I can remember a story that someone told me in which he said, “Man cannot serve two masters.”
His point was more than we can’t save our face and our ass at the same time. This was more than understanding where and who we challenge our energy towards. This was more about whether I choose to heal and to overcome or to recover and improve; or if I want to worry or go back and forth and fight and argue; or, if I want to lose myself to anxiety and nurture the problems over the execution of a greater solution; either way is fine. I can go in either direction. I can do whatever I choose. But I can’t go in both directions at the same time.

I remember being told that “Whatever people think of me is none of my business.”
So, whatever people think or whatever their intentions are and no matter if they wish me well or otherwise, none of this is my business.
We talked about the meltdowns and the freak-outs and the reasons behind them. We talked about the different birthplaces that connected us to our irrational assumptions and the bouts we experience with shame. There’s a reason why we look to defend ourselves. Often, these reasons come from an emotional content that stems from within. However, there is a way to improve and there is a way to overcome ourselves.
But first, we have to understand that we do not have to own or claim anything that does not (or should not) belong to us. And more, no matter what, we have to find a way to forgive ourselves – even if we think we are unforgivable; still, we can’t live in the constant stages of guilt.

There is a cycle of life to which, of course, we all know about.
We all go through births and rebirths of different kinds. We experience life in new ways and yes, death is very much a part of life. To be clear, death comes in different ways. This is more than the literal sense and equally figurative, life is segmented into chapters and separated in moments of befores and afters.
We all go through moments of realization and well all know about the before as well as the after. These are the details that make up the chapters of our life.
We lived through the before. But here we are now –
After . . . .

Always look within.
Remember, if we are to find what we need and if we are to define our best possible life, then the answers we need to understand are the answers that come from places like our heart and our soul. Before exploring the external universe, start here first. 
Remember, our life begins with us.
This starts at the first moment of an early morning when we open our eyes and get out of bed. This grows and gains momentum when we see ourselves in the mirror for the very first time and then it ends each day when we face ourselves in the mirror with a constructive conclusion before heading to sleep.

We are social creatures.
This means we gather and we flock. We find ourselves with groups and with people who either inspire or impose.
We encounter people who will lift us up when we are down and, at the same time, there are people who will prefer us this way. So, they might look to keep us there. Down and under foot. There are times when we find ourselves in moments that are about to embrace a new change. We are about to open a new chapter, looking ahead and facing forward.

I will keep this one short to gain a burst of both inspiration and motivation.
I will also keep this impactful. So to maintain this morning’s energy, I will get right to the point.
We need that fire. We need that blast of energy.
But more, we need to be mindful.

Knowing where we are, even if where we are at is neither a good nor comfortable space is important. To understand where we are means we know what we need to do next. Yet sometimes, the task of doing what’s next or understanding what’s next can be challenging or confusing to say the least. 
Sometimes, the boundaries are set, which means doing the next right thing is intimidating. And, it’s not that we don’t know what to do. It’s not like we’re unsure of what needs to be done. It’s more of the worries and the intimidation that keep us locked in a situation where we placate the different sides because we’re too afraid to move or pull the trigger.

I know this for sure. I also know that where we are and where we are at are due to a combination of facts.
I understand this from a real-life perspective. Yes, I live a real life. Yes, I have a personal life. And no, there are parts of my life which are not fit for broadcast. While I put myself out there each day, I realize that I am equally a person in this world who is just as lost and just as afraid as anyone else.

Before I go on with this, I want to preface that the inspiration of this story takes place when I was much younger and certainly less professional and responsible. At the same time, I think that to make our rebirth of sanity and the need to create healthy boundaries relatable, I wanted to add some of my story to add some flashes of interesting color.

I was thinking about the words of Howard Beale, who was played by the actor Peter Finch in the movie Network when he said, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Years back a friend of mine told me to learn how to build bridges, not walls.
I thought about this. I think there are reasons for walls. I think that’s what doors are created for too and inasmuch as I can tell, there are people who deserve the bridge and others who deserve the door to be closed.
I can say this with all certainty.
I can say that yes, there are people who have grown angry because they didn’t get their way.
I can say that yes, I have seen people throw tantrums or become outraged because I drew a line and yes; it is reasons like this that I am fortunate my boundaries exist.
But wait –
There’s more . . .

Before moving to the next phase and while we are still on the topic of inspirational thoughts to push us forward, we are here to seek ownership of our lives. To control our lives, we have to understand where our control begins and where this ends.

The important items in our life that we have to consider are the items that are within our control.
The reason I list this is because part of the definition of sanity is to be able to think and behave in a normal or rational manner. This means sanity is also an action which is to behave reasonably or with rational behavior. 
Okay – so, let’s discuss.