To the senior entering the real world (and all those panicking about what you’re going to do with your life). Think for a moment…When you were a child, what did you dream of becoming when you grew up? Is your answer still the same? If not, what changed?
Contemplating the beauty of childhood dreams brings us back to a time when life was much simpler. The pressure of adult responsibilities was not yet continuously nagging in the back of our minds. As you proceed through your senior year you might find yourself wondering how one can possibly find happiness after falling into a rather mundane adult lifestyle?
Some might say that, “one must create their own happiness”. Others say, “it’s the little things in life”. While both of these are true, consistent happiness is almost guaranteed when you are living a life you love.
As you have grown older it may have begun to feel as though you have lost touch with what once made you happy. You might feel as though you have become a slave to your planner and class schedule. Close your eyes and let all of those externalities become afterthoughts for only a moment: it won’t kill you (or at least it shouldn’t, I really don’t want to get sued). Now, envision your dream life.
Now analyze what what factors contribute to this vision? Think about everything that makes you truly happy. Those factors may be love, family, travel, money, adventure, you name it. Spend time considering this because if you can envision it, you can achieve it.
If you feel that your life has become somewhat sterile, dominated by schedules and “adulting” you might find relief and inspiration by creating a vision board. Think of it like this: Pinterest for Life. A vision board can become really valuable as time forces you closer-and-closer to graduation. Don’t set yourself up to be sucked into the black hole of the college afterlife. Start now, chiseling away at that vision. Once you have a clear idea of where you want to be, for instance in the next 5 years, you will be able to construct a specific plan to take you there.
While nobody lives the “perfect life”, one can maximize the potential for achieving utmost happiness by staying true to oneself and their personal goals or dreams. By having a clear vision for your future, you will begin to hold yourself to the expectations that your future self will thank you later for.
Today only comes once in a lifetime. Don’t waste it.