There may come a time in your life when you must exit the well traveled, paved road (equipped with AAA, toll authority and bright lights) onto a path less traveled and developed in order to either (1) rediscover self, (2) pursue your happiness, and/or (3) for peace and freedom.
Recently while walking down a hospital corridor (I am also a behavioral health scientist) I became cognizant of my surroundings. The width of the hall, the color of the floor tiles, the fluorescent lights, the color of the walls and the hum of the building. The sharp angles of corners and the manner in which paths are directed by default of the design (i.e. turn right or left or this is the only door option). Sometimes we operate the same way in our lives, allowing self-imposed or boundaries imposed by others to determine the direction for our lives and with time we begin to believe these walls and limits are the end all be all. It is the same as believing, for example, that the square footage of your house/building is the world and nothing exists beyond the wall.
Stop allowing others (media, friends, family, random people, colleagues, etc) to convince you that their limits are applicable to your life.
Examples of some popular adages which may have confined you in your current space:
A job is better than no job.
Is this true for your current situation? How many people do you know (you included) absolutely despise their jobs? Each evening when they leave, they feel drained, tired, depressed and frustrated. The weekend is a temporary elevation of the mental drain they feel, however, only to have the anxiety return Sunday evening at the mere thought of having to go back to the office only to continue to spend 8-10 hours a day making someone else’s dream a reality, while they continue to put their own dreams and passion on the back burner because they don’t have the energy.
Relationships are hard work.
Do you subscribe to this belief? If so, how has this perspective impacted your life thus far? Perhaps as a result of this adage, you may actually believe if you are in a relationship which is not difficult and does not consist of drama, then something must be wrong. He/she certainly doesn’t love me as much as they profess because if they did, we would have some ‘tests’ to overcome.
Nothing hurts like the truth.
I am quite sure those of us who have been deceived in some way or another can attest to the falsity in this adage; however, are you applying this adage to your world, providing justification to the lies you tell others or more importantly the lies you tell yourself?
There is so much more life awaiting you on the other side of this wall, however, you will never know the extent until you begin to listen and trust your inner voice than all of the external voices which are vying for your attention. A therapist (we are available) is a great resource to help you in this area. Misha N. Granado, MPH, MS