Who’s managing your life?

Take a closer look at your life. Who would you say is managing your life, calling all the shots? When you were younger, your parents made both the simple and grand decisions affecting your life. You were probably okay with this until about the age of 5 when you decided it was time to call the shots. Your parents’ goal was to teach you the basics, guide you in the right direction so that you grew up to think and choose for yourself. How did this plan work for you?

Based on where you are in your life now, are you choosing the path for your life or are you allowing others to do it for you? Are you currently in a career that others desperately wanted for you? Are you involved in a relationship that others felt was a perfect match for you? Again, who’s managing your life – you or those around you? It’s up to you whether you want to live your life or their life. There will come a time when you realize your happiness and fulfillment depends on whether you step up to the plate.

I remember deciding to go into a real estate business with my husband. It sounded fun and rewarding. Once I was involved with the business, and doing fairly well I might add, I knew deep in my heart real estate was not a good fit for me. I knew this wasn’t what I was meant to do, but I swayed back and forth on how to approach my husband. He loved working together and envisioned us creating this successful company while working side by side. I decided to express how I felt, how sorry I was, but I needed to follow my own dreams. He was saddened but completely supportive of my decision. I could have easily put on a smiley face and created a successful business, but inside I would have been drowning in my unhappiness. Nothing is worth that price! Just keep in mind you are the only person who knows what will make you happy, so follow your feelings.

Stop and look.

Take some time to stop what you’re doing and really examine your life. Are you living the life of your choosing? If not, what would you change? What are you settling for? How would your life be different if you followed your heart? Is the price of your happiness worth the price of just settling? Journal some of your thoughts this week. What areas of your life need some tweaking?

Communicate.

We sometimes assume that people should know exactly what we’re thinking and feeling. How can my husband/friend/parent not know that I’m unhappy? Simply put, people don’t read minds. You need to communicate what’s making you unhappy. What you would like to see change in your life? Take this opportunity to be honest with yourself and others. Begin opening the lines of communication this week.

Dream big.

Now that you’ve taken a moment to write down and discuss some of your feelings, take the next step. If you’re unhappy with an area of your life, what would you like to see happen instead? Take this week to dream big! If you’re in an unfulfilling job, what is your dream job? If you’re in an unsatisfactory relationship, what characteristics are you looking for?

Tackle these three steps this week and put your dreams into motion.

What changes have you made to manage your life? What else would you add to this list?

Leslie Gail

Leslie Gail is a go-to expert when it comes to simplifying and improving your life. She can be seen on her web series Reinventing Motherhood every Tuesday, where she offers a dose of practical advice, fun and tips on anything from relationships to health to traveling with kids. She appears regularly on FOX31 Good Day Colorado. She is the author of the best-selling book Life Simplified: A weekly guide to creating a life you love. She is also the Simplicity and Lifestyle expert for Brooke Burke’s site Modern Mom. You can learn more about Leslie at her website New Life Focus Coaching. She is also a Holistic Health Coach offering free health consults at Lighten Up Holistic Coaching.

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