“Head up, heart open. To better days!”
— T.F. Hodge
Are you having trouble finding your drive? Not quite sure about your next steps?
There are a few key points to consider.
This brief article is crafted just for YOU…
Once, there was a woman in her sixties who realized she had spent her entire life in the same quaint town. Although she’d passionately dreamed for years about traveling and exploring the world, she had yet to take even the first step toward this aspiration.
On the morning of her 65th birthday, she awoke with a newfound resolve; today was the day to act! She sold most of her belongings, keeping only the essentials, packed them into a backpack, and (more…)
“Head up, heart open. To better days!”
— T.F. Hodge
Are you having trouble finding your drive? Not quite sure about your next steps?
There are a few key points to consider.
This brief article is crafted just for YOU…
Once, there was a woman in her sixties who realized she had spent her entire life in the same quaint town. Although she’d passionately dreamed for years about traveling and exploring the world, she had yet to take even the first step toward this aspiration.
On the morning of her 65th birthday, she awoke with a newfound resolve; today was the day to act! She sold most of her belongings, keeping only the essentials, packed them into a backpack, and began her exploration into the great unknown. The initial days on her journey were exhilarating, filled with wonder—each step felt like a step into the life she had always envisioned.
However, a few weeks later, the challenges of traveling began to weigh on her. She felt disoriented and yearned for the comforts of her former life. As fatigue set in with each weary footfall, her spirits began to dip.
One day, she halted, removed her backpack, slammed it to the ground, and collapsed beside it, tears streaming down her face. Looking down the long, twisting road that once promised adventure but now felt like nothing more than discomfort and sorrow, she shouted, “I have nothing! Everything is gone from my life!”
At that moment, a wise guru from a neighboring village, who had been resting under a nearby pine tree, overheard her distress. Feeling compelled to assist, he dashed out from his hiding spot, seized her backpack, and sprinted into the woods alongside the road. Shocked and filled with disbelief, the woman cried even harder, as if her breath was being taken from her.
“That backpack was all I had,” she sobbed. “And it’s vanished! Everything is lost to me!”
After ten minutes of cathartic tears, she slowly gathered herself, stood up, and began to walk unsteadily down the path. Meanwhile, the guru stealthily returned through the forest, placing her backpack in the middle of the road just ahead.
When her tear-filled eyes spotted the backpack again, she could hardly believe her luck—everything she thought she had lost had miraculously returned. A smile broke across her face. “Thank goodness!” she exclaimed. “I am so thankful! Now I can truly move forward…”
Sometimes we need that jolt of realization.
Throughout our journeys, both personal and professional, we will encounter moments of profound frustration and despair. During these times, it can seem as if we’ve lost everything, and that nothing or no one can inspire us to continue toward our aspirations. Yet, similar to the woman who met the guru, we possess our own “backpacks” of support that manifest in various forms—be it a reassuring text from a loved one, motivational blogs, enlightening books, kind neighbors, or encouraging communities.
As we face hardships—when motivation wanes and uncertainty looms—we must remind ourselves…
- To have faith in the journey, even when it seems bewildering.
- To embrace the present, release the past, and trust the path ahead.
- To begin right where we are, utilize what we have, and take it step by step.
- To uncover the hidden blessings in every challenge we face, and be open to receiving them.
- To identify our own backpack of support—our external sources of inspiration—before we dependent on an unexpected guru (or someone with less noble intentions) to remind us of their existence.
- To center ourselves and connect with our inner motivations—our intrinsic sources of hope—that can guide us forward, even when it feels like everything is slipping from our grasp.
- To find humor in the chaos, live in the moment, and appreciate the lessons that arise with each twist and turn.
- To avoid comparing our progress with that of others and accept that we each have our unique timelines.
- To recognize that some of the things we never desired may turn out to be exactly what we need.
- To be okay with not reaching our intended destination, while remaining open to serendipitous arrivals in exactly the right place at the right time.
The takeaway:
If you’re feeling lost right now, know that you’re capable!
Regardless of your challenges, you always possess the tools to take that next small step.
As Epicurus wisely noted, “Don’t ruin what you have by yearning for what you don’t; remember that what you currently possess was once among what you wished for.”
Stay aware. Stay present. Move forward, one day at a time, one small action at a time.
Now it’s your turn…
We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below:
What’s one source of hope, inspiration, or gratitude that you reach for during challenging times?
Have anything else you’d like to add about this piece?
Angel and I are eager to hear from YOU. Your insights truly matter to us. 🙂
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