Excerpt of The Daily Motivator message for
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Missed opportunities
by Ralph Marston
There is no limit to the number of ways you can experience joy. So there is no reason to ever stay disappointed about missed opportunities for joy.
Take that disappointment and let it push you forward to express and experience new joy. It could very well be that you discover a joy even more profound than what you missed out on.
Life’s good possibilities keep on coming. Don’t miss the next one because you’re too wrapped up in disappointment over the last one.
Emotional impulsiveness can sometimes work in your favor, dear Aries, but only if you’re acting from a place of understanding and heart, not from insecurity. Relationships or projects can be in strong focus today, but past mistakes or challenges may figure strongly in your mind. There could be a disappointment or a misjudgment now which needs correcting. Fortunately, September’s energies are strong for making edits. Energy levels are up and down today. You’re getting a reminder that taking care of mental health is not something to ignore, and that you should aim to respect your natural body energy rhythms instead of challenging them. Love and creativity are emphasized today, particularly on the job. You might decide to turn a hobby into something a little more practical, or a fantasy into something concrete and meaningful. This is a potentially strong day for personal attraction as well.
Taurus
Taurus
There may be a small disappointment in your social life today, dear Taurus, possibly due to overblown expectations. You may be questioning a situation that is ambiguous, particularly related to romantic and platonic friendships. It’s not a time for coming to a solid conclusion or a point of closure, so it’s better to wait things out. Even though there is increasing energy for creative and romantic matters in your life these days, you could be tired, overworked, or feeling temporarily lacking in inspiration, making it difficult to tap into your creativity just for the moment. This simply means it’s time to take a small break until you regain your composure. Even so, you are certainly magnetic and attractive right now, drawing attention to you. You are especially aware of, and awake to, creative and romantic impulses.
Gemini
Gemini
There can be sensitivity when it comes to reputation or career matters today, dear Gemini, or you could be confused about where you stand. Hold off on very important decision making and large purchases if possible. The need to make adjustments and changes in work-life balance can be obvious now, but should be made when you’re more confident. You are searching for more meaning and a stronger direction in life, and paying a little more attention to intuition to guide you as definite answers don’t seem easy to come by these days. While there can be some tendency to get caught up in rumors, there is good, creative energy for communicating, connecting, and sharing or learning. Your heart is ruling your head today, and there can be some level of drama as a result, but it can also take you to creative, interesting places. Emotional excitement is likely today. You are expressing yourself creatively and attractively. Some of you can receive a warm message from an admirer.
Cancer
Cancer
There can be some confusion, disappointment, or simply a temporary questioning of motivation experienced today, dear Cancer, and for you, it is likely to revolve around communications, transportation, projects, and learning. Be a little more vigilant if working with facts and figures, and watch that you don’t communicate in a way that can be misinterpreted. Dream and create, but be cautious when it comes to more practical matters, including driving and operating machinery. If someone is trying to get a commitment or definite answer out of you, and you don’t totally feel right about it, try to politely defer it to a more confident time. Even so, it’s a strong day for creative visions. Venus and Mars joining forces in your solar second house can stimulate good ideas, just be sure to fill in the technical details at a later date. Watch for impulsive purchases.
Leo
Leo
There may be some confusion surrounding financial or intimate matters today as your ruler, the Sun, opposes Neptune, dear Leo. This yearly event can illuminate the need for more attention to your spiritual and emotional needs. There is a stronger focus on the material and physical world these days, and today, experiences may illuminate some level of spiritual discontent. Some of you could be dealing with a situation in which you need to draw boundaries with others who are draining you of time or energy. On practical levels, avoid making larger purchases as well as lending and borrowing, just for now, until you are seeing things more clearly. Some of you could be questioning someone’s intentions or whether you’re being shown the respect you deserve. This is not the time to push for problem solving, nor for making important decisions in the material world. Even so, Venus and Mars joining forces in your sign today point to animal magnetism and extra sparkle.
Virgo
Virgo
You may be feeling especially sensitive to people’s reactions and comments today, dear Virgo. The Sun in your sign lifts your spirits in general these days, but an opposition to Neptune today, a yearly event, can point to a small disappointment or seeming setback. Someone or something may burst your bubble, or you could be feeling discontent or misunderstood now. You could find that you’re swinging from overly positive to overly negative assessments of yourself and of a close someone, and can’t seem to find the in-between, which is of course where the truth lies. Avoid the trap of hoping that someone else will make you happy – work on making yourself happy. Everything seems to happen at once today, and this can be quite wonderful if you are prepared and organized, or frustrating and offputting if you are not. You have a big need to connect to something spiritual or mystical in order to find more meaning in your life. Blending this with your recent focus on physical concerns will be ideal. Try not to project fantasies onto people and situations, as you may make more of them than they deserve, good or bad. An unusual attraction or discovery on the level of feelings can occur, possibly even from a dream, or a private longing is emphasized now.
Libra
Libra
While the day holds creative promise, dear Libra, there can be some lack of clarity to deal with now, particularly related to what is expected of you and what you expect from others. Work and service are in strong focus, but it can be difficult dealing with routine matters if you’re not feeling motivated or directed. There is a lot going on behind the scenes and you may not always feel on top of your game as a result of this general distraction. While energy levels are less than ideal, personal attraction and emotional stimulation are strong now. Your intuition is highly stimulated and increased compassion can motivate you to help someone out or to provide a service. While attractions are strong today, some level of confusion is likely, and it can be difficult to accurately “read” people in your life at the moment. Similarly, while you might envision an exciting project today, it can be difficult knowing how to get it off the ground.
Scorpio
Scorpio
You can bring strong people skills and unique creativity to the table today, dear Scorpio, particularly on a professional level. Your reputation can get a boost. Nevertheless, some confusion can surround your relations, attractions, and desires right now. Where you stand with friends or lovers may be a point of confusion, or you could be questioning your own feelings about someone. For some of you, this could be about a project, as you might be temporarily uninspired or questioning its viability. You could be see-sawing between fantasy and reality. It’s possible that someone isn’t being honest with you, but it’s also possible that you are deceiving yourself through wishful thinking. Romance or affectionate feelings can actually be draining today if you don’t know where you stand, but you are also likely to be especially amorous now with Venus and Mars coming to an alignment.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius
While it’s a strong day for creativity and personal appeal, dear Sagittarius, you may not be feeling on solid ground today with a Sun-Neptune opposition in challenging aspect to your sign. If you resolve to simply go with the flow and accept that you may not need to know everything at this point in time, you’ll be far better off. Even so, listen to any signal that you have been ignoring your more spiritual needs. Confusing energies tend to surround family and career matters. While generally speaking this period is good for career and ambition, today you might be feeling a little insecure or concerned about family and personal matters. There can be vague concerns on the home front, or some temporary less-than-confident feelings experienced now. The day is better used for creative and imaginative undertakings. Adventure and play are in focus with Venus and Mars approaching an alignment in your adventure sector. Share your enthusiasm with others. Your powers of attraction are strong, but you might also be attracting hangers-on or confusing situations.
Capricorn
Capricorn
Neptune opposing the Sun today can temporarily throw a veil over our perceptions, dear Capricorn. You may have felt that you were sailing along relatively smoothly, and now you could be questioning what to believe, and what to believe in. Distractions may not be more plentiful, but you could be more sensitive than usual to them now, and as a result, it can be a challenge to concentrate. Misinformation may be circulating, and there is a tendency for looping conversations that don’t really get you to where you want to go mentally. Be careful not to make a commitment or speak too soon or officially on a matter until the fog clears and until you are certain of the facts. Another influence with you today can also pull up unusual feelings and desires, and some of you could have a sudden urge to act upon hidden or previously buried desires and feelings. The temptation to keep important information from someone (an error of omission) can be strong. Similarly, try not to put too much faith in what you’re told for the time being, as there can be missing, and vital, information. Nevertheless, there is mysterious and sensual energy surrounding you, and meeting up with a past friend is possible now.
Aquarius
Aquarius
With Venus and Mars approaching an alignment today, dear Aquarius, there is spontaneous, creative, and desirous energy around you today. However, the Sun is opposing Neptune, challenging our perceptions, and this requires some caution when it comes to investing energy, time, or resources into iffy situations. Occurring across your resources sector, it’s important to avoid important financial transactions, lending, and possibly even borrowing. Boundaries could be crossed now, and it may be difficult to establish them clearly. Keep in mind that you are bound to bring out strong feelings and reactions in others whether you want to or not. There could be some form of letdown involved with a close relationship, but consider that this may bring you closer to a better understanding of someone, as true friendship is about accepting the real person, not only the image of a person or relationship. For some, a financial or ownership matter can be up in the air just for now. Try not to press for answers and resolve to pay more attention to your spiritual needs while protecting your material ones.
Pisces
Pisces
With the Sun and Neptune in opposition today, dear Pisces, it’s unlikely you are seeing people clearly and situations realistically. It’s equally as possible that others are not seeing you correctly, and it’s important not to encourage this. Ultimately, it works against you. There might also be confusion about where you stand with someone or how deep a commitment may be. You might also feel a little resentful if someone seems to be taking the lead or pushing something that you’re not ready for. If there is a letdown today, remind yourself that it’s better to attach yourself to dreams that lift your spirits than those that let you down. Venus and Mars are moving towards an alignment in your work and health sector, however, and this brings spontaneous, creative energy to your life in small ways.
You might be quite effective at combining work and play now. While desires are strong and seem quite urgent at times today, how to fulfill them is the tricky part right now!
If you’ve been disappointed, it’s tempting to lower your expectations so you won’t be disappointed again. But that’s not how it works.
In reality, when you expect less you’ll be disappointed more. The lower you aim, the less fulfilling your life will be.
You deserve a life that’s full and rich, so set your expectations high. And see each disappointment as an opportunity to set those expectations even higher.
In one way, disappointment is a good thing because it means you are making an attempt. The key to fulfillment is to keep making those attempts, to keep raising your expectations, and to work your way forward.
A strong sense of purpose is what will keep you going. By continuing to expect the best of yourself you can move quickly away from each disappointment.
When you fail to reach your expectations, raise those expectations even higher. Make it meaningful enough and you’ll make it happen.
The gift of disappointment is to bring us into reality so we don’t get stuck in the realm of how things might have been.
Whenever we do something in life with an expectation of how we’d like it to turn out, we risk experiencing disappointment. When things don’t go the way we had envisioned, we may feel a range of emotions from slightly let down to depressed or even angry. We might direct our feelings inward toward ourselves, or outward toward other people or the universe in general. Whether we feel disappointed by ourselves, a friend, or life in general, disappointment is always a tough feeling to experience. Still, it is a natural part of life, and there are many ways of dealing with it when we find ourselves in its presence.
As with any feeling, disappointment has come to us for a reason, and we don’t need to fear acknowledging it or feeling it. The more we are able to accept how we are feeling and process it, the sooner we will move into new emotional territory. As we sit down to allow ourselves to feel our disappointment, we might want to write about the experience of being disappointed—the situation that preceded it, what we were hoping would happen, and what did happen. The gift of disappointment is its ability to bring us into alignment with reality so that we don’t get stuck for too long in the realm of how things might have been.
As we consider other disappointments in our life and how we have moved past them, we may even see that in some cases what happened was actually better in the long run than what we had wanted to happen. Disappointment often leaves us feeling deflated with its message that things don’t always turn out the way we want. The beauty of disappointment, though, is that it provides us a bridge to its other side where the acceptance of reality, wisdom, and the energy to begin again can be found.
What has already happened before is not what will happen next. Because right now, you have the opportunity to change direction.
If you’re moving in a positive and fruitful direction, you can choose to keep going that way, and even to accelerate your progress. Or, if you’ve experienced difficulty and disappointment in the past, this is your time to make a change.
When you focus on what’s already happened, it can be easy to feel permanently stuck in a bad place. So focus instead on the fact that you can, right now, choose a more positive direction.
Today is a new day, and it is your day to live in the best way you can imagine. It is your day to move in precisely the direction you choose.
Though rising above a difficult past will require great effort and commitment on your part, you certainly can do it. And there’s no better way to spend your time than making your way forward and permanently locking your disappointments in the past.
The disappointments of the past will begin to fade away as soon as you let go of them. Let go, look forward, and know that you can make this next day the best one yet.
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