Lessons...

I have taken a personal inventory of all my strengths and weaknesses and the areas I need to improve in order to move ahead, and I have set my goals and have mapped out a plan of action to see things through.

I am learning that  that it's wrong to demand that someone live their life just to serve my needs, ease my insecurities, or meet "my" standards and expectations.

I am learning that the only love worth giving and receiving is the love that is given freely without conditions or limitations.

I am learning that I need to stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

I am learning that I don't know all the answers and that it's not my job to save the world.

I am learning to keep my Ego in check and to acknowledge and redirect the destructive emotions it spawns - anger, jealousy and resentment.

I am learning that I need to stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer," hungry for looks of approval and admiration from family, friends or even strangers who pass by.

I have accepted the fact that I am not perfect and that not everyone will love, appreciate or approve of who or what I am, and that's okay. 

I have promised myself to give myself the same unconditional love and support that I have given to others.

I am learning to discard the doctrines I have outgrown, or should never have practiced to begin with.

I am learning that it is important that I am the person I want to be and not someone that others think I "should be" and that others cannot know what is best for me, although perhaps they sometimes think they do.

I am learning that forgiveness of self is necessary before others can forgive me.