How Do You Walk Through the World?

Are you confident, striding through the world, completely in control? Are you relentlessly curious, trying new things without a moment of caution? Do you exhibit a particular manner of expression? Are you distinctively casual, formal, or friendly, and follow your own code in whatever company you are with? When a new situation arises, do you dive right in, and damn the consequences? And if things don’t turn out the way you hoped, do you have a humorous way of looking at it, accepting all that happens with a philosophical outlook?

Or are you cautious, taking tentative steps so as not to disturb the status quo. Do you follow a convention that demands that you acquiesce and obey? Do you assess each situation thoughtfully, careful not to upset or anger anyone? Sometimes life is hard. If someone does become angry with you, and expresses their displeasure in hurtful terms, do you feel fear and remorse? Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we do something or say something that meets with someone’s disapproval. Retribution can be tough and harsh, leaving us feeling depressed and full of regret. When that happens, we are left with little recourse, except to strike back, which is dangerous, or suffer in silence, which is self-defeating.

But if we wish to live a rich life, participating fully in relationships, we must take these risks. We must be prepared to walk through loss, heartache, and disappointment. We must be prepared to walk through the fire and take the hard knocks along with the pleasures and satisfactions of life.  And thankfully we can handle anything. We have the strength to overcome the toughest problems life throws at us. And we all use different and unique ways to motivate ourselves when things become difficult. For some, it is possible to glean wisdom and strength from the trials we overcame in the past. For others, learning about the courage of others can help us to move forward through our hardships more easily.

It is important to remember, though, that you must not limit yourself by a belief that there should be a particular manner or technique by which this is designed. Rather, each of us must find our own path and follow it. Admittedly, this is easier said than done. Our culture has certain norms that most people must follow if they wish to be accepted and loved. It is our choice whether we want to adopt them or strike out on our own.

Whatever you choose to do, let these motivating quotes inspire you to find the strength to overcome the toughest problems life throws at you. They may help you out of a slump or a period of depression:

You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. -Marcus Aurelius.

Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. One of the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn. -Oprah Winfrey

It’s always darkest before the dawn. (Thomas Fuller) I’m especially fond of this proverbial expression. It means that there is hope for the future, even when you’re going through hardships in life. It suggests that the emotional pain you experience or the anxiety you feel will not last forever. It’s a motivating statement designed to inspire you and pull you out of your current despondency. You’re encouraged to change your thinking and open yourself to new possibilities and opportunities in life, to hold on and fight through the dark times and to walk into the light of success.

And lastly, here are some verses from a song by George Jones:

In life we search
And some of us find
I’ve looked for you
A long, long time.
Walk through this world with me
Go where I go
Share all my dreams with me
I need you so
And now that I’ve found you
New horizons I see
Come take my hand
And walk through this world with me.

How you walk through the world is a signal to others about how to treat you, how to approach you. Always walk with courage and confidence, and faith in yourself to withstand the hardest knocks that life has to offer. Just remember, the hard knocks will always be there—to try you and test you for however long you walk this world.

(Credit for this topic goes to a friend. MM you know who you are.)