#266: A Reason For Living

Many times in our lives we feel defeated, unwanted, unsuccessful. Maybe it's during our journey to weight loss and better health when we have a temporary setback. Maybe it's in our relationships with others or in our work.

But there definitely are times when we do not feel our best.

What do we do then?

I suggest we step back and count our blessings, celebrate living and submit ourselves to the universal power that exists that is much, much greater than ourselves. Sure, we can detail our physical blessings -- eyesight, hearing, etc., if we have them -- but there is a spiritual blessing we should also be thankful for and which will carry us out of the depths of our occasional despair.

Remember the Biblical story of the rich man related in Mark 10? From the outside his life seemed full. He had wealth, power and status. But on the inside his life was shallow. This rich, young ruler was bored. He sensed that something was missing, yet he could not bear to give up his wealth for that he lacked. In the story, when asked to give up his possessions to follow Jesus, the man refused. He was too tied to his material life to see that a spiritual life was more important than physical things and celebrity.

Simply watching ocean tides, viewing a mountain vista or the beauty of a butterfly, seeing the innocence of young children or smiling at the playful antics of little puppies and kittens will expose us to an essence of life that will restore our spirits.

When the next downtime hits, let's try to focus our minds on the miracle of life itself. If we submit ourselves to the essential goodness of the universe, we will realize the blessings that have been bestowed on all of us.

Doing so will reassure us that our temporary problems will not last and that better times will again soon come our way.