You Gotta Wanna
Seven Keys for Rut-Free Living on the Road of Life
Are you stuck, stuck, stuck in a rut on the road of life?
It's frustrating. Like a car stuck in a rut, you just spin your
tires, rocking back and forth in place but never covering any
ground. You know that you should move forward, but instead of
taking that small initial step, you perpetuate your "stuck-ness"
by doing everything--and anything--else. You water the plants,
pour another cup of coffee, check the mail, rearrange the papers
on your desk, or call a friend. Yet what you resist persists,
emptying you of energy, joy, and enthusiasm.
So how do you get back on track, refill your "gas tank," and
start moving again in the direction of your hopes and dreams?
Here are seven keys to help you break free from your rut and go
merrily on your way:
1. You Gotta Wanna You have to step out of believing that you
are a victim of the school of hard knocks. You always have
choices. Even though you can't always control the circumstances
of your life, you CAN control the way you view them and the way
you respond to them. Even though you may not have the fastest or
newest car, you CAN decide what direction you're going to steer.
Use the power of positive thinking to gain a fresh perspective
and try a new path. Going down the same old road of thought
patterns will not get you where we want to go if it's the WRONG
road, no matter how fast you drive.
2. Admit that you're stuck Once you're stuck, it's impossible to
free yourself from your well-worn rut without first admitting to
yourself that you're stuck. As odd as it sounds, even though you
don't like being stuck, it can feel more familiar to you than
facing the unknowns that come hand-in-hand with change.
Acknowledging that you're stuck is essential for getting back on
the road of freedom with a renewed sense of energy and purpose.
3. Discover what it is you want You may feel totally detoured
from knowing your own dreams. All of your energy may have gone
into fulfilling everyone else's needs. But your dreams and
longings are equally as important. Remember, you teach people
how to treat you by how you treat yourself. The journey of
self-love is the tow rope that pulls you free. Dare to declare
the things you want, and involve yourself with the people and
things that feed your inner spirit. Become discerning about when
you respond with an authentic "yes," or when you say "yes" out
of obligation. A truthful "no" is truly more loving than a
resentful "yes," and affords you the energy you need to move
forward out of your rut. Leaps of faith are great, but small
steps are okay, too. Set realistic expectations so you can
experience a sense of success rather than setting yourself up
for failure.
4. Shine light on your excuses You've got them. We all do.
You're too tired. It's too late. You don't have enough energy.
There's not enough time. You don't have enough money. Everyone
else needs your attention. Work is too demanding. By dragging
your excuses out into the open, you become more conscious.
Consciousness leads to greater creativity and energy. With
energy you become proactive. With action and a sense of your own
worth comes freedom from your stuck place.
5. Vision Your thoughts influence your reality. Stretch to
imagine being "rut-free." Visualize yourself full of energy,
direction, passion and clarity. Allow the feeling to penetrate
your body and your Spirit as if what you dream of is already so.
Believing is seeing, even though you were taught the opposite.
By seeing it and feeling it as if it is already so, you begin to
move forward on your journey, taking the necessary and
incremental steps toward embracing change.
6. See mistakes as an opportunity to learn Make a list of ideas.
Complete your list before passing judgment and consider every
possibility--no matter how big, small, crazy or impossible it
may seem. Allow mistakes to become your opportunity to learn. If
Edison hadn't made a few mistakes, you'd still be reading this
in the dark!
7. Just start moving Yoda, from Star Wars, reminds us to "Do or
do not, there is no try." Trying is a state of inaction. Even
the smallest step is important. The size doesn't matter; what
matters is that you dare to take the step. It informs the
Universe that you are ready to fly. If you're not sure what to
do, just do anything other than what you're doing in your rut.
Find a mentor, take a class, ask for help, read a book, and,
most important, learn to trust that your inner knowing will
guide you. Apply everything you learn from your mistakes. Reach
for excellence rather than perfection and remember that life is
a journey, not a destination. Savor every moment.
These seven keys will offer you the nudge you need to access the
flow and help you to move out of your rut to make life
meaningful. Your commitment to making your words and actions
match empowers you to make the most out of this present moment,
this precious present. For, after all, life is precious and it
is a present...a gift amidst a magical mystery. Now is the only
moment there truly is, and what you do with each moment to
infuse it with love is what creates a journey of contentment
regardless of the circumstances. Will you choose to stay in your
rut of blame and self-doubt, or will you access your courage and
creativity so life can be a joy ride every step of the way?
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