We all come to a period in our lives when friendly advice and helpful efforts to motivate us crosses the boundary of acceptability and becomes more of a curse to us than others had intended. We learn that not only are we aware of our own limitations but of others expectations and wants. It clouds our judgements and can be positively detrimental to our progress, blocking our paths and hampering our success to self recognition.

These times are sent to us as a trial, a way we can test our progress and resolve, confirming success or creating doubts. There is no point in getting upset when others pinpoint our lack of progress, blaming our moods or hot-headed traits as being the fault. We need to work it out for ourselves using a methodical approach and not allow others to lay claim to our progress.

I have been tested much like this in recent months and I can’t say that I performed well. I took umbrage at the regular pokes and the unremitting criticisms. No matter how much I tried to take the comments well, something deep inside me just couldn’t accept the on-going faults that were being thrust in my face. It takes immense courage and self respect to be balanced enough to not feel attacked or maligned at times like these, and for me it confirmed that I still had a lot of work to do on myself.

So as a result I took this sabbatical and have tried on a regular basis to improve my position, ever hopeful of drawing nearer to neutrality. I am still a long way off and may not achieve what my heart is set on in this lifetime, but I will work hard to try and attain it and in the process the lack of self motivation that has hampered me in the past will become less of an issue. I will no longer need a friendly reminder to highlight my lack of progress or have areas shown to me as being obviously in need of improvement. I will be confident of my approach and will happily digest any help that may be offered in the hope that my dream, to be neutral and balanced, will become a reality. God bless.