I follow the Huffington posts each morning on facebook. Today's post inspired me. A university master graduate wrote an article to President Obama complaining about their living conditions in the United States.
Everything, absolutely everything we do is a choice. When things aren't going well, it's up to us to change it. Unfortunately we are living in a world where people (in the Western world predominantly) have a sense of entitlement. Why do you think it's up to the government to look after you? This is one of the many reasons the economy collapsed in the first place. Learn from it and make a change. We are so fortunate to have any help at all but no one should expect the government to look after them forever.
It's time for people to wake up and start making smarter choices. My advice to the couple living in the RV park:
1. Despite what we've been brainwashed to think, a university degree does not guarantee that we will be a raging success in this world. People seem to think that if you don't have a degree, you won't get a good job. There is never a better time to see that even those with degrees aren't finding work. It has absolutely nothing to do with how "smart" you are or how much you spent on university fees. You just can't buy common sense.
2. If you aren't happy where you are - MOVE. The world is a big place and there are opportunities in every corner of the globe... but you have to have the courage to get out there and look for them.
3. If nothing else, just TRAVEL. Traveling opens your mind and you find out things about yourself that you didn't know existed. I'm not talking about going to Cancun for a week and staying at a resort. I'm talking about going somewhere real. Cambodia, Vietnam, Africa. All the social anxiety you thought you had magically erodes when you are traveling. All the little "first world problems" you complain about daily will suddenly seem petty.
4. Money is easier to make than you realize. Think outside the box. You don't need to "find the perfect job" and have someone else pay your wage. Why are we so dependent on other people to look after us? Get out there and create something! If you've been in university for 4+ years and worked for over 30 for a company, surely you are smart enough to run a lemonade stand or clean houses or mow lawns or cook dinners for your friends who work till 8pm or manage someones Facebook pages... that's how entrepreneurs start.
5. If you still can't make money and you're still miserable, sell the caravan that was given to you or if that's not an option, find a charity organization (there are many of them out there) and move to a third world country and make a difference to someone else's life.
6. Bi-polar is a condition that can be reversed believe it or not. Our bodies and our minds react negatively if we are in the wrong place and not living our life's purpose. Comparing your life to others or trying to fit in with the status quo is a heck of a lot of pressure to put on yourself. A hamster running on the treadmill will eventually lose it's mind and die an early death. Get off the treadmill! You'll be amazed by the change in your mental health.
7. Be grateful for what you HAVE. It sounds like people have been helping you for a really long time. You've been receiving money from the government for your husbands bi-polar (most people suffer from depression at some point in their lives - most don't get paid for it) and rather than be upset that they stopped paying you, be grateful for the years of support you received. Someone obviously sees that you are strong enough to do it on your own now. Take this opportunity to get your life back!
8. You're alive and you have more riches than you realize. Stop to think about how many people are literally dying to get into America to live the "American Dream". Someone else would gladly change places with you and make it work for them.
I hope this puts things into perspective. I know how frustrating it can be to live without money. 10 years ago I made a giant leap and changed my entire life. It wasn't easy, but life isn't meant to be easy, it's meant to be lived. I left everything behind and walked away with just a few hundred dollars in my bank and flew to the other side of the world with an old cat (who consequently developed diabetes and had to be injected with insulin for the next 2 years - I had to figure out how to pay for that... but I did).
It takes courage to change your current situation. People I know are doing it with children. They are making the conscious choice to throw in their big corporate paycheck and wanting to make a difference.
We get caught up in one way of thinking and we need to stop for a moment and step back to take an objective look at how we can make a change towards the positive rather than focusing on everything that is going wrong. Believe me, money is not the answer.
Surely you've seen all the wisdom out there - the more you focus on what you don't have, the more you will attract scarcity. It's the law of attraction. Change your focus and watch your whole life change before your eyes.
You are clearly an intelligent woman Paula. You can do this. I realize I don't know the whole situation and things aren't as easy as I make them seem. This letter may sound harsh but I assure you it's written with love. We often can't see the forest for the trees. My greatest teachers in life were the ones who's advice was firm and honest. I'm sharing some of that with you now. Take what you want from this and know that there are lots of us out there who can relate to your anguish and frustration.
You are the author of your story. Give yourself the happy ending you deserve.
1 comment:
Well said!
Post a Comment