Sometimes the life we planned isn’t always the one we end up with. The best-laid plans are sometimes disrupted by a struggle that we didn’t see coming or an obstacle we didn’t anticipate. We now find ourselves living on the cusp of the life we always wanted…never quite fulfilling our dream.
Maybe we missed finishing school to take care of our “unexpected” family. Or our loved one became ill and we had to postpone our career or business venture.
For some, plans falling through may seem like an act of betrayal by the world.
Of course you love your family and feel the need to take care of your loved one who is ill…but when the dream life you imagined for yourself is altered by circumstances beyond our control…well it may be time to dream in a different time zone. (If you know what I mean)
Holding onto those dreams that never had the opportunity to reach fruition can be a painful realization.
Letting go of anything can be painful
Before you take action to rid yourself of yesterday’s baggage, you must be willing to accept the changes that your new beginning will bring. Open up to the possibilities that lie ahead and not hang on to dreams of the past. Let go of the old planned life and embrace what you have now. Maybe you can’t go to medical school or complete your degree… but there are changes you can make that will leave you fulfilled and happy with what life has given you.
At this point in your life, figure out what you can do to bring joy and happiness into the life you have now and it will be easier to let go of the old dreams and wishes. Begin by listing everything you’re grateful for right now. It may be your health, or spending time with grandchildren. After you decide what you’re grateful for and what possibilities might be available for you now, set goals and take actions that will push you towards those possibilities.
When you’re finding it hard to let go of negative areas of your life and make way for new beginnings, here are a few tips that might help:
- Accept the past. Whatever you’ve done or been in the past is history. Accept your past, then let it go, set yourself free to move on to a better future.
- Take action by meditating. Meditation may not seem like action, but when you meditate, your brain is working overtime to bring clarity and focus to your life.
- Set goals for the future. Nothing helps get rid of the past like looking toward the future. Align your goals with the life’s purpose you see for yourself.
- Don’t think of yourself as a victim of the past. Terrible things may have happened in your past, but when you continue to see yourself as a victim, you’re hanging on to yesterday rather than letting tomorrow guide you down a path of new and better beginnings.
- View past mistakes as opportunities. The mistakes you’ve made in the past can be a springboard for making you a better person.
- Visualize yourself as the person you want to be. No matter how you want to change… be more patient, eat healthy foods, fit in exercise. Let go of that old image to begin creating the one you desire.
The life you originally planned may not be possible at this time in your life, but the world is full of possibilities that can fulfill you and make life worth living.
It’s ok to look to the past fondly, but let it go if it’s holding you back.
Nothing good has ever happened unless something else was given up.
Believe in yourself and that you can let go of all of yesterday’s regrets and make the future brighter. You’re only given this one life, so treat each day as if it was a gift. Unwrap it carefully and with excitement.