As you begin to consider what you would like your life to look like in 10, 20, or 40 years from now or somewhere down the road, you may be wondering, “Do I really have a choice about this?”  And you might also be thinking, “Well, where I am today is this is just the way I am and I can’t do anything about it.”

We are who we are today basically because of 3 factors:

1.   Our Genetics- When we were born, we inherit some traits from our ancestors such as size, basic temperament, color, etc.

2.   Our Early Environment- We then gain some of our perspective about life based on the environment that we have been raised in.  This influences how we see conflict, peace, our language, how to deal with adversity, etc.

3.   Our Choices- As we grow older and begin to mature, we have the ability to make choices as to how to approach the circumstances that we find ourselves in.  At the end of the day, Our Choices are the major contributing factors in determining who we are and who we will become, won’t they?

Every day we make hundreds if not thousands of little choices.  Things like whether to…

·      Be nice to somebody (or not)?
·      Be helpful to others or selfish?
·      Follow-through on commitments or not?
·      Get more education or not?
·      Borrow money beyond our budget on wants?
·      Spend extra hours at work or with our family?
·      Play golf with the guys or go to our child’s concert or game?
·      Hang around with a good crowd or bad crowd?
·      Watch TV or develop our spiritual life?

The choices are endless over the course of days, months, and years aren’t they?  If we don’t have a clear picture of what you want your life to look like down the road, what will guide our decision-making?

On the other hand, if we can lock in on a clear picture of ‘WHO’ we want to be years down the road, then doesn’t it make sense that our choices will be much more clear and easier to make?

Good Choices are choices that will take us closer to where we desire to head.  These are wise choices.

Bad Choices are choices that will take us farther away from where we want to head.  These are foolish choices.

And even if we hit a hard patch that may take us off course as a result of bad choices or circumstances beyond our control, since we still have a clear picture of where we want to end up, won’t it be much easier to re-engage in making wise choices again?

If we believe our choices will determine our future and are dedicated to making wise choices in the days ahead, we are well on the way toward finding purpose and joy.  And remember, today is the first day of the rest of our lives.  It’s our choice on what our next step will be, isn’t it?

www.findingpurposeandjoy.com

In the last blog, we talked about the question "Where is your life headed?"  And we also talked about the fact the where you are at today is not your destination but rather just one step on your journey through life.  Since that is reality, here's the next question to consider.  Depending on how young or old you are, what would you like your life to look like in 10, 20, or 40 years?  


Do you hope . . .

• to have emotional well-being that is not riddled with stress and anxiety?
• to have good relationships with those that are most important to you?
  
• to be part of a loving family that cares about each other?
• that your 25th, 40th, 50th, or 75th anniversary will be a joyous occasion if you are married or hope to be married?
• that your spiritual life will be on solid ground?
  
• to be in financial position to retire someday if you desire to?
• that you can enjoy reasonable good health for many years?
• that your life is one of significance?
  
• that your life will be full of purpose and joy?

The good news is that today is the first day of the rest of your life.  Wouldn't it be a good time to develop a clear picture and vision for where you hope to be down the road?  If you agree, would you take time to do that and we'll talk more about what to do with it in the next blog.

www.findingpurposeandjoy.com

Are you happy with where you’re at and where you seem to be heading?  If so, congratulations!  From talking to many people that have experienced some bumps in the road, you may be in the minority.  On the other hand, if life just is leaving you with some feelings of void, dryness, and anxiety, perhaps it might be a good time for you to begin thinking about what you hope that your life will look like in the next 10 to 20 years or so. 

Here’s what I hope you will consider from this blog, “Today is NOT your destination.  Please consider your past but don’t mire in it.  Your history is a great place to think about fond memories.  At the same time also review what hasn’t turned out well.  Then most importantly, begin planning on what you can do differently as you begin anew on the journey ahead of you.  Remember, Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life!


www.findingpurposeandjoy.com