Today I was thinking about the process of life design and thought I would touch base on this. Some of you may be wondering what the heck I am talking about. Doesn't life just happen? Fate, destiny, how the cookie crumbles, it wasn't in the cards, etc... I have heard them all. Life just happens when we let it. We each have the capability and responsibility to step in and make decisions that allow for a better, more fullfilling life. If we just settle or live in the past we can never become that which we dream of. More than that it also has far reaching effects. How we look at and represent our life touches upon the people we are involved with. Our family, our friends, our peers, and our chrildren are greatly impacted by the stories we tell. If we continually tell stories of sadness, loss, disgust, distrust, anger, fear, or other negative emotions or histories can we really impact people in a positive manner? I more than realize that many of us have had a rough history and it hurts so bad that it is hard to get past it, but what if there were a better way to use this as a springboard to move forward in stronger, happier healthy manner?
My suggestion is that you start thinking about a new story....your new story. This is where life design comes in. Take some time to really think about your past life. What do you like and cherish? What do you want to change? Are some of things you would like to change bad habits, weight problems, self worth, bad choices, etc... Did you have major situations that left you scarred? I can go on and on with examples, but I just want to get your mental pictures going. Do you realize that everything except this very moment is in the past and all you have now is the future? You may be fifty pounds overweight, but the factors that got you here do not have to be in the future. You might have just smoked your twentieth cigarette of the day, but you can make some changes that can help you toward the goal of stopping. You may have made bad choices in relationships, but I know you can make better ones now. In the past you may have been a victim, but doesn't that now make you a survivor? You are "NOT" defined by the past, no matter what you did, what happened to you, or any choice you made! Everyday is truly a new slate. Yes your history is still there, but you can take the good, forgive the past and change the way you view it and no longer allow it to control you.
So my challenge for you this week is to think about your new story. What do you want that to look like? Feel it and make it yours. It won't happen overnight and the old baggage will creep up, but if you truly want a postive change, this is a good place to start. If you don't put out any effort you will always have what you already have. Seriously think about that...it is a fact, just ask yourself.
You can... Re-write your life! Overcome Yourself!
Until next time remember
"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities!" ~Norman Vincent Peale
Always re-writing,
Julia Marie Foley
*my website will be up very soon
