When will NOW be the RIGHT time to change your life?

I once heard a story about a man who went to visit a friend. While chatting outside, the man noticed his friend’s dog laying on the porch. Every once in awhile, the dog would let out a painful whine.

After a few minutes, the man remarked, “I can’t help but notice that something seems to be wrong with your dog.”

“Oh,” replied the friend, “I think he’s laying on a nail.”

“Well, why doesn’t he just get up and move?” questioned the man.

“I guess it doesn’t hurt bad enough!” replied the friend.

Have you ever felt like this dog?

Life can be challenging.

Difficult days can stretch into weeks, months, and even years. Although we try to put our best foot forward, sometimes it feels like it’s nothing will ever change and that can feel painful and discouraging.

Do you ever find yourself promising that someday you’re going to do something about it, but, right now, you’re just not ready to make the effort?

It could be much like the dog on the nail. It hurts. You complain. But, it just doesn’t hurt bad enough to really do something about it.

We can be attached to our suffering more than we care to admit. The payoff from complaining–like receiving attention or sympathy from others–might be greater than the investment of time and effort required to remedy it.

Maybe you are truly ready, but you simply don’t possess the knowledge or skills required to turn these quickly spiraling, out-of-control energies around.

Stress at work, the demands of children and tight schedules, a strained relationship with a spouse or other family member, unhealthy eating habits and seemingly no time to exercise, or never-ending financial struggles can leave us feeling like we have nothing left to give and no where to turn.

This is where we can find ourselves on dangerous ground, yielding to the negative thoughts these challenges produce that will do nothing to improve our situation and only seem to dig even deeper this pit of despair in which we have found ourselves.

So we blame, we complain, and we justify our poor choices. But, it’s important to understand that, in doing so, we give up the very power that can change our day, our circumstances, even our life into something even better.

This is where coaching can help.

My life hasn’t always been happy. I haven’t always been the optimist that I am now. Throughout my life, especially in my earlier years, I experienced depression, adversity, loss, heartache, disappointment, financial lack, health issues and numerous other trials and challenges, along with the usual day to day struggles–just like most any other person on this planet. I’m quite certain I am not special in this regard.

Where I might differ is that, by the grace of God, I have learned that these very experiences have given me a rich, new understanding that has completely changed my perspective, even allowing me to embrace challenges and trials with a tenacity, appreciating every opportunity to grow, and choosing to respond in better, more empowering ways.

Does that seem unrealistic to you? Does that sound too difficult right now?

You might be saying, “Yeah, well, you haven’t walked in my shoes . . . you don’t know how I feel . . . I’ve tried and it just doesn’t work.”

You’re right, I don’t know how you feel, but I know how I felt when I was in that kind of despair.

Escaping those prisons of thought have freed me from the barriers to happiness that they produce.

You can learn the truth and gain the skills to change that kind of thinking. Through coaching, my blog, and upcoming courses, I will share those truths with you. “Then you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

One of those truths is that the purpose of life is to experience opposition in order to grow and progress.

With the right perspective and tools, this can be a rewarding and promising time in your life.

At 26 years old, I had my first “light-bulb” moment and for 29 years I have gleaned many truths, principles, tools, and techniques from many sources. It’s taken years to learn these truths.

So, be patient with yourself. This is not a race, it’s a journey. Take a few minutes right now to determine where you want to end up when your journey is through. Only you can decide your future. No one can or will do it for you, and no one can take that privilege from you.

The first step to changing your life is to develop the desire to create something different for yourself. Decide that today is the right time to change your life. Keep moving forward, keep striving and you too will learn how every day, in every way, your life can get better and better.

Line upon line, precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little. One step at a time, one day at a time, with slow and steady improvement. This is how you will win at life. 

We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation. ~ Jim Rohn

Whether you are desperate or just ready for change, I hope you’re now feeling inspired to join me on this journey to find happiness, peace, and joy in your life! If you need a coach to help you, schedule an appointment today!