Don’t worry so much about trying to write a story with a happy ending, Dear One.

Today, instead, focus your efforts on writing a story about a happy journey.

If someone that you love, Dear One, is not living up to your expectations of them, instead of being disappointed, instead of trying to change them, instead of trying to fix them, instead of trying to force yourself to stop loving them in order to put an end to your unhappiness, why not simply change your expectation of them instead?

That contrast that you are cursing Dear One, is the teacher that you have been asking for.

You can rage at it or learn from it.

The choice is yours.

We believe that the price of success is Connection, Trust, and Joy, Dear One.

What do you believe the price of success is?

Because whatever you believe, is what you are going to have to pay to achieve it.

Discipline is a mindset, Dear One, an attitude, an approach, a guide, a commitment.

It is not a contract, a commandment, an order, a doctrine, or a law that must be followed.

Discipline is flexible, malleable, adaptable, and strong.

It is not hard, rigid, tough, and unforgiving.

Discipline is the boat on the water Dear One, not the rope tethering you to the dock.

It is the compass pointing your way, not the points plotted out on a map

It is the sail, and not the anchor.

Practicing discipline should strengthen you, empower you, guide you, help you to feel stronger, freer, more connected and in-synch with the world around you. Not frustrate you, weaken you, and leave you feeling depleted and restricted.

If what you are practicing is not not serving you in all of these positive ways Dear One, there is a very good chance that what you are practicing is not discipline at all, but that you are just being hard on yourself, and that is not the same thing.

Our challenge for you today, Dear One, is for you NOT to try and change your world.

Our challenge is for you is to make the choice to simply change the way you see it.

Succeed, and you will discover first hand exactly how it is possible for anything/everything to change in an instant.

Do you want to know which of your relationships are sustainable, Dear One, and which are not?

If you do, ask yourself this question:

• At its core, is the connection one that is based on a foundation of growth, or one of attachment?

One of the two is sustainable, and the other is not.

It’s just that simple.

But remember this; that letting go of the attachment does not necessarily mean letting go of the relationship.  It could mean that.  But it could also be the start of something new, something different, something really great.

Making the decision to be brave, Dear One, to act bravely, is far from a risky decision.

In fact, it is probably one of the safest decisions that you can make.

Why?

Because being brave requires you to trust, and in order to trust you must connect with your heart, listen to what it has to say, and allow it to guide you.

What could be safer than that?

You want to play it safe, Dear One?

Connect, trust, and take the leap.

Allow yourself to relinquish control, Dear One.

Allow yourself to bond with your own heart.

Allow yourself to feel its beating.  Allow yourself to feel its wanting.  Allow yourself to feel its passion.   Allow yourself to notice its subtleties – when it is happy, or glad, or giddy, when it is questioning, when it is certain, when it is emotionless, when it is filled with joy, filled with regret, filled with sadness, filled with love.

Allow yourself to feel it all, Dear One.  Allow yourself to want more for yourself than just the absence of discomfort, the absence of pain, the absence of desire.

Please do not make it your hearts ambition to feel as little as possible, Dear One.

For that would be as great a loss as choosing to close your eyes forever after witnessing only one sunrise.

If you continue to hold on to the belief that you can’t, Dear One, that it’s too hard, difficult, or complicated, life will go right on proving to you that you are right.