IT ISN'T NECESSARY TO KNOW
EXACTLY HOW YOUR IDEAL LIFE
WILL LOOK;
YOU ONLY HAVE TO KNOW
WHAT FEELS BETTER AND
WHAT FEELS WORSE.
(Martha Beck)
You know those self help books that tell you to picture your perfect life? To imagine the end result then work backwards so you know where to start? I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to do any of it. I'd get frustrated and discouraged, trying to picture this, imagine that. It was like watching a badly edited montage of film clips.
After awhile, I realized I struggled with cementing an image in my mind because my happiness and peace and success could be achieved in more than one way. It's more about what feels right for me, and every time I follow that lead, every time I move in that direction, I live my ideal life.
Let's follow our hearts and go with our guts. That's how we become our best selves.
True, my ideal life could look one of many ways.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that is how I plot a book. Start with the ending and work backwards.
Every once in awhile, I know the way I'd like the story or the novel to end - a scene, a line, an image - and I write toward it. But usually, I see a character or the beginning or something happening in the middle.
DeleteSometimes I take the time to sit in my living room and realize that I'm simply happy and content. Our ideas for an ideal life change as we mature I think.
ReplyDeleteI love that, Susan. And I think you're right about how it changes - what made me happy at 16 and 21 and 32 aren't necessarily what makes me happy now. And that's okay. :)
DeleteVery true. Like you, I don't know what my ideal life looks like. It is also more about how I feel. But so far, I'm happy.
ReplyDeleteExcellent on being happy!
DeleteContentment varies by the individual and often by increments. I can see it between me and my hubby.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm happy with and what he's happy with are in two different zip codes. :)
As long as you both make it work, that's what counts. :)
DeleteI just tried to do that...to picture how I want my life to be and to look backward to see how to get there and couldn't do it. I find it easier to look forward and plan then backward.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we make it work for us, that's what's important. :)
DeleteWe could miss something really great if we try and work towards an ideal end point. I just work by instinct of what works now. Great quote!
ReplyDeleteThis - "work by instinct" - is excellent!
DeleteI couldn't picture my perfect life. "Working by instinct" sounds like a great way to describe what I at least attempt to do. :)
ReplyDeleteWe really need to do what works best for us.
DeleteI can't imagine what my perfect life would be, but that's because I know perfection is a myth. We can strive for it, but something always gets in the way. Just be happy is what I aim for in life.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point regarding perfection!
DeleteI feel like there are so many different versions of what an ideal life could be, and you may change your mind along the way. Better to take it one step at a time than to try and work backwards, I think.
ReplyDeleteTaking it one step at a time, seeing where we are in life at the moment, what we feel, think, need etc all comes into play. Like Susan mentioned above, "our ideas for an ideal life change as we mature...."
DeleteI couldn't've said it better. Well done, friend. Well done. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna! :)
DeleteMy ideal life is definitely a feeling rather than a picture. Every day, I try to take another step towards it. It's hard, but not getting distracted is important :-)
ReplyDeleteYou are totally right about not getting distracted!
DeleteSo true. I just finished reading Ronda Rousey's autobiography, which was incredibly inspiring. She says you need to live each second as your best second, to put your all into every single second of your life.
ReplyDeleteSound advice.
Love this - "...live each second as your best second...."
Delete