With any problematic situation there seems to be a fine line between cutting out too early or hanging on too long. It’s like having to make the excruciating decision whether to euthanize your terminally ill pet, does it ever feel right or like the right time? And once done, whether finally saying goodbye to that crappy boyfriend or seeking out a better job, you may still experience moments of regret and the “what if?” syndrome that often plagues us as humans. What if he had gotten his act together, what if, what if, what if?
Doesn’t it seem as if everyone you know is facing some kind of monumental change right now? Are you? Or are you currently just in that stage of unease, the calm before the storm but in a head space that tells you something’s about to happen? Look at the following scenarios, do any of these sound familiar? If so it might be time to do something constructive about it.
Self-Abuse
Ways to put yourself down can range from something as simple as skipping breakfast every morning to getting knee-deep into some kind of substance abuse, be it alcohol, illicit drugs or even food. When it comes to living large if you’re living like a rock star your body and emotional equilibrium will most likely start falling apart. Heed the warning because your body can only take so much. As we get older it gets harder and harder to repair ourselves and to guard ourselves from the negative impact we face for not caring for ourselves. This isn’t to be preachy, it’s just a fact that people only get so many “get out of jail free” cards so look at the excesses in your life and then start doing something to bring things back into balance. If you can’t do it on your own, seek professional help.
Toxic Relationships
This one’s tricky because you can love someone, be it a friend or romantic partner, and it still doesn’t mean that it’s a healthy relationship. True, some less-than-stellar partnerships can be worked on and turned around but others are too far gone, and/or one or both partners aren’t willing to put the work in.
The first thing to do is really look at your relationships to see how the people in your life make you feel. If they always cut you down, make you feel small, or talk trash behind your back ask yourself why that should be deemed acceptable. Once you discuss the problems try to work together to find some healthy middle road for communicating. If it’s still toxic consider getting counseling together or just let it go for the best of all. It isn’t an easy thing to do but perpetually negative relationships will bring the rest of your life down, too.
Financial Woes
Financially, living beyond your means should also be included here because though it can be fun in the beginning, the ultimate outcome will litter your life with stress and drama. If you haven’t taken a candid look at your spending habits it’s long past time to do so and then rid yourself of bad habits. Simplify your life and prioritize by paring down to the bare essentials while knocking out debt. Of the majority of the negatives plaguing your life this is one that you can take control of – and once done you’ll feel more confident to tackle other issues preventing you from having the life you dream of.
Change can feel daunting but any forward momentum toward a positive future will have a snowball effect. So look at what’s holding you down and back and then make the necessary adjustments to lighten your life, you’ll be glad you did.
