We live in a world that glorifies busy-ness. We’re constantly hustling and adding items to our to-do lists and saying “yes” when we could be saying “no.” It’s normalized and expected. If you’re not insanely busy, are you really living?
This is just one way to live. And, I would argue, not the best way. The problem is not that we’re busy, but that we’re busy doing things that aren’t most important to us. We have filled our lives up with other people’s version of success and piled on tasks accordingly.
Will this leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied with your life? Probably not. The danger in this is that we’ll spend all our precious time and energy on achievements that don’t really matter to us. From the outside we may look like we “have it all”, but in reality, there’s a huge gap between where we are and where we want to be.
I don’t need to tell you that the gap causes stress. We feel like we should be happier, we should feel more fulfilled, we should be grateful, and before we know it, we’re buried under all the should’s. Don’t fall for the lie that more is better. It doesn’t matter how hard you work if you’re not doing work that matters to you and aligns with your values.
If you’re looking at a huge gap between where you are and where you want to be, here are a few questions you can ask yourself to get on the right track.
- What is my goal?
This may take some thinking. What is the dream you gave up on or didn’t have the courage to begin? If money was no object, what would you be doing right now? Would you be happy with your life if you were in the same place five years from now? Start with these questions and being building a picture of what you really want your life to look like. - What is standing in my way?
Get real with yourself about the obstacles. Are you low on time? Money? Motivation? There is a way to hurdle all of your obstacles, but you have to know what they are first. - What am I willing to sacrifice to get to my goal?
There are always sacrifices to be made. Sometimes it’s a simple as learning to say “no”. Other times it means we have to give up something we really like that isn’t getting us where we need to be. Be honest with yourself about the sacrifices you’re willing to make. If you want to write a book, maybe you need to wake up early to get writing done before everyone wakes up. If you want a career change, it could mean investing in the education to make that possible—time, evenings of class and homework. It’s good to know what you’re willing to change and what you aren’t. - How will I feel when I reach my goal?
Go ahead and use your imagination. How excited will you be? Proud of yourself? Full of gratitude? Detail what reaching your goal will mean to you so you can go back to it when the work and the sacrifices feel like too much.
You just took the first step toward living the life you really want! How did that feel? If you’re overwhelmed or uncertain of where to begin, schedule a free 30-minute one-on-one goal-setting session with me today! And join the supportive Facebook group Shine on Purpose to be part of a community working toward their goals together.
Don’t settle for a life of busy-ness when you could have a life of fulfillment. Get honest with yourself about where you are and where you want to be and then go for it!
