Trusting The Small Voice

Do you like the excitement of the unknown, meeting new people, discovering strengths within yourself you didn't know you had? Welcome to life.

Exploring life needs confidence. In a recent post I briefly touched on gaining confidence. Confidence is believing in ourselves and our abilities. Most people gain self-confidence from the affirmations received from our parents or caregivers since birth, and this continues until adulthood when we branch out on our own to try new activities.

Sometimes, when we attempt a new activity we may feel defeat and lose heart. The next time we take on a new challenge it becomes harder to step out, and after a few stumbles we consider ourselves a failure.

I see failure as an opportunity to get up and have another go, except the next time I'll learn from my mistakes. I go and find more information about the new activity; I read how to books; I search the internet for information and most importantly I approach others who are already involved in that line of work or hobby and find out how they do it. Why re-invent when I can tap into the experience of others who have been before me? This saves time which can be hard to find in our busy lives. It's important we make the most of our time because our days on this earth are numbered. Many people will go out of their way to help you if they know you're genuinely interested.

Stepping out to do a new activity takes a certain amount of faith. Faith is what keeps me looking for new and interesting experiences so that I can learn about myself. Faith for me is knowing my God is in control of my life. God gives me peace, strength and perseverence to do projects I might not attempt in my own strength. Faith is listening to the soft small voice, trusting its guidance and stepping out obediently. Faith and action are partners. Faith without action brings inactivity and action without faith becomes unfulfilling and meaningless.

For me, a life without faith would mean living in a dark place afraid and alone. Faith gives me the courage to pursue my dreams, to build relationships, and to know myself the way God knows me. God's holy spirit is within me, and because it is I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

Do you draw your strength from the small voice that prompts you every day? He'll be the best friend you'll ever have.

Priorities Back To Front

Last Monday night I watched Four Corners. I couldn't sleep that night because I was saddened by what I'd seen.

Australia's disabled community is in crisis. Thirty years ago the government reformed care for the disabled by taking them out of institutions and putting them in homes or supporting them in community living. To accomplish this they promised a major injection of funds for support.

Over the years, the funds have dried up, and as a result many of the disabled are cared for at home by their ageing parents with no support. The carer's job is twenty-four seven with a reliance on other family members for time out. They are emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted because of the lack of assistance.

Why are the cries of such a needy section of our community only now being heard? Some of the schools these children attend are stretched to the limit. Government funding is becoming less and less and the schools are closing their doors.

The government knows the reality of this crisis and has set up a Productivity Commission Inquiry to investigate a new scheme. The sad part is that this new inquiry may take anything from five to seven years to investigate, and implement the new system. Meanwhile the carers and their families are burning out, and the children are missing out on basic care and education.

What happens to the children when the carers die? A tough question that needs a quick answer. Daily round the clock care is what these children need.

Families are so desperate some are seeking placement overseas for their children which means added costs of emigrating they can't afford. They can't wait until the government completes its inquiry and develops a new system.

A comparison - the government spends millions of dollars on mentally and physcially fit people training them to become the elite in their chosen sport, meanwhile our disabled community is crying out for the basic education and care we all take for granted.

I think our priorities are back to front, don't you?

Gaining Confidence

Welcome to the official website and blog of Laura O’Connell.

This website is for you, my reader, and writers who may be interested in writing, and how I see the world.

One of the greatest pleasures in my life is corresponding with people from all corners of the globe, so I'd love to hear about what happens in your part of this living, breathing and evolving planet. My part of the world is the beautiful Gold Coast in eastern Australia where I love to body surf, walk along our magnificent beaches, and bushwalk in our lush rainforests. Throughout my site you will see lots of photos of this part of Australia.

I think, and write about everything and anything. You may not necessarily agree with everything I say ... I expect and welcome that, but please exercise courtesy in your communication with me and others on this website. I respect your views and expect you will do the same for me. Profanity will not be tolerated.

Hearing about your approach to life expands my mind. Sharing with others takes courage. I encourage you to take a leap of faith and tell me what's on your heart when I write about something that resonates with you.

On my "About" page I stated how it took me two years to put pen to paper after I got my light bulb moment. Why did it take me so long to move? Plain old lack of confidence, and I had a hundred plus excuses for not writing, but once I started I couldn't stop. There's a drive in me I don't understand that's pushing me forward and I can't make it slow down, so I have to go with the flow. The result is the construction of this website. I'll be sharing on this post what is on my heart each week.

Have you ever experienced a force within you that has pushed you out of your comfort zone? I'd like to hear from you and how it changed your life.