Participating in your life gets you headed in your desired direction. Not participating in your life leaves you drifting, subject to the whims of fate, chance, or circumstances. Those who don’t participate, think and act like victims. They make excuses for why they aren’t happy while blaming other people, circumstances, and situations. These people act as bystanders while their life passes them by.
Participating in your life means making things happen rather than passively watching what happens or waiting to see what happens. If you have a car and want to go somewhere, you would get behind the wheel. It’s obvious that sitting in the passenger seat, waiting for the car to go somewhere, is not an effective strategy.
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After you are positioned in the driver’s seat, you must start the car before you can go anywhere. You need to have a specific destination in mind. Your car must remain on the road. If it’s stuck in a ditch, your wheels will just spin. As you are driving, your eyes must focus on the road ahead. Adjustments have to be made in reaction to changing road and weather conditions.
You want to stay on course in order to arrive at your destination. If a road is blocked, you have to take a detour. Putting more fuel in the car as needed keeps you going. If, when you arrive at your destination, you decide you don’t like it, you are free to go someplace else.
Participating in your life requires the same strategies as driving. You need to have goals, create a plan to achieve them, and then take action. You must get started and move forward, making adjustments as needed. If you drift off course, do what it takes to get back on track.
Don’t spin your wheels by staying busy without making progress towards your goals. Becoming stuck in the past is no different than attempting to drive by looking out of the rear window. Recharging your attitude to keep it positive is as essential as filling your car’s gas tank.
It’s important to participate in your life daily. Today is the day that matters. Learn from your past. Take action to prepare for the future. It is action that enables you to make things happen. Only by doing what it takes in order to get what you want, are your goals obtainable.
Change is inevitable. The unpredictable happens. Those who participate in their lives make adjustments rather than excuses. You can’t control external circumstances but your response is up to you.
Take responsibility for your life. You can see the person in charge by looking in the mirror. Mistakes are an opportunity to grow and improve. Get up and keep going after you stumble or fall. There is a solution for every problem. Giving up only ensures failure.
Let go of anger, bitterness, and resentment. They are poisons that cause you great harm. You have no control over the actions of others. They have no power over you unless you give it to them.
Have fun. Life is not meant for suffering. If your current path is not enjoyable, make changes. It’s never too late to make adjustments. Time goes by too fast to put things off.
Participation is the road to happiness. Pro-activity empowers you to direct your life. Keep your eyes on your path. There is no benefit to drifting aimlessly. Honestly assess where you are now. Determine what needs to be done in order to arrive at where you would really like to be. Keep moving forward, one step at a time.
NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at email@example.com or write him c/o this paper. © 2014 Bryan Golden