Eight of Hearts

What's on your mind this week?  Are you enjoying the summer sunshine and planning a fun vacation?  If you are a soccer fan, then you are probably watching the World Cup games.  Maybe you are frustrated and troubled by the news reports of the oil spill in the Gulf and other disturbing things that are happening in society right now.  Hopefully, the Eight of Hearts can help you focus on possibilities and potential this week instead of disaster and dread.  Our analogy this week will deal with an 8-sided object that you probably see daily - the Stop sign.

What happens after you stop at the sign?  You usually have the option to continue going straight, make a right turn, go left, or turn around and go back the way you came.  One thing is certain.  You have to continue moving.  Those same principles can be applied to other areas of your life.  When you pause to determine which way to go, keep straight if traffic is moving at a steady pace, the route takes you past multiple places of interest, or there are multiple lanes available.  In other words, take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.  If you want to go back to school or pursue additional training, the availability of funding and classes will influence your decision.  As long as the money and courses are available, keep going.  When you need to integrate separate areas of your life (home, work, family, friends, community, etc.), find common threads to tie them together.  Share recipes, books, or hobbies that may appeal to multiple groups.  Recognize the value of flexibility in the pursuit of your goals.  For improved fitness, consider the significance of diet, exercise, and environment.  Relationship success can be impacted by compassion, reliability, and sensitivity to the needs of others.  Career progress is affected by different variables that may include your manager, corporate culture, and work assignments.  All of the lanes, or paths, will  get you to the destination.  However, different approaches may be necessary to help you arrive safely and on time.

Turn right at the intersection when you encounter roadblocks, need fuel, or have a new driver observing you.  Sometimes a barrier can actually be a good thing for you.  It causes you make adjustments and think outside of the box.  If you want to start your own business, don't get discouraged when you experience setbacks.  Use your creativity to turn the situation into a strategic advantage for you.  For example, if you have problems getting funding from traditional sources, consider alternative means of financing.  If your business will provide a tangible benefit to the community, do the research to see how local government and civic organizations may be able to help.  They may be able to refer you to grant and sponsorship programs that can assist you.  You definitely don't want any delays when you need fuel and are trying to get to a station to replenish your tank.  It is important to recognize who or what energizes you.  Fill up on a regular basis so you are not running on empty.  This will help you make the right decisions at the right time for the right reasons.  When others observe you they will get the right message.  Everyone is a role model to someone.  You lead by example even when you are unaware of being watched.  

Turn left for access to parallel parking spaces on the street or to safely navigate sharp curves.  Sometimes you might have to operate within tight time lines to achieve your desired results.  You get better at this particular skill set with practice.  Negotiate start and end points for tasks that fit into your schedule and allow you room to maneuver.  It helps you and those who may be in a position to assist you if you have a clear vision of what you want to do and where you want to go.  However, sometimes you cannot anticipate what you will find around the next corner.   Slow down and proceed with caution when you approach unfamiliar territory.  Embrace change and recognize that there is more than one way to accomplish your end result.

Do not turn around and go back the way you came unless it is absolutely necessary.  You want to move forward, not backward.  If you must choose this option, look for beneficial right and left turns that you may have missed the first time.