Target

      To aim at something and miss causes different reactions. Some people simply take the next step and try again. Others feel a sense of disappointment Still others take it as a message or sign that they need to practice or do something different. There are those who will try a few times and then give up before they find out whether or not they have the skill needed to be a success, and so it is in life.

      Targets are focal points. They help us to focus, to draw our attention to a specific area. They sharpen our skills if we continue to perfect our aim. We all have small targets in our daily lives, whether it is to get up on time, to accomplish a particular action, or to compete in some way. We strive so hard for the appearance of success, and as success means different things to different people, we have a wide variety of 'targets'. We're all aware of the needs and demands of daily life, the stresses and the frustrations that seem to be there in too many ways. We try so hard sometimes that it seems there is no way to see past the day. Targets of life can be thought of as small circles and larger circles expanding outward. We have our small circle of our inner friends and family, our interests, our jobs, our most obvious targets that can be seen, but we sometimes get so caught up in the small circle that we forget to enlarge and expand into the next circle.

      We all have a spirit life whether we realize it or not. Some never know it, others know it well. It is surprisingly difficult for some people to expand to that which is not seen, for it is the unknown, and with the unknown sometimes comes fear. We, of course, have free choice to stay within the smaller target, the smaller circle, but we miss so much more of knowing and learning and experiencing by doing so. Perhaps you are wondering how to expand your circle, how to move from one target to another. It is simply the intent to move, to want to know. Take your daily life and in it, as an experiment, notice something different in your environment. It is not the size that counts, it may be a tiny thing, it may be a living thing, it may be a color or a shape or a sound. Focus on that target and experience it. No matter how alert you are, there are worlds of things to discover around you. Whether you are in an urban situation or in a rural atmosphere, there are ways to expand your target of life. Perhaps you have read something that expands your thought and takes your mind on new avenues of discovery. The target does not have to be a specific focus. It can be a general feeling, an intution, anything that expands your mental target.

      Your life targets are yours to create. Some can handle no more than one at a time, others like the challenge of juggling several. Whatever your particular style, it is your creation. Targets of life have one thing in common. They expand and in that expansion the spirit grows, and as the spirit grows, so does understanding. Ask yourself if your targets are too small. Perhaps you are comfortable with that, and there is no judgement on size, but consider that you may be missing much that could make your life more expansive and more exciting. As with all targets, remember it takes practice to focus. To perfect the aim of focus takes time. With time and patience, the target will be reached.