We all get in ruts. Life happens. Sometimes we even pitch a tent there for far too long. There are times we feel like the world is closing in and that we are very limited. Other times we might feel like we could conquer the world. When we find ourselves in a rut, how do we get enthusiasm, happiness or better yet, JOY, back into our lives? Our answer to that question begins with a question. We should ask ourselves: What would I love? What would I love to be, do, or have? If you knew that ANYTHING was possible for your life, what would you love? While asking yourself this question, it may be even more empowering to remember the scripture, “Ask and ye shall receive…” and that our job is to “Be still and Know…” So, it begins with prayer really. It begins by connecting to something greater within us and all around us. BUT, we can start by simply getting curious and asking ourselves the question, “What would I love?”
The question should not be, “What do I think I could do (based on my circumstances)?” It should not be, “What do I think I should do?” The question is, “If it all worked out, what would I love?” Use your imagination here…like you did when you were young. Imagination can be used as a wonderful gift, or it could be used as a horrible nightmare. We can actually think our way into happiness and joy, or we can think ourselves into smallness and fear. That’s why you may have heard, “It’s only 10% what happens and 90% how I think about or respond to it.”
Our next step after we decide what we would love, is to “pay attention” to our thoughts. Are we stopping ourselves before we take that first step? We tend to do that. We talk ourselves right out of taking that first step. If we simply pay attention to our thoughts, we can repattern the negative stinking thinking. We do that enough times…and we start to believe the new, more empowering thoughts. For example, if I think, “Hey, I’d love to start my own business,” my stinking thinking might be triggered and say, “Yeah right. Like I could start my own business. Who do I think I am? I may start something and fail. What if I get too much business? Then I’ll be busy all the time. It’s easier to just stay where I’m at.” See what I’m doing there? My subconscious is trying to talk me right out of the new thing before I even take that first step. But, when I notice that my mind is chattering away, trying to keep me in my comfort zone, (even if it’s uncomfortable, it’s still familiar), then I can press pause on those thoughts, and I can repattern them. I can repattern by responding to them like this: “It’s possible I could own my own business. If anyone else could do it, why couldn’t I? If I fail, I can start again, or start another business. I’ll grow with my business, so too much business is always a good thing! It would be much easier to do what I love, after all, I’ve heard it said that if I do what I love, I’ll never work a day in my life!” See there? Much more empowering thoughts. With thinking like that, I’ll most likely take a step in the direction of my dream.
Here’s a story that goes along with what I’m trying to explain…
THE STORY OF TWO WOLVES
An old Cherokee Indian chief was teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he told the young boy, “a fight between two wolves.
One is evil, full of anger, sorrow, regret, greed, self-pity and false pride.
The other is good, full of joy, peace, love, humility, kindness and faith.”
“This same fight is going on inside of you, grandson…and inside of every other person on the face of this earth.”
The grandson ponders this for a moment and then asks, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?”
The old man smiled and simply said, “The one you feed.”
What a great story.
That part of us (the bad wolf) is full of fear and only want us to live one year 90+ times. The other part of us (the good wolf) wants us to grow, experience life, and to actually live 90+ years. Pay attention to your thoughts. Repattern those bad wolf thoughts into more empowering good wolf thoughts. When we feed the good wolf we are in harmony with who we were created to be, do, and have. When we start taking steps toward what we love, we are much happier, and may even be surprised to suddenly feeling purpose and even joy.
So, you want to be happy again? Dream. Dream BIG! Ask yourself, “What would I love?” Then take one step in that direction…and tomorrow…take another step…etc.
Here’s a video I recorded earlier that explains a little more about dreaming big…
Lost and Finding Joy 
Leave a comment