Poor Walter's Almanac

Whether we are trying to repair a relationship, or improve ourselves, or succeed at something great, it is critical that we don't get complacent as we start to see change and progress. It is critical that we not let down our guard, that we are vigilant every moment, that we are practicing our new tools and skills every moment, because if we assume we've locked in the changes when we haven't actually given it enough time, we are likely to regress and slip back into old patterns of self-sabotage and failure.

Social Anxiety Disorder is about being afraid that when we speak people will judge us harshly, think we're stupid, foolish, etc. Social Media Anxiety Disorder is about being afraid that when we tweet or post, people will judge us harshly, think we're stupid, foolish, etc. What's the best way to deal with either disorder: Tweet Others As You Wish To Be Tweeted.

I have two personal examples from my life that suggest to me that dogs do reincarnate. It's a fascinating series of coincidences at the very least, even if you don't buy into the concept.

When we have sufficient self-esteem our ego is neither inflated by adulation nor threatened by minimization from others. This leads to us making wise, empowering decisions in our lives.

First look inward. Don't be afraid to hold a mirror up to yourself. Don't shoot the messenger. Have the courage to acknowledge the good, the bad, and the ugly within yourself. Make a commitment to change, to move from the darkness to the Light. And then DO IT!

We ignore the red flags in our lives and then we complain how unfair the world is when our lives don't work the way we want them to. The time to respond to the handwriting on the wall is immediately upon seeing it, not days, weeks, months or years later after suffering the consequences of inaction.

What if we are collectively projecting our unconscious beliefs onto the "screen" we call the universe, and then believing that our projections are reality and are independent of the thoughts in our mind?

Truly loving, nurturing and sustainable relationships are not happening for a great many of us. The reasons for this have to do with our ego getting in the way, with our unwillingness to be more thoughtful, tolerant and considerate, with our unwillingness to rise above the battlefield, to release our anger and resentments from the past, to effectively communicate, to negotiate differences and to establish, maintain and respect boundaries. I say unwillingness because although it may be difficult to do these things, we choose not to. Loving relationships are not the result of accidents or luck, they are the result of healthy choices.

People can change. They need to really want to. They need to really work at it. They need to have the right tools.

What if we are collectively projecting our unconscious beliefs onto the "screen" we call the universe, and then believing that our projections are reality and are independent of the thoughts in our mind?