I have two options:
Fear or Faith.
People can only disappoint you, when you give them the power to.
I need to ask for what I want (which I’m fairly good at) and then move on whether they help me or not (which I’m fairly bad at).
Life is too short to live in negativity.
So I must do whatever it takes to crawl out of the darkness and into the light.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the light switch, but it’s always worth it once you shine.

Open Note To Haters

Allowing someone else's doubt to dictate my life isn't going to work for me.
I can't be concerned with your thoughts––I have plenty of my own thank you.

Note To Self:

The moment I allow fear to dictate my path, is the instant I've completely missed the point of life.

In Knots

Twisting and turning,
A sea of dread and anger.
Daydream to forget.

Daily Reminder

Life is as easy or difficult as we allow it to be!
I've blogged this before, and I'll blog it again, because it is a reminder that continues to evade me from time to time.
Once I remember that I can release the shitty circumstances and reinvent my outlook, I seem to thrive.
So, I'll ask myself this question:
Why the f_ck would I choose to make life any harder?
Dump that nonsense and move on!

Fear

Fear is the enemy of creativity.
It slowly destroys the imagination-
Replacing peace of mind with confusion.

Keep The Faith

It's easy to doubt, fear and question,
However it's more rewarding to trust, love and take action.
I've experienced the outcome of negative and positive thoughts; without question, the positive energy always leads to a more rewarding outlook and subsequently a brighter result.
No matter the circumstance, there is power in recognizing we can manifest phenomenal things with Faith.

Note To Self:

When life seems overwhelming-
Remember your vacation on Hawaii,
Close your eyes,
Visualize the calming sea,
Release the fears that are holding you back,
Trust in the plan that is set in motion,
And shut the F_@K up and get to work, (so that you can pay for that trip to Hawaii)!

Another Friendly Reminder to Myself:

I worry too much.
I always have. Especially as a child-
Any of my energy that wasn't spent acting out skits for my family (or more-so for myself in front of a mirror) was exhausted in deep thought.
I overanalyzed, questioned and contemplated every detail of my life.
I concerned myself with how others might react to my decisions, and for the better part of my young adult life, I continued this pattern.
Allowing the actions or reactions from others, to dictate the way I communicated, planned or approached a situation.
Finally, after several life changing events, I made an epic self discovery:  I am not responsible for how others react to my decisions.  My choices are mine, and the only person I have to please, is myself.
Not out of selfishness, but rather full of self-respect.
I have strong opinions.  I still overthink things and I'm highly critical of myself, however, I've managed to adopt a healthier outlook on pursuing my goals and finding balance in my life.
As an artist, I struggle with "the question" which I now call "checking in."
Should I continue to purse my goals?
This question that lingers over my head, is the primary reason I've committed myself to daily journaling and my creative writing on this blog.  I'm dedicated to my growth as a person: mentally, physically, emotionally, artistically and spiritually.  I want to live a balanced life-  therefore, it is necessary for me to evolve in my ideas and adapted to the opportunities (and setbacks) that I am faced with.
I wouldn't continue to work my ass off every single day if I didn't believe that I am destined to achieve my goals.
I never thought about deadlines growing up.  I just knew that I was going to "make it."  As time passed and I got a little older, I began to see others giving themselves ultimatums and setting timelines.  "If I don't [Fill in the blank] by my thirtieth birthday, then I will quit.
What's the point?  If my goals are still real in my mind, then why on earth would I stop pursing them- especially after all of the time I've invested.
As long as I have a point of view that is uniquely mine, and the passion to share it- I'm going to fight to get it heard!
Allowing anything other than positive energy and Faith to motivate me, is an utter waste of time.

Moving On...

Moving on from a bad day can be tough.
But what's done is done,
It's time to put the past behind me and have some fun.
Deep breathes in. Deep breathes out.
Smile, release fear and remove doubt.
Besides, if I died tomorrow would I really care about yesterday?