What Are You Waiting For?

You have realized that something is not quite right in your life.  You have become more aware of your anxiety or depression or some other issue that weighs heavily on you and negatively affects your life.  You have become increasingly aware that something has to change because you can no longer tolerate living like this.  What are you waiting for?

You have experiences that have haunted you for many years.   You have tried to put behind you.   You have read books and gotten advice from friends on how to overcome it.  You have beaten yourself up for years about it.  You have thought about getting help with the issue for years and understand that you cannot do it on your own.  What are you waiting for?

Your drinking or other substance abuse has become more and more of an issue in your life.   The damage continues to pile up.  Friends and family keep telling you need to get help and deal with it.  As much as you try to control it you find it impossible.  You life is unraveling in front of your eyes.  You know you can’t deal with it on your own.  What are you waiting for?

You are very unhappy at your job and keep telling yourself you need to find another one.  The economy has improved and it is easier to find a job.  You have been thinking of continuing your education for a long time.  You keep putting it off and continue to feel sad and anxious.  What are you waiting for?

Your relationship is just not working.  You and your significant other have one disagreement after another.  There is more conflict than calm and happiness.  You have worked hard to find ways for you both to get your needs met.  The more you try, the more you realize your values, wants, and desires are not the same as hers/his.  You know in your heart that the relationship will never be as fulfilling as you want.  You want more.  What are you waiting for?

Life is so short.  The clock continues to move as you stay stuck in a place that you do not want to be.  Fear stands in the way of finding a more fulfilling life.  For the most part it is you that stands between yourself and having an opportunity to find the things you seek.  Taking the steps to overcoming your fears is the only path.  Moving forward one step at a time.  Try not to look too far into the future.  That’s a very scary place full all kinds of unknowns.  You can deal with those when you get there.  You are responsible for your own happiness.  You are not responsible for the happiness of others.

Another year is about to come to an end. What are you waiting for?

Overcoming Adversity

In the corporate world there is a saying. “There are no problems, just opportunities.” I totally disagree. There are problems that come up for all of us. We cannot avoid having problems arise in our lives. Some of these are small inconveniences while other problems can be quite significant and sometimes life altering. But, the fact remains that we all encounter problems.

We have choices to make when issues arise. We can avoid facing them. We can find a way around them. We can allow ourselves to fall victim and allow it to keep us from progressing in our lives. We can also face the problem, deal directly with it, and move on no matter what the outcome. The outcome is not completely in our power to control. What we do is in our control.

Sometimes we have difficulty seeing the problem for what it is or how to deal with it. Reaching out for help is a powerful tool. Many people think that seeking assistance or help somehow makes us weak individuals. Knowing when to seek help and doing so is a powerful and useful tool for solving and overcoming problems. Support is very important for all of us.

Seek the solutions to the problems you face. Solve the issue the best you can and get assistance when it is needed and available. Learn what you need to learn. Don’t hold on to the issue once it is behind you. This will only inhibit your ability to move forward.

Yes, there are problems. But, many times we benefit from finding solutions and learning from them.