Create a Future that Lights You Up

What does the future hold? Over the course of a life, this is question we ask ourselves at least once, maybe a multitude of times! And the answer changes, depending on when we are asking, and what our life situation happens to be at the time. Today we’ll explore 4 ways to navigate the territory...

What the future holds depends so much on the lens through which we see and interpret life. Part of that interpretation is linked to an awareness of "what is in my control" and "what actually is not." The "what is in my control" is an area you can DO something about. You have agency in that part of your life. Ruminating on "what isn’t in my control" can literally suck your energy dry.  Focusing on/worry about what isn't in your control reminds me of the quote “Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but never gets you anywhere.” – Glenn Turner 

1. What is NOT in your control:

• The weather
• Other people’s choices
• Other people’s feelings and moods
• Others' interpretations or biases
• Rude comments
• Past mistakes (yours or others')
• The state of the economy
• Where you were born
• What else comes up for you?

Those aspects are not directly changeable by you, so there's really no need to spend your precious time and energy there. Consider telling yourself: “That situation does not belong to me.” And let it GO...

1. What IS in your control?

• Your attitude
• Your choices
• Your actions
• The people you choose to be with, and how often
• The energy you surround yourself with
• Your ideas, beliefs and values
• Your responses to what’s around me
• Your habits for nutrition, sleep, exercise
• Where you live, and the beauty you surround yourself with
• How much news and social media you allow in.
• What else?

All these directly affect your outlook on the present, and contribute to the quality of future life as well. So it's important to keep these in mind when creating a future that lights you up. Your life will be unique to you.

2. Decide What Makes You Feel Alive

If you feel stuck in a job that crushes your soul, remember that you do have choices. If you find yourself in a relationship that is not working, either get help to make it better (counselling, better communication skills, more trust in your own read) or make a change. If you are spending too much time in front of the TV, find a hobby where you experience yourself growing. Stretch yourself, learn something new, volunteer in an area that is meaningful to you personally, that engages your soul. “How well we fare and how well we grow older depends greatly on the choices we make.” - Katharine Esty

Make a decision and shoot for consistency in doing something with it every day. And if you miss a day or a week, just come back to it. Life happens, but having something inspiring to come back to is the fuel of life. As one small example, I have decided that I want to get strong. I'm changing my routine to include weights, and it feels empowering. I'm watching youtube videos of 75-year-old women who are amazing, shattering all the stereotypes I've grown up with. It's inspiring to know that this is possible.

3. Take Agency in Your Life

If we leave it up to chance, then chances are that all your time may be taken up by obligations/expectations to attend to others needs rather than your own. Boundaries help immensely, even if they are uncomfortable to set at the beginning.

Planning helps too. Plan to have enough time to devote to what you have in mind. Set yourself up for what you want to do. Some examples: If you want to walk every day, put the shoes right by your bed. If you want to cook a soup, (or create anything) it helps to have the ingredients at hand.

Your secret weapon:  Intentionally work on setting up the habits to support this future you are building:

• Enough sleep – that cleanses the brain from the day’s stresses. Naps are powerful resets too.
• Food that gives you even energy - instead of a sugar rush/crash cycle. Mind your microbiome. So much of the food we ingest affects our mood as well as our vitality.
• Exercise that sustains you - walking is about the best thing you can do. Consider working with some weights to build muscle. That will support your bones and vibrancy in later years.
• Social ties – spend time with good friends or develop some new friendships. Research shows that people who spend time with friends with shared interests and who look out for one another can add years to one’s life.

4. Be More of Who You Are: 

 In the words of Albert Einstein "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." When we can see life through the eyes of wonder, gratitude flows like a river. Even small slices of joy, like the sun on your back, or a ripe fruit, orthe smile of a child can fill your heart in profound ways. 

Appreciation and presence prevail as you expand. This is the core foundation for peace, contentment, self-acceptance and inner growth. The future cannot help but be bright, when the NOW is so incredibly rich with the colors of life.

So focus on the joy and on the miracle that is the present moment. It will allow you to bring in new energies to literally light you up. This inner expansion does not have to be earth shattering. In many ways, it's about being more of who you are, and tapping into that.

Perhaps peace is enough; contentment is enough. Being alive with a heart beating and eyes to see is enough. You are connecting to your true essence; that is something only you can do. You have that power to create that connection, and there is nothing better than that.