The modern person is faced with an unprecedented myriad of influences, expectations, and pressures. We can often feel like we are being pulled in all directions - by our parents, our jobs, our spouse, our boss, our children, our needs vs theirs, my rights vs. yours.
We all feel we have expectations and obligations that we have to fulfill... people we have to satisfy, standards we have to achieve, authority figures we have to impress, toxic people we have to put up with, rules we have to follow, people we have to influence, friends we have to win.
We may not feel as if these pressures are particularly terrorizing, but collectively they can exert a profound hold over us. They can distract us from our own dreams and desires, our own unique path towards fulfillment. That's often the reason why we feel discontented and lost.
Well, it's time to take stock of your life - what's working?, and build on that, what's not working, and get it out of the way, and what else you can do to help you become the optimum person you can be.
First of all, imagine yourself as the premise for all things. Where previously you deferred to others in terms of opinions, standards and decisions, now think critically about how you really feel, about yourself, your needs, where your life is going. Is this the life you really want, or the one you have been conditioned to desire? Listen to yourself and start making your needs your priority.
Begin identifying the toxic and negative people in your life. How are they draining your energy and keeping you from moving on to the next level? Sometimes these people are your family members or friends. It does not matter... if they are holding you back in a negative way, then let them know that you will do what's best for you, that you value them as loved ones, but it's your own life and only you can live it, for better or worse. And if these negative people are simply the people you hang out with for some reason, then stop indulging the reason to be around them.
You know we often act a certain way because it's we think it's "polite", it's "right", or it's "expected", when really all this "politeness", "rightness" or whatever isn't getting us anywhere, and is probably holding us back from other more important things.
So, do something for yourself today - critically take stock of your life and decide on a path that's right for you!
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd