Today, I want to play a game of What if…. This is a game that we don’t often play, especially in our increasingly social-media-obsessed world. We spend our time viewing the lives and “successes” of others rather than thinking about our own. As long as our day-to-day life is going smoothly, we prefer not to consider what might be if only we took the first step, chipped away at our goals a little at a time, or simply started.
I say “game” because thinking about What if… can be fun. It’s easy and risk-free. You get to try on possibilities from the comfort of your own living room. What was it that you once dreamed you might do? Have you ever really thought about it? Is there any way to move yourself closer? Do you even want to?
So we’re going to start with this one: What if… you were living the life you’ve always dreamed of? What would that look like?
Of course, there is the chance you already are living the life of your dreams. But I know that somewhere along the way, many people give up and settle for something less than their dreams—something closer to their current reality. Whatever obstacles they come up against keep them from moving forward. What if… you hadn’t given up? Where might you be now?
What if… you took a moment to examine what’s been holding you back? Knowing what’s standing in your way can only help you remove barriers or adjust your approach to move beyond them. For me, it’s my tendency toward introversion. I need quiet and solitude to process information my brain is taking in, the path my life is going, and even things that happen on a given day. My processing looks different from what’s considered the “norm” in our busy, extroverted society. But knowing that I need this alone-time is my superpower. When I am overwhelmed, I can step aside, recharge, and move forward with greater power and a greater sense of direction. I don’t need to be around people who fight against my introversion, and therefore, against me. Life is too short for that.
Once you figure out what’s holding you back, what if… you take a step toward your goal, toward something you’ve always wanted to do? I’m not suggesting you jump all in. Rather, simply take one small step. Because one thing I’ve learned is that with the right support, one step leads to another, and another, and pretty soon, your life has changed in significant ways. One step at a time. If you took a step toward your goal, toward what you want in life, what would that step look like?
Life is short, and it passes in the blink of an eye. No matter where you are in your life—young adult, mid-life, or later life—you can make a change. You can take a step. And step by step, you can transform your life and live closer to your dreams. Anything is possible if you just take the first step.
Positively Un-broken 