We are seemingly oblivious to the fact that our natural life is different from our perceptions of it. In fact, the more we uncover our own lives, the more we see that we base our very existence on being unaware of truth: truth about what drives us, truth about what we want with our lives, and truth about things that don't make sense. In short, we are seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents in our lives. Thus, we don't live up to our potential - our natural lives.
When we stop long enough to look at our lives, we almost always find that we've carved out lives that aren't really working for us. During our lives, as a matter of course, we usually stop and look when there are big decisions or changes in the usual pattern of our day-today lives. One example of such a change is when we leave school and either start working or pursuing advanced studies. Another example is when we reach the stage where our children have grown up and leave home. Suddenly we find we have more time on our hands. Other examples of these big transitions are when we have near-death or traumatic experiences. If we choose, we could also stop at any time to take stock of our lives.
How we get to the point of stopping and looking at our lives isn't what's important. What's important is that we stop, and that when we look, we're brutally honest with ourselves. If we are, we'll invariably see that we have a life that doesn't work for us, and possibly hasn't worked for us for many years, especially if we're older when we stop and look at our lives. That our life isn't working might be because of many different things.
Perhaps we've spent months or years studying a craft or academic path that doesn't really interest us. We might be married or in a relationship with someone who doesn't suit us, or we don't suit them.
The point is, if you stop long enough and look carefully at your life, you might see that your life turned out different from what you'd have wanted. In fact, almost anyone who stops and looks will have the same realization.
Have we been on a roller coaster ride with our lives, for a short period or possibly for our whole lives, even at the point that we already have grandchildren?
If our lives developed in a direction that wasn't what we envisioned, why did this happen? Could it be that we didn't exercise our freedom of choice? Were we not free to steer our lives in the direction of our choice? Has our life ended up as a second-choice existence?
When we stop long enough to look at our lives, we almost always find that we've carved out lives that aren't really working for us. During our lives, as a matter of course, we usually stop and look when there are big decisions or changes in the usual pattern of our day-today lives. One example of such a change is when we leave school and either start working or pursuing advanced studies. Another example is when we reach the stage where our children have grown up and leave home. Suddenly we find we have more time on our hands. Other examples of these big transitions are when we have near-death or traumatic experiences. If we choose, we could also stop at any time to take stock of our lives.
How we get to the point of stopping and looking at our lives isn't what's important. What's important is that we stop, and that when we look, we're brutally honest with ourselves. If we are, we'll invariably see that we have a life that doesn't work for us, and possibly hasn't worked for us for many years, especially if we're older when we stop and look at our lives. That our life isn't working might be because of many different things.
Perhaps we've spent months or years studying a craft or academic path that doesn't really interest us. We might be married or in a relationship with someone who doesn't suit us, or we don't suit them.
The point is, if you stop long enough and look carefully at your life, you might see that your life turned out different from what you'd have wanted. In fact, almost anyone who stops and looks will have the same realization.
Have we been on a roller coaster ride with our lives, for a short period or possibly for our whole lives, even at the point that we already have grandchildren?
If our lives developed in a direction that wasn't what we envisioned, why did this happen? Could it be that we didn't exercise our freedom of choice? Were we not free to steer our lives in the direction of our choice? Has our life ended up as a second-choice existence?
About the Author:
Emmanuel van der Meulen is personal coach. He can help you with overcoming your fears. Request your free optimal life newsletter.
