I remember when I heard his speech at the Democratic convention in 2004, the Audacity of Hope. At that time with the current administration, things looked bleak. And they got worse, yet as I wrote in Octobers newsletter, A Voice for Optimism, I continued to believe. I didn’t give up hope.

For the week before the election, I thought of nothing else. I even went to see W, Oliver Stones portrayal of our current president. If you wonder how we got into this mess, go see it.

On Monday night, I watched Obama’s last pre-election speech in Virginia. I was so inspired.i couldn’t believe that he could be our next President. I was ready to let go, but contained myself because of the past disappointments in the last two elections. It wasn’t until the networks declared that Obama won Pennsylvania that I allowed myself to let go. I knew it was going to happen.

It was a historic moment. One way to look at it is that we have hope again.

Another way to look at it, is that we always have to have hope. No matter what the circumstances, we can’t give up. That’s what keeps us looking forward.

The dance is how to balance our hope for a better world from lessening our experience of the moment.

As to the inner work, nothing changes. We have to be consistent because there’s no permanent cure. It’s not as if you arrive at a place and stop. It’s all prevention. It’s an ongoing process.

And yes, there is no question that we took a big step forward. But the work continues.

I am hopeful that Obama will a transformational leader. I want to leave you with one thought. Without all of the events of the last eight years we would not have gotten him. The darkness paved the way for the light to enter. And that’s the way our lives are. Without all of the events and the circumstances that have occurred in our lives, we wouldn’t be in the place we are today.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com

Whether it’s life coaching or business coaching, I have noticed that with some people that I work with, their changes are dramatic. They’re not the same person they were when we began our work together.

They have more self-confidence and are excited about the future, but in the back of their mind, they still remember where they came from and how in the past when things started to go well, they sabotaged themselves. Things fell apart and they are now waiting for that to happen again.

It doesn’t have to happen. Once we go through the gate to a new way of thinking, we’ll never go back. That’s what happens when we are on a spiritual path…we are awake and aware of things that previously we were not conscious of.

We can’t go backwards. It’s too late, which is a good thing. I remember when I first began this path of awakening there were times when I wish things were not so clear. I had to take responsibility for my life and could no longer blame others or circumstances, like my parents or what happened as a child.

I remember some people would say, “Ignorance is Bliss.” Once you know the truth you realize that “Ignorance is just Ignorance.” There’s no reason to try to glorify it.

The good news is that as you go forward from here, you’ll have more choices and possibilities to live a more fulfilling and successful life. You won’t go backwards even if you wanted to. On some level you are forever changed.

JOURNEY ON

MARK

JOURNEY ON is a blog dedicated to personal and professional development. Mark Susnow, an executive and life coach inspires others to experience more fulfillment and success in their life. A former trial attorney for 30 years and musician, he integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. His articles reflect this journey in an inspirational and motivational way. http://www.inspirepossibility.com.em>