I'm not where I want to be

We all have to do things in life that we don't want to do. Some of us have to undertake more of what we loathe than others to get to where we want and we also cannot change the basic hand that has been dealt to us.

I often find myself thinking that I’m not where I want to be. I’m not at the top of my career or have the physique I want and I don’t have a house or live in my preferred area. At the same time I can find myself comparing my progress with others. In reality though, we can’t have everything we want at the click of our fingers. Not everyone gets given inheritance or the same metabolism and not everyone starts at the same band braket or gets a choice in where they can live. It’s all about making the best of your situation and trying to be the best you can be at the time.

I was once told to look at things as boxes. If you cannot change the situation, then put it in a box. There is no point wasting energy on something that won’t change no matter how hard you try. If you can change it, then action something. There’s no point in complaining about something that you can change. Of course this is easier said than done, because emotions are often hard to regulate, but it does simplify a situation. In the same way that the past is the past and there is nothing you can do to change it so don’t continue to use your energy from today, on that...again, easier said than done.

Sometimes we have to experience things that we don’t want to get to where we want in the end. Whether that be doing a job or training that you’re not keen on or working overtime to save for that house. Unfortunately it’s a part of life and the sooner that can be understood that there is no other potential outcome, the less stress that you will put on yourself. We don’t all start at the same start line and your progress will be different to the next persons and that’s ok. You wouldn’t want to live exactly like them anyway!

In reality, all we have is now. The past has gone and the future doesn’t exist. We all plan for things that have varying factors that could change the state of play. What we can do however, is put our most into the things we can change now in order to affect any future outcomes and enjoy what we have. Once upon a time you probably dreamt of what you have now. You may not be where you want to be, but if you can honestly say you are trying your best to get to where you want, then you’re on the right track.