Now this is something I try to ask myself each morning, simply because some things are going to take a certain amount of energy, which I'm usually sorely lacking, so it's important I realize from the get go what I can actually achieve for any given day. I suppose I could ask this a little differently, such as what your goals are for today,or for the days ahead?
We all like to feel productive in some way, even if you don't have a regular job that takes you out of your home each day. It makes us feel important, needed, valued, respected........we all have our own list. For some of us, we feel productive if we can simply get out of bed each morning and being able to take care of ourselves. So I think it's with right thinking that once we wake up, we are naturally driven in a certain direction, either for our own needs or in helping someone else meet their needs.
For me, it helps if I simply ask myself, OK Cindy, what is it that you want today? What would make you feel like you are important in some way, valued, respected, or would bring a level of fulfillment to your life? Lately it's very simply answered. To take care of my basic needs without any help, something most people take for granted each day for sure. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I never gave a thought to my abilities 20 years ago, but of course when it's taken away, that's all you think about. I ran into a neighbor just 5 minutes ago, who is in her late 70's, and had just taken a long walk uphill and was a little out of breath. I looked and her and said one word....."wow". Then I was left with internally thinking, how amazing that would be to go for a walk, period. Uphill, downhill, flat surface.....no matter. I didn't say anything, though the old me would have made mention of whether or not she realized how fortunate she was, and felt myself a pity. I'm happy to say I no longer do that. The woman I was talking to wouldn't have "gotten it", so I let it go.
So back to setting goals, when you're somewhat limited to where you might head with those goals........you still work to find something that you can press towards. The important thing is not that you accomplish those goals in a days time, but decide in your mind what it is you are trying so hard to accomplish, because that is what I see in other people, as well as myself......that mode of trying to get something, or to get somewhere in life, even though you're not even sure why you want it so badly.
I believe a part of the trying, after you get through your 50's and into your 60's, is trying to see how long you can stay alive. You realize you are on the downside of your lifespan, and the fear sets in. You start this desperate search of how to delay death, by adding or taking away things that you calculate might bring it on too quickly, or that might extend it for a while. I have always thought that life would be so much much easier on us if we had an expiration date, like a milk carton, instead of a surprise attack of some kind. Seems like the fear would be gone.
Someone would ask you to set a date to do something or go somewhere, and you would look at your calendar and realize, oh....can't do that, that's my last day of life. Sorry, not don't mean to dwell on death, I guess I just believe in realistically looking at life AND death, which doesn't mean good and bad....it just is.
So once you're sitting on the side of the bed in the early morning, it might help to start taking note of what you're thinking about. For me, I immediately get into grateful mode, because I never know if I will make it to the bathroom without falling down or not.....so that's an easy one for me. After that, even with no schedule, no agenda, no day planner, no one waiting for me to do something, I say OK Lord.....what would you like me to focus on today? And you can say that to the universe, yourself, or whatever is right for you....but just offer it up as if you have someone else who is driving the truck that day. Your the passenger, you dressed and ready to go, coffee in hand, rested...etc........so where can I best be used today?
Ask yourself what you would really like to accomplish that day. Who you can be good to, or help. How you can be better at your job, or if you hate your job, start thinking about how you can change that, whether that means changing the way you think about it, or actually starting searching for a new job. In other words, if you feel stuck, or it's not clear to you whether you are actually in the right place work wise, relationships, whatever the case, in order to find the answers for you, there has to be a position of pressing towards a new answer, with no fear, regret, questioning, or judgement about what you feel is not quite right.
So starting tomorrow.....wake up....find something to be grateful for, and then make it a point to stop and think about where you are presently, and what changes could be made, if any, to move forward. Maybe your life is just fine, and you simply want a little more joy, peace or contentment in your life. Then spend some time finding out what you could change to make that happen.
The status quo is ok to a degree......but what if things could be a little better. See what it is you are pressing towards.
