Living in the Now

I have written countless blogs about setting goals, future plans and creating a path for yourself moving forward. This is what we thrive on as humans- setting a goal or always looking for whats next. Figuring out the areas we want to improve is key to allowing us to grow. But, sometimes I think we are too focused on the "next". Sometimes, we beat ourselves up if we aren't exactly where we thought we would be. Or, even worse- if we aren't meeting someone else's standards or expectations of where they think we should be. Even in casual conversations, I feel people put more of an emphasis on what I am planning to do next, than what I have going on right now. Especially if what I have going on in the moment seems complicated or less than ideal to the other person. Your current situation might not make sense to others so they naturally ask you what you are planning to do next.

Having this conversation over and over with people made me realize that celebrating and being grateful for the season of life we are in is just as important as where we are going. Instead of constantly having to be better and do better, lets celebrate where we are and how far we have come. Even if you are going through something "negative" or if you are not where you want to be, you are becoming stronger every day by going through it. Yes- I said going THROUGH it. Meaning, embracing your situation and looking at what you are getting out of it; good or bad. You learn with every step you take and there is not a single moment along your journey that is wasted. It is so important to remember that in order to make progress, we have to be at peace with the steps along the way that will get us there.

So, when we look at setting goals to move forward, we still have to reflect on where we are. What head space are you in? How have you grown through adversity? You can't improve and change without accessing your current situation. Something I am extremely proud of myself for in the past few months is learning not to value other people's opinions more than I value my own. I have gone through phases where I wasn't confident with where I was in my life and I felt like I had failed. That state of mind gave a huge opening for me to let other people's opinions into my life. I then took their opinions and questioned myself even more than I already was. Instead of getting down on myself, I am trying to give myself credit. Instead of stressing about changes, Im learning how to cherish the fact that better things are in store. Instead of looking at where I thought I would be, I realize how far I've come. Perspective through our hard times is so important. Its about learning to have faith and realize that you are right where you are meant to be.

There is such relief when you realize there is freedom in accepting yourself and everything that goes along with it. Accepting the parts you don't like along with the ones you do. When you come from a place of gratitude, instead of desperation, it allows you to be true to yourself and improve in an authentic way. This is without a doubt one of the hardest things for me to remember at times but I think living in the now is the best way to continue improving. Be proud of who you are and where you are going. There is so much power in learning to embrace the journey and all of the ups and downs that go along with that. And don't forget to celebrate yourself along the way!