It relates a lot to being more present, which I wrote about not too long ago (which you can read here). Accepting the pace of our life journey, free of comparison to how well we think others are doing (because we never get the full picture of other people’s lives), is essential to letting go of future-anxiety and just enjoying life. The thing is, when we have big goals and dreams, we often want everything now. And we get frustrated when we don’t immediately see the results we want. But what if instead of demanding the universe gives us what we want now, we trust that it will come in time? Wouldn’t life be so much less stressful, and more carefree?
For example, if you are like me, and working towards running a successful business, you might be demanding a specific financial goal. But instead of getting frustrated when your progress is slow, what if you just trusted that you will get there, eventually? Some people build a successful business in six months. That is amazing, but unlikely to happen for most people. Some people see the results after two years. And others take ten, even twenty years.
What matters most though is accepting the pace of your life. If you can stop the comparison game, accept the pace of your life, and continuously commit to achieving your dreams, you will get there. For now though, it is best you relax a bit. Feel gratitude for where you are and how far you have already come. Know everything will align at the right time.
If you are too future-oriented, you will forget to enjoy the process. For example, if you are hoping to sing on Broadway one day, but cannot enjoy the spotlight at the community theatre, the truth is you are not enjoying living out your dreams. If you are wanting to sing on Broadway, chances are you enjoy singing, acting, and being on stage. So you need to enjoy the small moments and accomplishments of doing what you love, or you will never enjoy the big ones. This is what I mean by enjoying the unique pace and journey of your life.
It only makes sense for us to slowly build our dream lives, rather than for us to wake up one morning and magically everything is there. Major life improvements call for changes in the way we see ourselves. We must believe we are the type of person who can achieve all of those things. I think it is much easier and less overwhelming to make small incremental changes rather than to wake up one morning in a completely different life. That is why life goes at its own pace rather than us instantly having everything; great things take time.
Here is an actionable step you can journal on right now to help appreciate the beautiful, messy journey you are on right now:
What are some ways you can see your dreams are already coming true?
It doesn’t have to be anything big. For example, I have a Pinterest board of all the wonderful places I’ll go, and experiences and things I’ll have when I reach my financial goals. While from a numbers perspective it may seem like I am nowhere close, there is material evidence I am making progress. On my board, I have a picture of a lovely nude Matt & Nat bag. Recently, I bought a Matt & Nat wallet that exact colour! While it may be small, this is evidence that I have already reached part of what my picture of financial freedom looks like.
I hope that by implementing changes to the way you see your progress and the pace of your life, you can release future-anxiety, while still working towards your dreams. Trust you are on the right path, and where you are now is exactly where you need to be in this moment in time.
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