Our decisions make or mar us.
This is a big lesson I learnt when I looked back on my life last year.
I am not one to really compare myself to others because I have made peace with the fact that we are all on a different journey.
However, when I looked at some of the things my mates had achieved, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that I made certain decisions in the past years that affected me.
I think you will agree with me that being self-aware is very important. I had to come to a place where I knew I had to make a turnaround.
The beautiful thing is that all I did was to make simple life decisions but I can see how it is beginning to change my life.
What are these simple life decisions I made that changed my life?
- Be In Charge Of My Happiness
I made the mistake of thinking people or something will make me happy. Any time I was unhappy, I was certain it was because somebody in my life did not act the way I expected them to or I lacked something.
I was so sure if I had a particular thing or if people just acted right, then I will be fine.
Luckily, I came across this quote that gave me an epiphany; “life is 20 percent what happens to you and 80 percent how you react to it.”
This quote made me realise I was basing my happiness on external factors and until I began to realise that my happiness is largely dependent on me, I will continue to be unhappy.
Now, I handle only things I can control; I let anything I cannot control go, believing strongly that it will sort itself out.
And it always does.
- Be Consistent About Reaching My Life Goals
I wanted speed; I had goals and I wanted to reach them. I’m sure you can relate to it, especially when all around me I could see people doing great things.
But I quickly learned that it wasn’t so much about speed but about consistency. I needed to be okay with the position that I was in at the moment while working towards where I wanted to be.
Getting worked up over what I felt was my sluggishness was counterproductive. It didn’t help me in any way. It just made me worry and produced zero results.
So I made up my mind to put my all into my work, be consistent and rest in the knowledge that surely, I will get there.
- Forgive Myself For My Past Mistakes
Forgiving myself for my past mistakes was one of the simple decisions I made that changed my life.
I have done things in the past that I am ashamed of and I have failed where I thought I was going to succeed.
However, dwelling on them is not going to get me anywhere. I had to be comfortable with my imperfections and my weaknesses.
I had to accept that I am only human and making mistakes is part of being human. Instead of dwelling on the past, I pick the lesson.
The only way I can move forward is by leaving the past behind.
- Drink Water And Mind My Business
The world is interconnected and for some reason, we feel like other people’s business is ours as well.
I am ashamed to say I fell into this trap. I had to remind myself that I have so much of my own business to mind.
When I started spending time on my own business, I found out I didn’t have time to bother about that of others.
And I mean, drinking water? It is a very healthy practice that makes me feel healthy and full.
- Be Fearless
I used to be full of fears; I was not only afraid to live but I was also afraid to reach for my goals because I was scared of failing.
I wanted to be successful; I wanted to leave a legacy behind and yes, I was working towards it but I held back a lot.
I held back from so many things because I didn’t want to fail. But better failure than not try at all and yes, once I tried, I failed some but I also recorded great success.
- Nurture Meaningful Relationships
No man is an island; no man can exist without other people. We all need somebody, we cannot function alone.
So, I made a decision to nurture every meaningful and healthy relationship in my life, whether family, friendship and even work colleagues.
I decided to pour into people that were pouring into me and I can see how beneficial that is.
- Read
This goes without saying that readers and leaders. No knowledge is wasted.
I made a resolve to read books that I knew will nourish and increase my knowledge because there is a difference between reading and actually reading the right books.
We are what we read. So, I wanted to read books that will make me grow and I took deliberate steps towards achieving this.
- Live Healthily
While we are trying to live fulfilled lives, it is also important that we remember to take care of our body.
So one of the simple life decisions I made that changed my life was to take deliberate steps to live healthily.
I started watching what I ate, invested in regular exercise and drinking water.
- Love
Love is the most beautiful thing. It is a universal language that everyone, despite our background, can understand.
Sometimes, it is painful and sometimes, it is hurtful but we cannot decide to stay without love; that is an empty life.
I choose to love and pass on the kindness that has been given to me.
- Play
All work and no play no makes Ayandola a dull girl. I am going to play and live life to the fullest.
I will not just exist; I will live and that is exactly what I am doing.