In this day and age, there are many different modes of transportation. We can rely on someone else to get us to our destination by taking an Uber or Lyft. Or, we can take control and drive ourselves on our journey. But do we know where we are going? And did we check the traffic along our route? Many of us travel along life’s path like the Flintstones, trudging along at a snail’s pace, bogged down by baggage, living in our past. My question to you is, would you rather travel like the Flintstones or add some wings and FUEL to your vehicle and propel yourself forward like the Jetsons? Personally, I will pick the Jetsons every time.
In order to glide through the air like the Jetsons, we have to be light and free. Many times we think because we are thinking positively and avoiding our past issues, they will go away. We can’t move into the future when we haven’t addressed the past. The gloomy aspects of life do not disappear simply because they are ignored. In fact, they tend to worsen and become more complex over time, bogging us down. Hence many people moving through life like the Flintstones. While it’s healthy to look at things from a positive standpoint, we need to balance this optimism with a willingness to confront real issues from our past. How do we do this? By adding FUEL.
Focusing on priorities – There are a million different things vying for our attention. And while there is no such thing as equally balancing everything, we can create a priorities list. I will clue you in on a little secret, if there are items on your priority list that you are avoiding, you may want to look in your rearview mirror to see what you have been avoiding in your past. There is a reason the message on the mirror says objects may be closer than they appear.
Understanding responsibility – Responsibility does not mean blame. It simply means taking responsibility for your part in what has happened in the past. Even if we feel like we were “right” and the other person was “wrong”, we still have a responsibility. Until we accept responsibility for our past thoughts, actions, and decisions, we will be stuck in neutral.
Empowering – Learning to respond instead of reacting to situations comes with achieving clarity. Defining our priorities and taking personal responsibility allows us to understand why we react to certain situations. Once we comprehend this, our lives are powered forward by the fuel of freedom and self-confidence.
Living in the now – After facing and acknowledging our past, we are finally able to live in the present, the ultimate gift.