Let’s pause and look around us – and be grateful for everything that we do have. It’s so easy to get caught up in our own world: things that are driving us crazy, holding us back, or not turning out as we planned. But have you recently looked outside of your sphere (and your current woes), to reflect on what you have?
I’m in the business of turning negatives, challenges, questions, into amazing positives. Don’t have a job that brings in six-figures, I’ll help you land that. Not sure if you should stay in grad school or take a promotion at work, no problem. Can’t seem to break into the corporate world with your current set of resume materials, easy breezy fix. I listen to people’s problems and help them on their path to find a solution – and I love every moment. But are our problems really that bad?
After watching the first half of the Secret Millionaire, I was touched, inspired, and questioning my own world perspective. A little disclaimer – I love this show; I love how it highlights how different people live throughout the United States, that it attempts to show and share the reality of life for so many people that are not represented in media, that it reminds us of the impact that volunteering (and yes, money), can have to so many people. But as I was watching kids being taught how to landscape a cemetery so they can add that skill to their resume, I paused the show and literally stepped away from my TV.
When was the last time that you stepped out of your current life woes and reflected on the things you do have? I know that it has been too long when I was worrying this morning about how to bring in new clients while sitting at Starbucks with my venti iced coffee in my hand and my laptop computer on the table (not to mention all of the other gadgets in my purse). It’s not about things – but how amazing is it, that these issues are the ones that I’m lucky enough to worry about. I have a beautiful apartment, I don’t have to worry about my next meal, clothes, things galore, and so much more.
Our own life decisions and challenges are important – it’s not about how you compare to people who may be less or more fortunate. But at what point do we give our personal crises a break and realize that we are very lucky to be having those types of problems in the first place? When you put your decisions into the perspective of others, the problem doesn’t seem so big or overwhelming.
So I urge all of you to take a moment and reflect on how lucky you are to be struggling YOUR struggle. Even as difficult, challenging or overwhelming it may seem, there are so many others who are struggling for things/decisions/options that you have either overcome or accomplished. Remember that: you have accomplished! Each time you pay your rent check, buy groceries, get in your car, call someone on your cell phone – your hard work, dedication, determination, and perhaps luck, have helped you do that. Be grateful for what you have and figure out how to pay it forward.
And along those lines, if your current struggle happens to be the need for a new resume, or help with your life direction, coaching, or any other decision – I want to help you. Email me or comment below and let me know what your current struggle is and how I can help. And I will do my best to help you – easy as that.
Melissa,
I have started following your blog post MSH meet up and it is AMAZING!! Love the work you are doing 🙂 We’ll connect real soon here..I want to hear about how your first two months has been and then ask you some career-related ?’s….Hugs!
Hi Emily – Thank you! I’ve been following along your journey as well. Can’t wait to reconnect and chat about next steps for you!
I just re-read this post and am SERIOUSLY touched by it! I also watched secret millionare and was subtly reminded how “lucky” I am to have the problems I have. One of my current struggles is wanting to find some part time online jobs (teaching/tutoring) to bring in extra income so I can begin building my savings & 401k/investment (financial areas, moreso) of my life. This struggle has allowed me to think more creativity about what skills I want to gain with a part time job as well as my own strengths in being resourceful & being energized about the opportunity to gain those new skills/knowledge/ and build new relationships! Suddenly my struggle becomes small and thanks to this post for reminding me that!
Emily – yay! That is exactly what I felt when I was watching it. And to be honest, I have had to remind myself a few times since I posted it. It is so easy for us to get in the weeds with our own to-do lists, but everything seems achievable when we put it back into perspective. Glad you enjoyed it!
This really was a great post- kudos to you for honesty and perspective! I know that I constantly play the comparison game, especially since I read so many style blogs, it always feels as if “I need that to be this, that or the other,” in terms of feeling happy, secure, beautiful, stylish. I was reading Martha Beck’s Steering by Startlight and she said we’re often unwittingly pursuing feelings, not things- yet we still chase after what those things represent, forgetting that we can feel abundant without the latest gadgets, beautiful without expensive brand makeup, and she noted that she’s dealt with clients that had millions in the bank but said “If I only had 36 million, THEN I’d feel safe,” which would make a normal person laugh! It’s all about perspective.
So true- I feel very lucky to live my struggles. My struggles do NOT include fighting a terminal disease, foraging for food, trying to gain access to clean drinking water…. my struggles involve deciding which shoes to wear to an amazing job interview and how to find the job that’s right for me (wow, so many people are out of work, and I’m thankful).
Feeling blessed even in turmoil or when a life situation is less than perfect is the best time to feel grateful- phenomenal post!
Shannyn – So glad that this provided some perspective. And I couldn’t agree more with remembering to feel blessed in turmoil. How easily that can help us get back on track.