The Ten Keys to an Indomitable Spirit

It costs at least $5,000 each time you move. At least. Moving, lost work time, unpacking time, actual costs of movers, deposits, etc. Moving a lot can leave a person bereft of stability and cash flow. If you are an entrepreneur who doesn’t live on credit, it can almost stall out your life.

Truly my critics thought they could crush me by circulating the rumors and declaring me not ‘the right kind of person’ and undermining my housing situation over and over and over again.

Ah.... but they did not know who I am. Since I was a wee babe, I have been blessed from above with my most precious gift and my greatest talent. I have, for reasons only God knows, a positive outlook on life and an indomitable Spirit.  No matter what kind of circumstances I find myself thrown into, I believe the glass is always half full, God loves me,  people can change for the better anytime they choose, and tomorrow is another day.

How do I do it? It’s hard to take apart a gift. So I did some reflection because I would love for everyone in the world to have this. As near as I can take it apart and tell, these are the keys:
1. Tell yourself the truth about your life and your situation. Not the story you need in order to keep going, but the real truth. Face the facts head on. This happens by spending more time than you think necessary in self reflection.
2. Feel your pain. Breathe it in and through it like you were surfing or giving birth. It will not kill you. It will only feel like it’s going to kill you.  Your definition of ‘the worst’ will grow and expand and allow you to experience more and see more good.
3. See the possibility for good in every person and situation. Look at people through God’s eyes.  You may call God ‘the Universe’ I happen to believe there is an actual person with a personality and capacity to love, not just an energy force. But whatever works for you, look into people’s hearts and history.
4.Be willing to do hard manual labor as a part of daily life. It grounds you and gives you perspective on your place in this world.
5. Keep those lofty dreams. They are not pipe dreams, they are realities that haven’t happened yet. It can take a long time for a dream to come to fruition.
6. In bad situations, make good choices. Adding to your burdens is not a smart thing to do. Turning points come when the circumstances can seem most dire.
7. Learn from your mistakes. Own them, lest you repeat them. When you do repeat them, analyze them again.  See point #1.
8. Be kind. Do good. Never return evil for evil. These are the three that go together to lubricate your life. It keeps your heart from becoming like the Tin Man.
9. Stay in the moment. Stay present. Stay focused. Keep your mind on what you are doing. Maybe sometimes that moment is for daydreaming or catching the muse, but be as intentional as you can be about your connection to your minutes and hours.
10. Count your blessings and keep your sense of humor. These go together too.  Write them down, share them with others, think of them last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

If you follow these ten practices, you will keep better odds at not becoming an opportunist who exploits  other people and situations.

“What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?”  

Better to become a person of integrity, who believes, despite everything, that life is good and rests in their indomitable Spirit.

A book you say? This should be a book? All in good time, dear readers. All in good time. For now, try these on and see what happens.

Love,
Deborah