Category: Lunar Letter (English)

One certainty in life is that there will be uncertainty.

When we are growing up, we are unsure how we might fit into society. When we are going to school, we are uncertain whether we will be able to graduate. When we are working, we are often unsure how long we will have a job. When we are married, we can wonder if we chose the right person. In Venezuela, where I live, we often wonder whether we will have electricity and water from one moment to the next. In short, uncertainty is our constant companion.

With uncertainty generally one of two things can happen. It can freeze us into inaction, or drive us into action. While circumstances are different, as are their degree of uncertainty, one thing is common in all:

We can overcome uncertainty with action.

Regardless of the situation, or degree of doubt, we can mobilize our inner creativity to determine what kind of action we can take. For example:

If we are unsure of ourselves, we can take measures to gain confidence, by enrolling in martial arts, self-improvement programs, and/or by realizing we are as amazing as any other individual on earth, until we are confident in our abilities.

If we are unsure whether or not we will be able to graduate from school, we can pay better attention in class, develop a sincere interest in what we are studying, and prepare sufficiently for exams. When we do our probabilities of passing and graduating become much greater.

If we are unsure about our job situation, we can strive to learn as much as we can about what we do. That way if there is some problem with our current company, we can transition more easily into a new position, or perhaps start our own venture.

If we are uncertain whether we have married the right person, we can talk to that person, expressing our true feelings and seeking to understand theirs. Not everybody is meant to be with someone “till death do them part.” In some cases it is possible to resolve our issues, in others, the best decision is to make a drastic change.

With uncertainties beyond our control, such as the case with electricity and water service, dealing with them isn’t always so easy since in some cases it can be a matter of life and death. Nevertheless, when basic services fail, leaving us dry and dark; we can focus on those things we can do while services are limited, rather than lamenting those things we cannot do.

Uncertainty can sap our energy and weaken our will. Instead of falling into its vicious trap, which leads us no where, we can ask ourselves one simple question:

What can I do to better understand this doubt?

When we are proactive, taking action to know more about what bothers us, we can gain a wider perspective and better results, than if we simply wait around for something to happen without doing anything. Treat yourself to a few minutes, or perhaps even several hours to contemplate your next move whenever you are next faced with uncertainty. Then with calm, cool, collected confidence, take action to dominate it.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 46

How many times do we find ourselves explaining and justifying ourselves to others?

Perhaps it is simply a social norm, and it is important for us to take responsibility for actions, but before whom and when should we justify ourselves?

If we find ourselves explaining our decisions and justifying our actions to others, there’s a good chance that we are the ones who believe something is wrong.

Have you given your best effort so far?

If this is the case, then congratulations! That means you have done all in your power so far, to do what you want to do. If not, then don’t beat yourself up, because the good news is that today is a new day, and ripe to begin to do so.

The truth is that we are all going to make mistakes from time to time. So far no one has been born who is “perfect” in every sense; though if we really think about it, maybe we are all perfect, just as we are. Taking this into account, we can analyze our actions, enjoying both our successes and our defeats; since one brings satisfaction and the other learning.

Instead of explaining and continually justifying our actions to others, we can learn from all that happens on our journey, loving and accepting ourselves, as we are, with all our defects, which can be corrected if we wish; not to please others, but rather for our own good.

Time proves that the best relationships develop where the love for one another is so great, each accepts the other as they are. This link keeps it strong when inevitable tests challenge its integrity.

What about accepting others with their defects, particularities, and bad habits?

Wouldn’t it be marvelous if the others accepted us this way?

We have become a society where to be accepted we believe we must behave in a certain way, by a established code. The norms are drilled into us since we are small. We are told to: “Stand up straight, say hello to others, and behave.”

The reality is that not everyone stands up straight, there are times when we don’t want to say hello to others, and being bad can strangely enough sometimes feel good. Let’s be faithful to ourselves, according to our principles and what we believe to be true, open to the idea that we don’t have all the answers and that sometimes we are likely to be wrong, and that’s okay.

It won’t always be possible to please others, but being in harmony with ourselves is the best way to be right with the world. When we believe we are doing the right thing, we avoid the wear and tear of feeling the need to justify ourselves before others. This ultimately transforms into inner peace, creating harmony with others, which allows to simply flow as life goes.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 45

Are you willing to pay the price to get what you want?

At first glance, it seems like a simple question, and initially most of us would likely say, “Yes, I am willing to pay the price!” But as we look a little deeper, we find that we are not always quite so willing to pay the price necessary to get something, particularly if it seems too expensive.

Let’s look at an straightforward example: We go to the supermarket for bread, milk, eggs, and butter. When we get to the cash register, we are told how much we must pay for the purchase. Depending on our financial situation, and our hunger, we decide whether to pay the price or not. If we choose not to buy anything, we leave the store satisfied we will not pay such high prices, but without the food we need to satiate our hunger. If, on the other hand, we have sufficient cash flow and the prices seem reasonable, we leave with everything we we want. As another option, we may decide to buy only a one or two items to take care of our present hunger with the resources we have available.

Life is very similar. Getting what we want can be rather simple, nevertheless, a price must be paid and this can complicate matters. To be a superstar, it’s often necessary to make sacrifices. Some may even argue that it’s not possible to get famous without stepping on a few toes along the way, and not everyone is willing to do so. If you must choose between an important presentation allowing you to climb the ladder of professional success and an activity in your child’s school, some will choose the first option and others the second. Both options are valid, our answer depends on the price we are willing to pay.

The price we have to pay for an education is time, money, and effort; but the investment tends to pay great dividends later. Paying attention to our children, taking care of their necessities, and teaching them to be productive members of society is a job that has no monetary pay, but can bring great satisfaction with positive results. Obtaining a better home, or a new car, requires discipline, savings, and perseverance; but living in a nice place and driving a new car, also has its benefits.

Many times the cost we must pay is emotional. Choosing one road, we leave many more untraveled. Deciding to get married to someone, excludes the rest. Choosing one job, we leave aside many other possibilities. Spending our money on one thing, we can’t buy another.

The ultimate price that can be paid is the one we pay with our lives. Some people in Venezuela, where I have lived for many years, have paid this great price recently in search of liberty. We will see in the coming weeks, months, and years, whether it brings fruit or if it was in vain.

There isn’t a magic answer in terms of what price is right for us to pay to achieve our dreams. Some people are willing to give their lives in the pursuit of their objectives; while others have difficulty getting off the couch to change the channel on the television, if the remote isn’t working.

Establishing a balance between what we want and what we are willing to pay is like walking a tightrope. A mistake to either side can mean sudden death. Instead of letting life’s haphazard course determine our future, we can determine the route we want to take and the price we are willing to pay. Then with the rudder of life firmly in hand, we can pay a fair price, without hesitation, to get to where we most desire.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 44

Words are expressed in many different ways. Some soothe like a warm summer breeze, others cut like a knife without mercy. Some are like the wind which comes and goes, others stay etched in our minds forever. Some build us up and others tear us down.

What are the words you repeat mentally every day?

Do they encourage you to try harder and carry on, or to throw in the towel and give up?

It’s ironic but the word we hear most as a child (and many times as an adult) is the word “no.” It’s almost impossible to find a parent anywhere in the world who doesn’t use it with some frequency to reprimand their children. Nevertheless, think about it for a moment. What is the message we give to a child when we repeatedly tell him or her that they can’t do something? Are we are conditioning them create obstacles in their path or encouraging them to overcome difficulty to reach their full potential?

Following, a couple of ideas regarding the use of words:

Choose your words carefully when speaking and writing, but perhaps even more so when you are thinking. While we have all seen the damage spoken and written words can cause, not so obvious is why to be cautious with the words we use in our “internal conversations.” From the time we wake up in the morning, the person we generally speak with the most is ourself. Since this is the case, use words that empower you to open the doors of opportunity, rather than those that castrate your every ability. The words we use create the people we will become.

Learn to listen to others. The words others use when they talk are based on their interpretation of the world. They are neither more or less valid than ours, they are simply an expression of their reality. As such, it isn’t necessary to try to convince others we are right, because in their minds they already are. By paying attention and listening carefully to the words others use, we can better understand what motivates them, and besides, paying attention to others is one of the most valuable gifts we can give them.

Words form an important part of existence and they are with us wherever we go. With them we can build fantastic castles where there was previously nothing, or we can cause the same to come tumbling down. The language we use daily creates the reality we live eventually. Use words wisely to leave love and prosperity in your wake.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 43

Have you wondered why some people are able to overcome difficulty more easily than others?

Like a palm tree shaken by a storm that bends but does not break, we too can learn how to do to the same. Following are some suggestions to help you handle adversity and grow in the process:

• Remember that nothing is forever. The same way the year has seasons and these come and go, so too occurs with the storms of life; they have a beginning and an end. Like when a wonderful sunny day suddenly becomes completely overcast, the same thing can happen to us. You can go from feeling like you are on top of the world looking down, and in an instant, as the result of a word, a look, or a silence suddenly feel like you are groveling on the ground. This is when it is wise to remember the Chinese proverb: “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

• Ask yourself, “What is right about this situation?” Regardless of the challenge, do this exercise. No matter how bad the news, and while it may seem impossible, find out what is good about the situation. We consider some things to be “bad”, but in the end they could be the source of something good. Imagine that your spouse tells you, “I’m fed up! I want to leave and live my life with someone else.” While this appears to be tough at first and perhaps you would prefer to never have to go through it, this news can open an opportunity to meet other people who very well could be much more compatible with you.

• Think about those who have gone through something similar. Another way to bend without breaking in the process is to think of those who have faced the same situation, or even worse, than what we face right now. Do you think you are the only one with problems? Do you think you are the only one in the world who has lost a loved one or made a mistake on something important? Well, I’ve got news for you, you are not! Right now, there are almost eight billion people in the world and I can assure you that among them many have gone through equal or worse circumstances. Most interesting is that these difficulties have been overcome in some way, shape, or form by many of them.

• Realize death as inevitable. Though I know it’s not nice to talk about this, regardless of our age, economic or social status, losing someone close to us is difficult. There isn’t any way to paint as something positive about it. Nevertheless, it is completely natural and happens with some frequency. The idea isn’t to be morbid, or negative about death, but rather realistic. In your experience, what generally happens in the world after someone dies? In mine, life goes on, and certainly when our time comes to “pass on over to the other side,” the same will happen.

It’s not easy to bend without breaking, but it’s not impossible. I know of no magic wand which will eliminate all of the problems you might have, but it is possible to diminish the magnitude of the effect adversity has on you. When you but your difficulties into perspective, generally you see that it is not the end of the word, rather a lesson to be learned and this can enable you to bend without breaking.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 42

The number of “things” we can acquire with money is tremendous and even if we were to buy something everyday, we would probably need several lifetimes to buy everything available. There are toys for small children, and others for those who are bigger. There seems to always be a car that goes faster, and a house that is bigger and better. There are clothes that can make us look like a rock star or the models who flaunt them. There are electronic appliances and bicycles. There are row boats, speed boats, sail boats, and yachts of every shape and size. And for those who like to collect “things”, there is always something new to add to their collection.

As for me, I think its fabulous we have such a wide variety of “things” we can buy, but I ask myself:

Does there come a time when enough is enough?

If you don’t have the money for a new iPhone, or to take a trip to the other side of the planet, what will you do for fun?

I propose that while money can buy us a lot of “things” that bring pleasure, it is also possible to enjoy each day without them, though this is nothing new. In fact, the simplest pleasures have been around since the beginning of time.

How about taking a walk?

It could be in the city, or on a mountain, or at the beach, do what’s easy and available, don’t put any limits. Open your eyes to the world around you and begin to enjoy all you see on the way:

In the city you see people going here, there, and everywhere. You can imagine what their lives might be like, where they work, and whether or not they have a family. Put yourself in their shoes for awhile and imagine, what is it like to be them? What are their heartbreaks and their joys? What motivates them to get up every day?If you are in the mountains, life abounds, though often it is hidden, just past where we normally see, almost out of sight, if we aren’t paying attention. Besides the trees, plants, flowers, and animals —which also give us a cause to stop and observe— there are also insects, dirt, rocks, rivers, and lakes teeming with life. In a puddle we can see a miniature world which begins and ends right there, in that little bit of water.

And if you choose the beach, you can look out over the immensity of the oceans and seas, watching how they disappear into the horizon. You can consider the great variety of life which lies beneath. Some plants, fish, and other animals are readily seen, others are found only at great depths.

What about singing and dancing?

While you may not have the best singing voice, and you may not dance like Fred Astaire, who cares? Singing in the shower, where you can act like a rock star is incredible. If someone else doesn’t like it, they can cover their ears or take a hike, but as for me, if you feel the need, then let it all hang out.

Have you ever been someplace and suddenly one of your favorite songs came on over the radio?

Why wait? Free yourself from what others might think and let your body begin to slowly sway with the music. You can even close your eyes and feel how the music fills your soul in a deep, special way, but dance when you feel the rhythm touch you in that very special way.

These are just a few of the simple pleasures thatabound when we are willing to open our minds and our hearts to everything around us.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 41

There are times when we flow with everything, as a river takes its course; and others when we get stuck on any little thing. Life brings with it different moments, ups and downs. Being able to experience each one of them means we are alive, and if not, their absence guarantees us a one-way ticket to our ultimate destiny. We will have moments when we want time to stretch into eternity, right there where we are; and then there will be others when the only thing we want to do is to get out of there as fast as possible. What is certain is that despite our decision, we must keep moving.

The world and the universe are in constant evolution. In a similar way, we as human beings are also always changing. Our body renews itself frequently; our hair skin, and organs are in a constant process of renovation. Even our cells vibrate with the energy of movement.

It’s tempting to consider taking a break, doing absolutely nothing, but comes a time when the mind begins to want something. What is certain is that we need to keep moving to stay alive. The person who stays at home, not even leaving to buy groceries, will soon die of hunger. The business owner who doesn’t seek new clients can go belly up, despite having the best solutions in his market. Love too dies if it is not renewed continually, with words and actions to express it.

When those times come when all we want to do is cover our head and stay sleeping for a good long while, it’s fine to do so from time to time, for a few hours, or perhaps in an extreme case for a full day, but then comes the time for us to get up and get moving.

The world doesn’t stand still and neither should we. If you are in a place you like to be right now, then do all you can to stay there; if not, do all you can do get there. In either case, both require energy and movement. In the same way the sun comes up on the horizon each morning and goes down on the other side every evening, we too have cycles of movement with which to comply.

Living well doesn’t mean we need to be constantly trying to get from here to there, nor does it depend on acquiring anything specific, but rather of being conscious that we must keep moving in our daily routine —like the earth on its constant journey—, and this will fill us with energy and happiness. Keeping moving keeps us safe and sound.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 40

While there are many ways to feel good and to experience pleasure, perhaps is none more important to live a happy life than to having a well-defined direction and purpose. Without one, it’s almost impossible to rise and rally when we are in the bottom of a bounce. With one, nothing can stop us from getting up after falling down.

We can repeat magical phrases and watch inspirational speakers in order to help us to maintain a good attitude toward life, but without a specific direction worthy of our effort, any positive effect is likely to be fleeting. When our life has purpose and we know where we are going, it is unlikely for anything to permanently impede its achievement.

Most important isn’t only having a goal, but knowing why it is we want to get there. If our objectives are imposed by someone else, a company, or even society, when the going gets tough we will probably fold before challenge, immobilized, asking ourselves what happened and why we don’t advance.

When this happens we can make sure our purpose isn’t being determined by some external force. It’s not made up only of what our parents want, or what our teachers teach, but rather something that comes from inside, like a “calling” which at times isn’t easy to explain, but which we are ready and willing to do.

“Changing the world” or “being a better person” are overused maxims, which tend to be vague and lacking in substance. To these, and other missions like them, we can give specificity to convert them into powerful concepts allowing us to focus on what we have to do in order to develop our purpose.

We could say, “I am going to change the world with the product or service I offer because it gives great value, allowing my clients to better their lives,” or, “I will be a better person not only with what I say, but with what I do daily.” Our purpose doesn’t have to be anything extraordinary, but it should be something we can understand and define.

Some go their whole lives without ever thinking about their purpose, resulting in a dull, dreary existence which seems like it will never end. Others find their purpose in life when they are young and invest their time to make it happen. For the great many, it comes somewhere in the middle. Perhaps as the result of a hard knock on the head, or as a revelation one day when while taking a shower, or walking in the park.

Each of us can have different purpose in life; since each of us has within, a universe of possibility. Knowing we have a purpose can direct us so we are more aware of finding and implementing, instead of having to settle living without it.

∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL IV 39