It starts with a step

It starts with a step
Then turns into a journey
Trying something new
No rush and no hurry
Following the heart
Is a simple task
But it's not easy
When you wear a mask
Only when you look
Deep into heart
Can you begin the journey
And find the courage to start

The meaning of a teddy bear

A teddy bear can have many different meanings in stories. In Cardcaptor Sakura, rumor has if you make a teddy bear for someone you love and give the bear your name, that person will love you in return. In Goong S the worry bear is a gift to someone under a lot of stress or as a reminder to not worry so much. I found both of these stories intriguing and I will probably use these ideas in a story one day. I will make a bear for the future and I will purchase my own worry bear to keep from worrying so much. This is a cute form of therapy.

With a gentle smile
Or friendly face
Real life can seem better on
Rainy days
Yesterday's quarrels

Become very small
Each time
A friend helps you
Recover from a fall

A step in the right direction (Step 4)

"Keep Moving Forward" from Meet the Robinsons and Walt Disney

It's one of the simplest quotes, and yet it really sticks in my brain. This is mainly because in a lot of ways, I'm still living in the past. I'm also one of those people who is really hard on themselves. I often tell myself that failure isn't an option. But, this is no way to view life. You can't live in the past, because things and people change. You may have a goal that was inspired by the past, but that goal can become so much more in the future. Lewis learns this when he decides to create a family of his own, instead of clinging to the one memory he has of his mom, dropping him off at the orphanage. By clinging to the past, Lewis becomes frustrated with failure and stops living in the present or future. His focus blocks him from achieving his full potential. I feel like I'm in that spot right now. Frustrated with failure, I convinced myself that I didn't have the ability to get out of my rut. But this isn't true. If I believe that I won't be in the same spot in the future, I can gain the courage to believe in myself and make the journey. As the movie recommends, I have to "let go of the past, and keep moving forward".If you always focus on the bad stuff, you can't put enough energy to look forward and discover what you're capable of. Lewis learns that he has a bright future ahead of him when he meets the future family he becomes a part of. So that's my major goal: "to get out of the past and look to the future". Every time I feel down or as if I'm not moving, I will tell myself "Keep Moving Forward".

A step in the right direction (Step 3)

"It's not a question of can or can't. There are some things in life you just do." Lightning FFXIII

A lot of trouble can be caused by believing you can't do something, when the truth is, you won't. Every time I feel I can't do something, I remember this quote from Lightning when Hope says he can't face his situation. Light tells him that his words are simply an excuse to run from his problems. Trying is one thing, while accomplishing is another. There are some things in life you can only learn by doing them, instead of telling yourself you can't. A great example is telling yourself you can't face your fears. How do you know? You won't until you try. So every time I tell myself, or anyone else that I can't do something, I need to replace the word with won't. There's also another lesson in this quote. Thinking about something all the time doesn't solve the problem. The inaction of thinking can cause someone to analyze instead of take action. Maybe there are moments you just do something without thinking, and see where your action takes you.

A step in the right direction (Step 2)

"When the winds of change blow towards you, close your eyes and let the breeze blow through your hair."
Anonymous

Acceptance is the key to change. Accepting that change happens is a step towards facing a fear, or moving past the self-made prison that confines you. Accept that things will change, including yourself. You don't have to be afraid of the same thing for the rest of your life. And, you don't have to be stuck in a rut. You can change anything that you set your mind to. Another way to read this quote is, "take a break when you're overwhelmed". If things feel too stressful or if you can't understand what's going on around you, don't think about it for a while. Just take a moment or go somewhere quiet and relax. Change can be good, and healthy in life. it has a purpose, to keep things moving. Maybe a push out of the comfort zone isn't a horrifying thing. Maybe you need that push to learn something. So another step I'm taking to understand and eventually face my fear, is accepting that things change. There will be moments I won't be strong enough to handle things on my own, so I will need to change in order to grow. I will also take little breaks now and then to accept the way things are. I will make a conscious effort to just be, and let the wind blow through my hair. A simple pleasure in a complex world.

A step in the right direction (Step 1)

To start of my positive thinking week, I will begin with a quote from a movie I enjoy, Penelope.

"It's not the power of the curse. It's the power you give the curse."

It's interesting how true this is. When you build something up in your brain, and refuse to face it, the thing you avoid only becomes more terrifying than it actually is. I guess I could use Splash Mountain as an example. The more I built up that awful drop in my mind, the more I refused to go on the ride and continued to run from it. Splash Mountain is not the only thing I have done this with, but there is a solution. The thing to fear is only as terrifying as you let it be. If you convince yourself the outcome will be horrible, you also create a self fulfilling prophecy. Today, I really thought about what I'm afraid of. If I ask myself whether or not the thing I fear is so scary, the answer is no. My fear is an abnormal one, and it's consequences have left me in quite a rut to get out of. So I believe the first step is to ask yourself whether or not your fear is justified. How much power have you given your curse? This is the first step to facing that fear. How scary is it really when you don't think about it all the time, or let it have power over you. Penelope was able to overcome her curse by not viewing it as a horrible thing, maybe the same approach can be used with fear.