As a goal-oriented person, progress is the air I breathe. My sights are set on the future, constantly thinking about what I can do today to get closer to achieving my dreams.
“Work, push, and think about what you need to do next!”
Success is the only option.
“Be productive and don’t waste any time.”
I want results, and I need them now!
“Get moving — because if you lose momentum, failure will sneak in and swallow you whole.”
But no matter how hard you try or how much effort you give, things don’t always turn out the way you hoped. The amount of work you put in doesn’t automatically guarantee success. You can pour endless hours into doing the same things day in and day out, and still feel like it’s not enough. So much lies beyond your control. The weather shifts. The world changes. People say one thing today and want something completely different tomorrow.
“NOTHING IS GOING MY WAY!”
Frustrated and angry. Nothing is happening. I’m not getting anywhere. I’m tired. I’m exhausted from trying to figure out what’s wrong with me — because I feel like I have to be better. Can I stop and just be?
But failure isn’t a bad thing. Failure means you showed up. You stepped up to the challenge, even knowing there was risk involved. Yes, you spent time, money, and energy — but know that none of it was wasted. Count the little wins you had along the way. Accept that this chapter may have ended, but you’re not walking away empty-handed. Experience teaches the most valuable lessons and shapes us into who we need to become.
I had to let go and move on from dreams that no longer fit. There are so many other possibilities out there, and I’m excited to start anew. Looking around now, I feel proud — because I’m already living the dream that my younger self once hoped for.
Right now is pretty great, and I’m setting my sights on right here. I’m enjoying every moment, even when I’m exactly where I was before. Letting go of expectations, but not giving up on myself. I trust the work that I do, while also making space to appreciate the people and places that surround me now. If I succeed, great. And if I fail — also great. I’ll learn, and I’ll use it for my next success. I’m grateful for the person I was, because he brought me here.
I have everything I need already, and I trust that life still has more in store for me. I don’t know what the future holds, but I no longer fear it. I’m excited — because I know it will be beautiful. If things don’t go my way, I’m being protected. Better things are on their way. I know it.
First published in Medium: https://medium.com/@foremostchristian/im-in-a-better-place-even-though-i-stayed-exactly-where-i-am-d0a5f6afc717
