It's Your Choice
"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Everything that has happened, is happening or will happen to you is the result of a choice you’ve made. It’s not your partner, your kids, your parents, your job, the weather or a lack of time; it is all happening because of choices you have made.
"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions"
- Stephen Covey
Choice is power over your life, and when you blame others (because it is so much easier to) for events or circumstances in your life then you give them your power, you give them ownership of you. If there are things that you want to accomplish but ‘circumstances’ keep getting in the way, know that it is you getting in your own way. Situations will always arise, work will almost always ask more of you, family members will need you, but don’t just let yourself push aside what’s important to you, choose to be at your best.
"Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life"
- Marcus Aurelius
When you are happy and allow yourself to be at your best, all those near you will benefit. Being there for my clients and students, helping them achieve their goals is highly important to me. In order for me to be who they need me to be, (who I want to be) I know that I need to be at my best. It has taken years of listening to myself to understand it is not selfish of me to spend time doing what my soul is asking me to do.
I require physical activity, naps, quite moments with my family (husband and dog) time to read, research and continue my education. In order to ensure that my personal requirements are meant I am willing to say no to working late every night, taking on more clients and making more money. I make choices to do things that fulfill me so that I can help my clients find a level of fulfillment as well.
"My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants."-Joseph Brotherton
In turn this also means my lifestyle is plain, eating out is a rarity, I shop at second hand stores, I live in a modest condo but I am happy. I’m happy because I know I’ve made these choices which also means I own my life. There may come a time in my life that I want change some of these circumstances, and I will be okay with that because either my priorities have changed or I will find a way to achieve what I want without sacrificing but….in the end I won’t be sacrificing anything because I’ll know I am making the choices.
"Happiness, like unhappiness, is a proactive choice"
– Stephen Covey
In conclusion, the first choice we should make is to be happy. When you have created a life that sings to you, you will also realize true happiness comes from within. We all have the power to change our external environment to match our internal happiness. Make the changes that you require in order to be happy.