What If?

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I have a sticky note on my computer that says, “What if it all works out?”

That one sentence packs a powerful punch.

To me, and of course, we all interpret things differently, that sentence infers that I’m struggling to MAKE it all work out. It also denotes a pessimism that I might be feeling about my life if the sticky note is saying, hey, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, what if you focused instead on what could go right?

What would happen if we all did that?

What if you’re in exactly the right place you’re supposed to be in today? Maybe you’re sitting in a job you’ve grown out of, thinking you’d rather be anywhere but there. But are you earning or learning? Because if you are, there’s some value to that position. You just have to decide if there’s ENOUGH value for you to stay.

Or, maybe you’re helping a friend today, and in your head, you’re wishing you were home because your to-do list is a mile long. What if there’s a lesson you’re supposed to learn that’s happening while you’re with your friend? If you leave, you miss the lesson.

My sticky note message implies that if we stop focusing on what we want to happen tomorrow or next week or next month, and actually be present in the life we’re living today, then we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. It IS working out.

​Did you wish for this?

Think about your life today. Think about the house you live in, the car you drive, the job you do, and the family you have. Can you remember when those things were your prayers?

Maybe you lived with your parents and you couldn’t wait to get into a house of your own. Maybe you were given an old car on its last legs to drive. Maybe you had dreamt about a regular job with a steady paycheck. And maybe you had hoped you’d be able to build a family of your own someday and now you’re in it.

Each time we achieve something we pray for, another goal pops up. And that’s okay. It’s okay to keep reaching.

But we also have to take time to appreciate what we’ve accomplished so far in life, especially if you’ve had the courage to live a life true to yourself. That’s what it means to live authentically - being true and respectful to yourself.

When you decide to give up control and trust God, Spirit, or your higher power, you’re saying, I’m ready. Move me in the direction I’m supposed to go. I trust that something higher than myself is in charge and knows the direction I’m headed.

No one is here by accident. But success means something different to every single person. Someone in your town already looks at you and sees a successful person.

Maybe it really is working out.  

This week, if your neck is sore because your shoulders have constantly been up around your ears in tense anticipation, take a breather and know that the universe is truly working in your favor.