Don't settle for what is (especially if it doesn't help you feel happy or healthy)
/In my 20s I was quite unwell. I went from doctor to doctor and did test after test. And despite all the appointments, examinations and tests, no one could figure out what was going on. In the meantime, I continued to be unwell and life was getting harder because I was tired, sore and sick.
Now, the sensible thing would have been to slow down and rest but sadly that wasn't what I did. Although I did do some things to take care of myself, I continued to push myself hard.
I was working on some big projects and there was no shortage of opportunities for me to learn and grow, something that excites me incredibly and I didn't want to let myself and others down.
With the beauty of hindsight, there was more I could have done for myself. But as always, it's only once you pop out the other side of an experience that the learnings are so obvious!
I continued to show up at appointments while putting up with how I felt - that was until an appointment that changed EVERYTHING for me. At that particular appointment, I heard these words ... "you might be dead before we work this out". Hello! WTF! That's NOT how I had intended my life to be (or end!). The specialist who made that statement sat and looked at me while we both tried to work out what to say next. "Thank you" didn't seem appropriate. Nor did swearing and cursing at him.
As hard as it was to hear, those words were the shot across the bow that I needed. Yes, I'd been trying to take care of myself but at that moment, I knew there was one vital thing missing ... I hadn't yet taken FULL AND COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF.
Before we go further, when I say "responsibility", I'm not talking about blame or judgement towards myself or anyone else. It's about stepping up and being the CEO of our own life and health.
I realised I'd been letting other people decide, direct and to a large extent, control my life. It was time for me to step into the all-important lead role and take charge.
And you know what? Things changed for the better when I realised my life and health were my responsibility.
Is there an area in your life where you're settling?
It's an area where you're letting other people decide, direct and control what you're doing. And you've been going along with it even though it doesn't make you happy. And truth be told because you're not happy it's affecting your health too, isn't it?
Beautiful, you don't need to settle for what is if it's making you unhappy and affecting your health. You have the power to choose a different path.
I know it can be scary to take responsibility for your own life, to consciously decide what's best for you. Because what if you get it 'wrong'? What if you upset someone? What if someone disagrees with you? Insert your own "what if..." statement.
But how does it feel to settle? How does it feel to have other people deciding, directing and controlling your life?
This life you're living now is precious and it's possible to live well - to live and work in alignment with who you are and what you value. But it won't just happen, and it certainly can't happen if you're sitting on the sidelines of your own life.
There's a CEO role right there waiting for you to step into it. It's yours to claim now. Will you?
Go well.
- Tracey
Hey there, I’m Tracey, a life coach based in Te Awamutu, a small town in the Waikato region of New Zealand. I teach gentle souls practical tools and mindset strategies to consciously create their life. And not just any life! A life aligned with who they are and what they truly value. Because life is for living well now, right.
Keen to dive deeper into what you want for your life? I’ve got you covered! Jump on over here to grab the Your Whole Life course. In it, you’ll learn the 8 core elements that make-up “life”.