And where are you going?
As we look back behind us, at our life, we can see the path that we have been down.
We see where we’ve been… what we’ve done.
We see the good times… and the not-so-good.
We are proud of the good choices we made… and would like to forget some of the poor ones.
We see where others we met and interacted with along the way have given us much joy… or brought us much grief.
Many times we would like to go back and change where our path took us
To avoid some of the negatives and the pain.
To end up in a different place than where we are.
These things are not possible.
All we can do with the past, positive or negative, is to embrace it, learn from it, and (this part many people don’t realize!)…
decide which way we want to go from here
Are we content with where our current path is leading? Or do we want to end up somewhere totally different?
The choice is yours. You get to decide what direction your life takes. You can make course adjustments. Did you know that pilots (and the autopilot) are constantly having to make minor course corrections? Being off by 1 degree can make a huge difference in where you end up. By the same token, making adjustments of 1 degree can totally alter your journey.
It doesn’t necessarily take a MAJOR life decision or change to get different results!
I met a wonderful lady this weekend, Laurie Smithwick, co-founder of Kirtsy.com who made a statement that inspired this post. She said…
“We are creating our future by deciding where to step.”
Awesome! You get to decide which direction you take your next step. A little to the right? A little to the left?
But, what about…
I know that we all have been dealt some tough stuff. There are some things out of your control. However, there are a lot of things YOU do have the ability to control, and you need to learn what those things are.
- Your thoughts
- Your Attitude
- How you take care of yourself (eat right, drink water, exercise)
- How you manage your time (saying No, turning off TV or PC, choosing family time over outside obligations)
- Learn to live in the moment
Even if you are at a place in your life where a lot of your time is committed to things that ARE important to you (children, family, career) determine even those small things that can make a shift toward the direction you want to head.
- Drink water instead of soda
- Go to bed instead of watching ‘just one more show’
- Take a 10 minute walk rather than vegging out. If you still want to veg when you return, go for it!
- Read a book on a subject you want to know more about, even if it is just 15 minutes on your lunch break
- Research that business idea floating in your head and start creating a plan, even if it is a 5 or 10 year plan
- Get a new haircut/style that better reflects you
- Go through your wardrobe and do your best to wear only the clothes that you feel good in, that make you feel confident
- Spend some time in reflection determining who “you” really are, and where you want your path to eventually lead.
What are some of the little (or BIG) changes you have made to point yourself in the direction you want to be going?
I will be expanding on some of these ideas over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to subscribe HERE so you don’t miss out on any of my posts!
If you know of someone who would benefit from the info in this post and in my blog and you would like to share with them, please click on the appropriate link below!
You know what made a huge difference in my life? It’s something you referred to, the idea that we can’t control circumstances or people but we can control our reactions.
divine…..such simple and scientific writing…..
appreciate time and talent and devotion you give to your blog…
love all….
p.s…..visit ….http://nature0wonderama.wordpress.com/
thanks….
It would be great if wordpress allowed us to have a Google friend follow, wouldn’t it? Glad to find another wordpress friend here on the blog hop train. I have a blogger blog too but would love one just for us…
I enjoyed reading your piece; we could all use a directional shift…
Best,
Elizabeth
I think many of us are forced to make changes in this current economy. I thought I’d retire as a professional photographer, but digital changed everything. Some changes you make, others are made for you. I guess the key is to be flexible and open to new opportunities.
Great blog! Stopping by from wandering Wednesday. I hope you’ll stop by soon. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Jess
http://www.mommies2cents.com
“’We are creating our future by deciding where to step.’
Awesome! You get to decide which direction you take your next step. A little to the right? A little to the left?”
Great post! I stumbled across you this evening from the blog hop. I picked it up at The Beckers, and now have it posted on my running blog. It’s my OTHER blog, though, that seems to be a complement to yours. 🙂 …. The Own Your Journey Project, a blog to inspire, empower, and nudge readers to take action. One run. One walk. One day. One goal. One thought. One strategy…..at a time.
As a fellow over-40 gal whose life has led her to this wonderfully reflective and creative chapter in her life, I too look forward to where my blogs are taking me…meeting so many wonderful people both online and in person (what a bonus!).
I look forward to following your journey and invite you to be a part of mine, as every new encounter creates another wonderful layer. 🙂
*hugs* and good wishes from Orlando!
http://www.ownyourjourney.com
p.s. I’m following you on Twitter now, too.
Well said. Definitely going to include this in my roundup this week.
My husband often jokes that the key to our successful marriage is my really bad memory. I often forget about bad things that have happened to me in the past, so it’s easier to focus on the future.
I’m a big believer of looking forward to the solution, rather than looking back with regrets. You’re never too old to make a change or pursue a dream.
[…] of a Woman again struck me with this post. “We are creating our future by deciding where to step.” I really do believe that you […]