I was watching the news yesterday and it was exactly the scenario that happens regularly.  The news told of doom and gloom and if I had just watched that I would have thought the worst.  But then they interviewed someone intimately involved in the scenario.  They said it was too soon to accept that picture.  Alot of things could happen in the mean time and the picture being painted might never happen.  Sure it was one possibility, but it was one of many that were possible.  It had been painted to be a forgone conclusion.
I see that all the time these days. If I was to hold to all I am told on the news and much tv, I would lock myself in my room and never come out as the world is too dangerous.
I will never pretend the world is not a dangerous place, and from what I see it is getting more dangerous.  Yet what I hold to is that I will assess my strength in relation to what I see, and take action on that basis.
I would be foolish to bury my head in the sand and pretend nothing will happen if I know another is out to get me.  I will do all I can to ensure I am stronger than the one who comes against me.
I know I am not alone in that outlook and have seen those of like mind band together for a win.  That is not to say the conflict may not include casualties on my side.
The whole point for me is the way to overcome fear is to know the truth, know who is with me and be prepared.  When I know fear is one scenario of many and need not be accepted by me, I am emboldened to act accordingly.  One who knows what is at their disposal is more than enough, is a person of action.
As in all things, for me to have a win requires action on my part.

Gone to the Birds
I was watching our birds and reckon I saw something that was a bit of a life lesson.
I remember saying to someone we had fly in fly out birds and he immediately said you’ve got feeders.  He was right.  It is mostly the lorikeets and doves that avail themselves of that.
Every now and then I wander over to dissuade the corellas from using the feeders as they tend to take over.  I do not encourage them.
I wandered over this morning and the doves and lorikeets split. When I returned to where I was I could hear the lorikeets in the trees having a real complain.  But it was what the doves did that taught me a lesson.  The doves just went back to the trays and ate.
What I got out of the situation is how counter productive complaining is.  The whole time the lorikeets were complaining they could have been eating.  I really highlighted to me the futility and cost of complaining.  It just does not do me any good to complain.  I am better off just getting on with it.
I do not dispute how acknowledging how things really are is, but I do not think that spreading discontent is a good idea.
I know like attracts like.  I can always find someone who will complain with me. It is no trouble to find enough to have a full on pity party.  I have heard it said that someone who will talk about another to you will talk to another about you.
I personally do not want to be a part of that cycle. I remember some people talking about others and I felt it was really inappropriate.  I said to them I don’t know why we are talking about that now.  They stopped immediately.  I prefer to be someone who breaks the cycle rather than is a part of the cycle.  It may not always be easy but it is always right.
So I reckon the doves and lorikeets reminded me of an important thing today.  Quit complaining and get on doing.

A phrase from a book I read recently was, “had a mind to work.”
That has stuck with me as I see it makes all the difference for me.  When I come at stuff vaguely it often does not happen.  On the other hand, when I think about a task and write steps for its completion and set a side a time to do it, I am much more likely to actually do it.  For me there is a huge difference between wishing for something and making it happen.
These days I am trying to learn not to overextend myself.  I mean it is so true that often the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. About 2 months ago I did some work which for me would have been par for the course once.  Yet I found myself huffing and puffing and on the point of collapse.
I learned a huge lesson from that one.  I need to set realistic expectations and what was true once for me is not right now.  My capacity has diminished but my capacity is not non-existent.  On that basis I need to have a mind to work within the new confines - whether I like it or not.
I heard recently of someone who whinged when asked to do a simple task.  The task was not unreasonable and within the expectations of the position.  I can only think there was not a mind to work.  I cannot talk as I know there are times I look for an excuse rather than do something that needs to be done (I admit it was never at work though when the request was from a boss)
But having said that I often need time to plan.  I was in the habit of always asking for an expected completion date. So often it seems to me no expected completion is given and as a result something drags on.
The key for me is having a mind to do something.  That makes all the difference for me in getting something not only done, but done well.