As school picks up, many of us are once again forced to try and maintain a balance between our responsibilities and our sanities. At this time of year, it’s important to sit back and check in with ourselves. Are we happy with where we are and where we’re going? Do we find satisfaction when we look around at our surroundings? Is there room for improvement in any area of our lives?
I know it can seem unbearably overwhelming sometimes, and that things can start to feel like they’re slipping from your grasp without you even knowing why. So, here’s a short (but powerful) list of questions to go back to time and time again when you need that extra push to take back control of your life.
1. Are you proud of the company you keep?
Jim Rohn, a motivational speaker, is famous for presenting the theory that everyone is the average of the five people they spend the most time with. Whether or not this particular statistic is accurate, it’s undeniable that the people we associate with impact who we are. Think about the most influential people in your life. Do they reflect the virtues and qualities you would want for yourself? Though it can be incredibly difficult to recognize toxic people, pay attention to your gut; it won’t, more often than not, lead you astray.
2. Do you tackle issues with resourcefulness?
No one is born within the perfect set of circumstances or with characteristics that guarantee them success. We all carry an assortment of strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to us to make the effort to become a stronger version of ourselves. It’s true that luck plays a factor in many things, but the only true guarantee for success is hard work. Being resourceful can include pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, creating networking connections and asking for help when you need it. Resourcefulness doesn’t mean aiming for perfection – it means finding ways to fill in our gaps.
3. Is it time to let go?
Let go of the things that no longer serve you. It’s human nature to return to what’s familiar and comfortable to us, even if we are unhappy as a result. When it comes to people, objects and ideas that we once held dear…we can be resistant to the changes that are necessary in helping us evolve. Ridding ourselves of these habits is, of course, easier said than done, but we must never become complacent as far as our well-beings are concerned. When an animal outgrows its skin, it sheds and begins again. Finding the courage to crawl out of the ordinary and embrace the new and frightening is part of what makes us human.
Good luck to those of us moving forward. The best anyone can do is simply try, and as long as you’re doing that, the rest will come with time.