Oh, Transformative Stop Signs!
Morning Thoughts #48
Friends, are you searching for a different path to embark on? Do you feel that a change is needed in your life, but you’re not yet able to clearly articulate the particulars of a new or updated goal? Alas, tomorrow isn't always a GPS we can connect to. Still, take a moment to survey the tired road you find yourself on now, and remember this: real transformation begins when we finally (and truly) heed the wisdom of the stop signs we encounter on our paths.
As we age, we tend to develop a better sense of what we should not do based on the lessons we have learned from experience. However, we often struggle to identify new actions that we should take to improve our lives because doing so requires a different kind of learning - one that involves abstract theorizing rather than practical experience. While we have firsthand knowledge of the negative consequences of certain habits and actions, the more theoretical nature of identifying new goals and positive actions can be more challenging. When unsure of how to proceed, we can be convinced to delay any change, no matter how badly needed.
To this I say: stop! Cease doing what you know to be bad, even if you do not yet know what is good. Just because you may have a cloudy vision of the future, it doesn’t mean you should permit yourself to keep raining bad weather down on the present. With even a few pieces in place, a complex puzzle becomes a little easier to solve. And if you find yourself hopelessly lost, do as any good wilderness guide would advise: stop!
Friends, you do not have to multitask to begin the process of personal transformation. Focus on one step at a time. First, cease the bad. Only once you’ve stopped what you know you should stop, worry about what good you should do. If there are ten habits (mindsets, actions, etc.) you know you should not do and you cease doing them, lo and behold, you have already made ten improvements in your life! Tomorrow is a word that has a way of seducing you to the status quo. Among habits to stop, let procrastination be at the top of your list!
Ah! What a rare delight it is that I may preach such actionable advice: stop! Do not wait; stop what you know to be bad. That is a start in itself!