Picture this: you've been doing something for a while that doesn't exactly make you happy; maybe it makes you feel numb, or angry, or even depressed. You think life is testing you and greater things will come after. You think it's just something necessary that you can't escape, or perhaps you see it as a transition period. Has this happened to you? Well, how long did it take you to realize that you needed an urgent change?
I've come to realize that the problem with this immensely recurring situation is that we toss and turn, we complain and cry, we make plans and dream... but most of us fail at the most crucial moment: acting. Imagine a movie studio where they're shooting a film. The script is made, the protagonists are chosen, the props and scenery are done and the staff is ready. It's the moment of the truth. The director says "lights", "camera", "action"! But, the main actor doesn't move. He just stands there numb with a blank expression during the entire filming process, while the world keeps spinning and people carry on with their lives around him. A year goes by, the film is premiered and the actor was cut from it because he didn't make a move.
So, there you go. A whole year wasted. I won't be condescending using a softer word, because I do think that a year gone by without anything to feel proud about is clearly a wasted year. I've felt this way before, but I've also come to understand that we must learn to value our efforts, dreams and achievements in a somewhat equal measure. Showing a fantastic performance at something is a win. Having a wonderful idea is also a win. Succeeding in a particular aspect is yet another win. See? Win! Win! Win! Wins everywhere. It's not so hard to feel proud about what you do, but the only way to do this is to understand that you must act. Actions are required for you to feel competent.
I would like to share with you some advice I occasionally give to myself. These are my very own "10 things we need to remind ourselves of":
2. Get yourself on track to reach milestones. Most times it's better to advance little by little whenever you're on your way to reach a goal. This allows you to analyze, strategize, get feedback and make adjustments on the way.
3. Don't rush it, but don't overdue it. Trying to get things done fast and at an inappropriate time usually brings chaos, and leaving things for later without being careful can lead to delaying them forever. If you feel it's the right time, go for it. Sometimes you'll need a little push; that's all.
4. Set priorities and learn to prioritize. It's no secret that time goes by really fast, sometimes even faster than expected. So, be prepared to turn the tides when time is not on your side.
5. Be flexible and expect the unexpected. Hoping for the worst has its benefits because it keeps you aware of possible fiascos along the way, especially because bad things do happen. However, an absolutely negative approach sounds too dark. Get ready to dance between the possibilities.
6. State the facts, even the most obvious, and say things clearly. If you're not honest to yourself, will anyone ever be? It's not about criticizing you as a person, it's about coming clean about what you know, what you must improve and what you must learn.
7. Direct your actions to generate positive changes. Some changes happen out of our reach, but remember that you have control of your actions and decisions. When you have hopes and dreams but don't act accordingly, don't expect the situation to magically change in your favor. If you don't even try...
8. Give yourself room to express your feelings. Life is not always sugar, spice and everything nice. There's a whole spectrum of emotions inside you that will come out on given occasions. Repressing them can only lead to frustration!
9. Compare and scrutinize in a healthy measure. It's all right to compare and contrast things honestly, as long as it doesn't follow a destructive purpose. Otherwise, steer away from it and only take the good things from which you can learn.
10. Change what you must with respect, patience and solid actions. Be mindful when making decisions, weighing benefits and consequences for your personal fulfillment, and acknowledging those involved whom you care about. Please, don't sabotage yourself by trampling everything in your way.
I know "New Year Resolutions" are quite a cliché, hell, I'm one of the first ones to say that every New Year's Eve! But, given that 2019 just started, January is almost gone and I'm still here pondering about life, I decided to be more proactive and work my way through changes. Here I am, writing in my blog, which had remained untouched since June 2018. I've also resumed painting a special picture for our living room, which I paused back in November. I've made my own yearly planner (more on that later, in another post), identified important goals for me (and my family) and tried to have a more normal schedule to help me organize myself better. I'm still having issues with splitting time between tasks adequately, but I've got patience, honesty, motivation and a whole bunch of actions slowly executing one after the other.
Thank you for reading my whole article! I feel great about writing again, so be on the lookout for new posts every now and then.
