Don’t Even Look Back!
Why in the world do we often fall prey to the same demons time and time again?! I mean, once we gain a little ground on them, wouldn’t you think we’d never go back? Don’t reasonable people learn from their mistakes and never make the same one ever again?
They absolutely do! In Fairy Tales.
The problem is, we’re all predisposed to certain pitfalls of life. Some people are wired to have outrageous mood swings. They can be laughing and joking one minute and angrily searching out a confrontation the next. Others (Who….. Me?) are careless and footloose with money, then stare in wide-eyed wonder at the cobwebs in their piggy bank.
Some people procrastinate, seemingly for a living. They’re so good at putting things off that it’s a wonder they manage to get anything done. Their opposites are just as amusing, they are so hyper-busy, I’m convinced that they don’t actually fall asleep at night. I think their family gets annoyed with them and knocks them out.
The bottom line: All of the bad traits in the world have multiple owners and we have the title to at least one of them.
I can accept that. I’ve come to expect my bad traits and habits to make themselves known on a daily basis. It’s a game we’ve played for many years. Keeps life interesting, I guess. But what I absolutely can’t stand is when these traits get the better of me and I trip over them – falling into a pit… A pit that’s all too familiar to me. I spend money the minute it’s in my hand, then wonder why I don’t have any.
I keep doing the same things I’ve been doing, expecting the outcome to be different this time. Someone once said that habit was “crazy” and this would be me not exactly disagreeing.
In addition to money, I also struggle with consistency in eating healthy. I will go along, beautifully, for about a week and then… TROUBLE in the form of an order of French fries or a tall glamorous drink from Starbucks filled with calories (come to think of it, Starbucks spells doom for me on both fronts, healthy eating AND spending… uh oh, not a happy realization).
So, it’s back to step #1. Time to start all over again.
The rest of this short, hopefully encouraging, dissertation will include you in the pit with me so watch for I to become we). Don’t worry… I’ll share my Starbucks with you.
We can’t just expect things to happen in life just because we want them to. If we aren’t proactively pursuing our goals or personal improvements, we aren’t going to gain on them. And if we let our guard down for just one second…. we’re done.
I don’t particularly like shining a spotlight on my weaknesses. After all, it kind of goes against the stereotypical, average blogger, right? Most people online lead you to believe they’re so close to perfection that you should pay them just to speak to them. Actually, some are looking for ways to charge you just for saying their name.
They photoshop their lives along with their pictures! Was that mean? I apologize… I get that way when I know my fries and I are about to become strangers.
I’m not interested in coming across as perfect. I’m interested in one thing – helping people, with my very humble efforts, to find the best in themselves and, thereby, getting the most from life. Which is why I’m writing this post. I’m giving you what I wish I’d given myself years ago.
If you have goals you are working toward, stop for a minute and ask yourself if you’re still fighting for what you want or if you’re on the verge of a “break” – take it from me, these breaks will break YOU. Never stop – heck, don’t even slow down. If you think you’re doing all you can to reach your goal, dig down and give it more.
If, like me, you’re closer to broke than breaking – keep your chin up. Very often in life, it takes that one final discouragement to get our attention and spur us on to success. How many people do we read about who find their financial success after bankruptcy?
I did actually recently win a battle that I can’t help being kind of proud of. I had a HUGE obsession with chips (corn chips, Doritos, Cheetos, Funyuns…). I’d keep a bag in the kitchen and pretty much eat from it throughout the day. About a month ago, I decided to make a smart switch and began keeping Cheerios (my favorite is the blueberry variety) on hand to snack on during the day.
I lost 5 pounds!
Wherever you are on the road that leads to your goal, don’t stop chugging along. In fact, pick up the pace! If you’ve fallen, get up. If you’re walking, run. If you’re running… look out, I’m right behind you.
You’ll know it’s me when you smell the blueberry Cheerios! ~ Joi (“Joy”)
