Life Is What You Make It!
Many of you are regular readers here on Freelance Writing and if you are, then you probably know how I feel in regards to the claim in the title of this post. I truly believe that what happens to us in life – regardless whether private or work wise – we are mostly responsible for it. It is because of the actions we have chosen to take years ago that we have arrived at this exact moment.
Life is what you make it!
It is a known fact that self-help gurus preach the fact that we have the powers to design our own future. So how come they all preach the same thing? Is it a fab fashion that will go away in years to come, or are there certain seeds of truth attached to the statement ‘life is what you make it?’
Think about it for a second: has a decision you made in the past influenced your future?
I’m sure it has.
What we experience in life is the end product to what we chose to do in the past; if we choose to wake up with a grumpy mood, chances are our day will go from bad to worse; if we say, sod it, let’s enjoy this day regardless of the problems we experience right now, then chances are good and wonderful things are starting to happen to us.
Our ultimate reality is ALWAYS a result of our mind set (except sudden death, accidents and loss in general.)
But then, some might even claim these events all happen for a reason too – and you know what, they just might. We are not to know until we have passed on and by then we can’t discuss it anymore, unless there is some ‘life discussion club on the other side.’
What are you doing today to change the reality for your tomorrow?
So many people complain about the short end of the straw. I tell you what, we all get it at times, regardless of where we stand on the mountain. So, you are having a hell of a time right now – in a negative way – but what ARE you doing right now to change the situation?
I am willing to bet that unless you are READY to see that YOU alone are in charge of your life, your bad situation will never change. You will always deal with $hit and never get ahead.
Do you show gratitude?
Are you grateful for the good things in your life? If so, do you show your gratitude to the people who help make your days better, the people you love? You should. Every day we spend lacking gratitude is a day wasted because we live without awareness.
Awareness is a necessary life ingredient for living a truly happy and balanced life. If we lack awareness we simply can’t enjoy the moment/s.
Choose the roads you travel on with awareness but don’t let a stop sign stop you from continuing either:
Sometimes we reach a phase in life when everything we do is not working. It happens to me, it happens to all of us. But you are given choices, make them with awareness for the potential outcomes. If a stop sign (metamorphically speaking) is looming in front of you, persist if you feel you are on the right road. Keep going!
Remember, life is what you make it!
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Chris Anderson | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
I like this post. Even at the lowest of low, if you are doing something about it, you can change that. We all have control of our lives and where we are today is because of our own decisions. Nobody is leading us except us. And noone is really stopping us, except us.
Steve | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
Excellent!
Monika | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
@ Chris Anderson: Thank you for the feedback. I’m glad you see eye to eye with me here because it is so important to know this. We all go through the ebbs and flow of life, the ups and downs, but by acting and moving one step forward – one step at the time – we can do so much more than just sit there and mope.
Monika | Aug 28, 2009 | Reply
@ Steve:
Thank you! I had to save your comment from the spam folder. Good job I checked!
Brett Legree | Aug 29, 2009 | Reply
Right on. Stephen Covey said:
“All things are created twice; first mentally; then physically. The key to creativity is to begin with the end in mind, with a vision and a blue print of the desired result.”
No matter where you are, you must first dream it, visualize it, believe it.
Then take the steps necessary to go and do it.
That’s pretty much it. The answers lie within us, too, not out here. We can find help and inspiration online, but then, it is up to us to get down to business.
As long as you are still breathing, you can move towards your goals and dreams.
Monika | Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: I HEART Stephen Covey’s stuff. Smart guy that man! Nice quote, thanks for sharing with us. I agree with the visualizing part so much. Guess what John and I are visualizing now?
Brett Legree | Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
Hmm, let me guess
well, I’m visualizing a never ending series of evenings much like the one we had here tonight (no snow…) – and I know just where to find that.
What I like about Covey is that it is timeless. It always seems to apply. If you go back to basics, you end up with his work, it seems.
Monika | Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: Yep, and I can picture you too. Any news on the procedure? Or has this come to a standstill for now?
Brett Legree | Sep 2, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
I had to put it aside for a little bit during the summer, with the kids off and so on, but I’m back on it now full time and I expect to make some big strides over the winter.
My distaste for snow will drive me!!!
Monika | Sep 2, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: I feel for you. Winters in Canada are far worse than they are in Europe and THOSE were enough to drive me away. Even so, I do love skiing and am quite a buff at it too.
But every weather to its ‘function.’ I truly wish for you guys to eventually make that move. I know how much you want this. Just don’t give up – as you know, set backs are bound to happen and they are serving the one purpose – to make you stronger!
Brett Legree | Sep 2, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
That is very true – I know we’d travel to snow, periodically, especially at Christmas. Perhaps if I didn’t have to get up and drive in the dark through the snow to work I wouldn’t mind it as much!!!
(I have it all figured out you see… you can get to snow-covered mountains in NZ in the winter, a half-day’s drive from Auckland will do it. So we could still have a snowball fight for “old time’s sake”!)
We will do it – I know we will. One step at a time. And we’ll keep having fun, along the way
Monika | Sep 3, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: I’m in…I’m in… I do love snowball fights and can’t wait to thrash you…hehehehe…
Your idea about breaking up the seasons does sound great actually. I have been meaning to go skiing here in Oz but never managed to make it happen so far. Considering the skiing region here is bigger than all of Switzerland I ought to go, don’t I.
But then NZ does beckon as well, just over the pond so to speak. Hmmm… decisions, decisions.
As for your dream to become true. I bet it will. I can actually picture you guys on that beach of yours wth that little venture you told me about at some stage. Yep, that sounds about right.
Brett Legree | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
@Monika,
Hee hee there you go, it’s *on* as soon as we make it over there, we’ll have to meet at an agreed-upon place and build two snow-forts!
I continue to pick away at that venture – I wrote some words today, and I was talking with another fellow who does something kind of the same in Texas – he was kind enough to share some ideas with me.
So it is inevitable!
Monika | Sep 5, 2009 | Reply
@ Brett: You bet we will. It is written in the stars.
After all, it’s a tiny step across the pond for me.