Written by Marquita Herald, Emotionally Resilient Living, July 26, 2014 | Thanks to Awakening Daily.

At first glance stepping stones are pretty basic in nature – a useful tool of sorts, on occasion even decorative – and yet they are also rich in symbolism.  They raise you above dirt, water and mud, but more importantly they prevent you from getting stuck. They are a means of advancement and yet they compel you to take one step at a time, moving just a little slower and more thoughtfully than you otherwise might on a typical flat surface. Finally, since they serve to create a path they help you to remain focused on your ultimate destination.

This post marks the launch of a new series – Stepping Stones – that will run through September. Each Saturday there will be a new visual message focusing on the process of expanding your capacity for resilience.

I hope you will follow along, and if you enjoy this collection of motivational messages you’ll be happy to know that this series is leading up to the publication this Fall of my new personal journal that will feature these and more messages along with original art to inspire you to tap into your passion, purpose and inner strength.

Embrace your inner strength; it is your outer foundation …

My name is Marquita and I’m an author, resilience coach, publisher, world traveler, Maui girl, Introvert and lover of wine, road trips, peanut butter cookies and a dog named Lucy.

I would love to hear from you so if you are moved to do so, please leave a comment to share your thoughts and feelings about what you’ve read here, and if you found these words worthwhile please share the article with your friends and social network.

Emotional Resilient Living is about embracing the power you have to create your own life experience, and my role is to provide insight, focus and inspiration for the journey. If you’re on that path now, or have decided you are ready to take the first step, I hope you will consider joining our growing community of ERL Insiders.