This morning I read an old post of mine, Life is for living and it really inspired me. It reminded me of how far I’ve come in the last year and how hard it has been to shed my old skin and really and truly embrace who I am meant to be.
There are always high demands on us. From the day we are born, our parents start measuring our milestones. We need to be at a certain point of we’re considered behind on the development spectrum. So what if we hold our heads up a little later than expected? What’s the rush anyway. Life is awesome lying on moms chest anyway.
You get to school and you’re suddenly expected to achieve. Achieve greatness or at least an idea of what that is based on someone else’s expectations. You can’t learn at your own pace. You’re constantly being evaluated and measured and compared amongst your peers.
So you learn to compete. Be the best! Win! Come first! Fight for the spotlight! Always pushing yourself in directions decided by someone else.
It’s not enough to just be good at the things you’re good at naturally. It’s not enough to just do the things you enjoy. No. You must learn their way. Learn to live by their rules. Learn learn learn.
So you do.
Now fast forward a few years and you’re living a life that’s a lie. You’re an attorney when you wanted to be a teacher. You’re married to a nice man when really you’re gay. You’ve got 2.5 children and a white picket fence when really you wanted to live in an Ashram in Nepal.
Yes, it happens all too often. We follow other people’s rules. We listen to the needs of others and instead of being true to who we are, we follow blindly down the wrong path.
The good news is that starting today, you can change that.
Look at what makes you happy.
Ask yourself what truly and honestly makes you happy and start working towards achieving your true goals and purpose.
If you don’t know what your passions are then read these posts:
Find your passion and you find your purpose
You can also use this mini workbook that I put together and try to find what really matters in your life.
Passion, Goals and Purpose Workbook
What ever you decide to do, make sure you’re being true to you!
right on! it is indeed an epidemic..competing, comparing and so on. We need to live what God has called us to be not what the society wants us to be.
I agree, we spend way more time competing with others than we do actually getting on with finding our happiness. Thanks for stopping by.
This was a great read! Thank you! I’m going to be checking out your other posts, too!
Fantastic! Thanks Kristen! I’m so glad you stopped by!
Great post ! It is important to find yourself and be exactly that person ! This is the only way how you can be happy!
Miriam
Thank you Miriam! 🙂
The beauty of life is its never too late to change it around. The sad bit I find (talking from experience) is we don’t take the time to stop and actually get what it is out of life. Fear is a massive factor because there are also so many variables that it may affect.
We should all just take the time out and just be our true selves. Love it!!!
I couldn’t agree more with you Sheens. I think so many people feel like they are stuck in their old ways and aren’t capable of actually getting out there and starting something new! You’re right though, fear is a MASSIVE factor! Totally agree!
Great post Jonelle. I wholeheartedly agree that we need to get off the treadmill of chasing other people’s goals and expectations and follow our own passions. Of course it’s easier said than done, and for most people around the world it’s just about getting their basic needs met.
But I do believe that the more of us in a privileged position to be able to stop, check ourselves and start ‘going confidently in the direction of our dreams’ (adapted from a favourite quote), the more opportunities we create for countless others. More importantly, the more permission we give others to dare to live the lives that make sense to their hearts and souls. Will be checking out your other posts on this topic too x