This follows on from my previous blog ‘Death & Dying’. This time I consider how we can use life changing circumstances to guide our decisions and actions towards the life we dream of…
Life is precious; I think we all know that on a deeper level but perhaps it’s not something at the forefront of our minds. Unless that is, it’s presented to us through some sort of experience, whether directly or indirectly. Maybe there is some sort of health scare, we lose someone or there is a dramatic change in circumstances.
It’s at these times that we realise just how precious life is and we make a pledge to not take it for granted – to take the trip, find a better job, do the thing we’ve been dreaming of. We have more energy and motivation… for a while. Gradually life creeps back to normal and things get put on the back burner again (until the next time something happens).
It’s OK saying take the trip, hand in your notice etc but there are usually some practicalities to take into account such as bills to be paid, family to look after and other responsibilities.
So, how do we make those life changing steps and start to live the life we desire?
There are a few approaches we can take.
Appreciate the stuff we often take for granted (including the small things).
- The beautiful sunrise or sunset.
- Spending quality time with family and friends.
- A good meal or your favourite cuppa.
- The breeze on your skin.
Noticing these (small) things can help us to be more present and get out of our heads. In a practical sense, I do this by writing a gratitude list every night before bed to remind myself of all the good things in my life. I also consciously pause for a moment to savour a beautiful view or take in the detail of a flower for example.
Change your default response and stretch your comfort zone.
If you pretty much always say no to an invite or new experience, pause for a moment and say yes instead. Give yourself permission to try new things and have fun.
If you normally say yes to everything and then end up feeling overstretched or overwhelmed, ask yourself ‘is this really something I want to do?’ Often we can end up saying yes because we feel obliged to or don’t want to let the other person down. It’s OK to say no and no is a full sentence!
The key here is about being conscious of your choice rather than automatically responding. Or responding in a way that you feel is ‘acceptable’ to other people. It’s your life – live it your way.
Make small tweaks to the way you do things and gradually move towards the life you want.
This might include doing some of the above suggestions but here are a few more ideas.
- Stop scrolling on social media so much and comparing your life to other people. Everyone is walking their own individual path and what’s right for one person isn’t for another.
- Choose one area of your life that you would like to change and just focus on that.
- Schedule / make time for the things that are important to you – otherwise you’ll keep putting them off or making excuses.
- Plan the trip or the project you want to manifest. Remember, where attention goes, energy flows.
- Take care of your wellbeing by getting enough sleep or rest and being mindful of what you eat. Our health is our wealth!
- Invest in yourself and treat yourself to nice things on a regular basis.
Ultimately our life changes by the choices we make and the decisions we take. By becoming consciously aware of them we can gently nudge our future in the direction we want and start leading the life we desire.
It’s nearer than you think.
Maybe your first tiny step is to book your free Experience Session and find out how working with a coach could help you on your way