In order to move forward, you have to know where you are right now. Otherwise you don't know what you are moving forward from.
And to find out where you are now, you need to stop. Stop racing around trying to get everything done. Doing things you don't really want to do. Doing things for others while secretly resenting it.
You are responsible for your own life. You're in charge. You get to do whatever it is you want to do.
Sure, there are things that are beneficial if you did do them otherwise things may fall apart somewhat.
But the reality is, in most cases, we are filling our time with pointless shit. It is distraction rather than doing anything useful that moves us forward in our life.
So, taking time out to see where you are today will give you the space to think where you want to go tomorrow and beyond. You can then make a plan.
Even if it is simply what you focus on. But taking that time out is so important. And not just once, but once a day.
Evaluate where you are.
Is your life going in the direction you want it to go.
Are you bored.
Is there something bugging you that you really want to do but never get around to it.
Is there stuff you would love to do but you can't due to lack of resources.
There is a solution to every problem. So think about how you can achieve what you want to without thinking you have to rob a bank.
There is always a way. But firstly, you have to actually know what you want to do.
Be grateful.
Be grateful for what you have today.
Be grateful for your friends and your family around you.
Be grateful for being loved and for others to allow you to love them.
Be grateful for animals and what they teach us.
Be grateful for nature and her beauty.
Be grateful for the weather, for without weather, we shall not survive.
Be grateful for all the small things in your life that make a difference. No matter how small, they improve your life.
Be grateful for trees for without them, we cannot breathe.
Be grateful for water and rain. For without it, we cannot quench our thirst.
Be grateful for being able to move, to walk, to run. To lift heavy stuff.
Be grateful for one day you may not have it and then you will wish you would have done more when you did.
Strength and power coming from resilience. From never giving up. From pushing forwards regardless of how tired you are.
There more challenges you face in your life, the stronger and more resilient you become. You cannot get strong without challenging yourself.
You cannot grow unless you are willing to step outside your comfort zone. You cannot become a better version of yourself unless you are aware of where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.
It takes will and action. When we become a better version of ourselves, we are better for those around us.
We are more supportive, caring and understanding. More empathetic. More helpful and useful to others. And then we have purpose.
For without purpose, we are simply like a floating feather in the wind. No direction or goal in mind. No focus. No evolution. Just floating aimlessly.
And while this may feel nice for a short while and may even be good for us. There will always come a need for something more. There will also be that need and desire for purpose.
For purpose gives us a sense of fulfilment. And this has the knock on effect of happiness and living in a higher frequency of love.
And the higher we can raise that frequency, the better our experience of life. And we all seek a better experience of life.
Unless of course we are living unconsciously. Then we are unaware of what is going on in our life. And we seek constant distraction to keep ourselves entertained by meaningless nothingness.
Instead, seek for our life to have meaning and purpose.
Even if it is simply to be kind to others. Even if it is to just be grateful for the human experience gift that has been bestowed upon you.
Don't waste a day or a moment for one day, there will be no days left.
And in that moment of quiet before you depart, you will look back and wonder what you did with the gift of life.
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I just woke up n was grateful about everything in life. Then I look at my phone to check my Substack notifications! 👍
Read your post n here I am, grateful for Substack I met my lil bro n so many wonderful writers!🙏
I have learned much from y'all! Thank you! 🫶🫰✌️🙌🥰
Wow! Those trees are magical! 🌳😍🧚♀️
This post is timely, I've had a rest day to pause and reflect. Great post, Colin.
I express gratitude every morning, it's such a powerful practice 🧘♀️💖🙏