LOVE IT: Daily OM

January 29, 2007. The Impossible Dream. Right In Front Of You.
Source: http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2007/6839.html

"When it comes to the things we want, there always seems to be an endless list. No matter how many times we get something off that list, we add new things to replace it. In life, this drama of wanting and getting and wanting is all part of the dance. The things we want motivate us to get up and get them.

And yet, at the same time, we can torment ourselves with our wanting, especially when we want something we can't have or can't find. It is in cases like these that it might be fruitful to entertain the idea that maybe what you really want is right in front of you. Maybe you are using this desire you can't fulfill to distract you from truly engaging the blessings you already have. It may seem like that doesn't make sense, yet we do it all the time. It may be easier to see in other people than to see it in ourselves. We have all heard our friends wishing they were more this or less that, and looking at them we see clearly that they are everything they are wishing they were. We know people who have wonderful partners and yet envy you & yours. We wish we could give these people a look at their situations from our perspective so that they could see that what they want really is right in front of them.

It's not too far-fetched to consider that we might be victims of the same folly. It can be scary to have what we want. We get caught up in the chase and forget to enjoy the beauty right in front of us-like a child who never wants the toy she has in her hand but always the one just out of her reach. Take a moment today to consider the many things you are holding in the palm of your hand and how you might best play with them. "
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I'm an inspiration addict, especially when it comes to inspirational messages and quotes. I believe we are constantly surrounded by messages that remind of the ways in which we should be living our life and interacting with others. So, naturally, I subscribed to Daily OM to help me focus on a different message every day that helps keep me on that positive path. Sometimes the messages seem completely irrelevant, but sometimes they really speak to me. When I read today's Daily OM message of The Impossible Dream, I realized that I've been harboring a frustration with people wanting what they don't have, thinking it will make them happier, while completely ignoring how blessed and wonderful they already are.

It's easy to see other people ignoring their gifts, but it's not always easy to see what we're ignoring. There are a lot of times when I feel like I already have a great appreciation for the gifts I've been given, but then why is it that I keep paying attention to this message and getting frustrated by others ignoring it? I believe that frustration and anger toward others is a symptom of failing to address our own issues. So, when I start to feel like I'm getting frustrated with someone or am angry about something they did, I put myself in check and ask myself why their actions are bothering me so much. The answers aren't always easy to find, and sometimes it takes several instances for me to recognize where my frustration is coming from. It's reminders like these that help me find greater happiness in everyday life and to be thankful for how fortunate I already am.