I've heard Oprah speak this phrase several times, and she even devotes part of her website and "O" Magazine to exploring and Living Your Best Life. It seems that some people are living exactly what they feel they were meant to be doing and make a terrific living at it, while others of us are continually trying to figure out what it is. It seems like it would be the easiest question in the world to answer, "What do I want?" I think for so many of us, we've consumed our lives with so much of the superficial, the ego, the money, the stuff, and what we think we're supposed be doing, that we become disoriented in a very thick fog of confusion. In all of that we consume ourselves with gaining approval and impressing others and completely forget about what makes ourselves genuinely happy. I know that I've struggled with that same question especially after experiencing loss, and wondering "so what's next, and "what do I want?" Sometimes it seems so difficult to break free from our routine than to embark on something exciting and new. Perhaps there's a bigger purpose behind the meaning of loss that can sometimes be that silver lining in disguise, a reality check, or that integral wake-up call to begin living our best life.
About Wooden Nickel
- Gretchen
- Hmmm...life, images, observation, some inspiration ...and a little humor.
Wednesday
Breaking Free from the Routine and Into Our Best Life
I've heard Oprah speak this phrase several times, and she even devotes part of her website and "O" Magazine to exploring and Living Your Best Life. It seems that some people are living exactly what they feel they were meant to be doing and make a terrific living at it, while others of us are continually trying to figure out what it is. It seems like it would be the easiest question in the world to answer, "What do I want?" I think for so many of us, we've consumed our lives with so much of the superficial, the ego, the money, the stuff, and what we think we're supposed be doing, that we become disoriented in a very thick fog of confusion. In all of that we consume ourselves with gaining approval and impressing others and completely forget about what makes ourselves genuinely happy. I know that I've struggled with that same question especially after experiencing loss, and wondering "so what's next, and "what do I want?" Sometimes it seems so difficult to break free from our routine than to embark on something exciting and new. Perhaps there's a bigger purpose behind the meaning of loss that can sometimes be that silver lining in disguise, a reality check, or that integral wake-up call to begin living our best life.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
13 comments:
The searching is so hard. Being content where you are is probably one of the most elusive feelings in the world! I think it's part skill and part choice to be content. Also, I find that looking at my motivation for something usually tells me if I should be doing it or not. Lots of good thoughts here.
Followed from SITS :-)
Great stuff to think about. Good questions. Even with blogging I've struggled with explaining "why" to people who ask. In a stage right now where I feel like I've worked so hard for 12 years with every thought about family...it's time for me to branch out to something new. Even if it only makes me happy and does nothing for the greater good of the world. So, I love doing it...and yet still struggle with..."but is it worth my time?"
i think people are always looking to the next thing to make them happy, instead of actually enjoying what they have when they have it.
I often say that I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I have my AARP card, I guess I should know by now?
For me, what I want or need in my life changes. I have had the most difficult time adjusting to this time with the children gone and leaving my job (we moved) at the same time. It is hard to define myself without the words "job" or "mother" in the description.
It's not the destination, it's the journey!
you have a very nice blog!
I was just talking with my husband the other night about how we didn't appreciate our carefree life before kids while we lived it. We were wanting so badly to move onto the next step....buy a house and have kids....that we didn't truly appreciate the opportunities that were right in front of us. When I think of how many hours we wasted doing stupid things...when we could have been out making a difference or "living our best life", it drives me crazy. This is really something to think about...Thank you!
Exactly Raising Z! You clearly understood my point of my post: Making career and lifestyle choices based on pursuing our dreams and passions instead of basing it on chasing the almighty dollar and material things. :) Core happiness was already an undeniable given...at least I hope! :)
Hi again Gretchen,
I like this post. "A thick fog of confusion" is a perfect way to discribe a busy lifestyle and it is very easy to get lost in it. But when we can poke our head through it a little then it is a very healthy thing to look for the benefit or silver lining for our stressors. I think sometimes with a "loss" the thought of a silver lining is repulsive but time has a healing power and when we find the "silver lining" then the experience we have gone through is not in vain but may, as you said bring to a higher place or our"best Life". Come and visit me as you can..I value your opinion always.
Warm regards,
Carl
Thanks for coming by today. You are so in our Movie Club. If you didn't see it today...check out our sidebar for more information. Have a great evening. Holly at lifelaughlatte.blogspot.com
Gretchen, I agree completely. We need to remind ourselves more often to follow our dreams and passions otherwise they become dormant and forgotten. It's our passions afterall that maintain that creative and childlike outlook that gets easily lost in the shuffle of our busy lives. It appears that a couple readers did not comprehended your insight and somehow created a negative view from what I thought was an inspiring blog post. The rest of us got it and appreciate it! I think comments should be left only to only those who actually take the time to at least read and comprehend what someone else has taken the time to thoughtfully write. Thanks for allowing me share my comments and keep up the great work!
Hey Gretchen, was great talking with you. We've got a few positions that you could interview for if you are interested in the NYC area. You've got good writing vibes. - Let me know. Nate
Excellent content in your blog - really inspirational so thank you for writing it.
Post a Comment