Tuesday, February 26, 2013

It's Your Life - If You Make It So


Every second is of infinite value. Lately I've been feeling like this is more true than ever before. For some reason, the seconds, minutes, and hours of the day are beginning to impact me in a way like they never have. The thoughts I choose today continue to cling to me, and the choices I make in this moment will shape the days to come.

Maybe I'm just being dramatic but for some reason, I can't help but think that maybe our biggest fault is that we believe we have time. We have our whole lives to _____________. (As we consciously decide to put our passions on the back burner, time and time again.)

But what if we took the leap right now? What if we starting living the way we want to live, right now? Letting our feelings inform us and expand our experiences while simultaneously pushing aside negative feelings that leave us imprisoned.

“It’s your life — but only if you make it so. The standards by which you live must be your own standards, your own values, your own convictions in regard to what is right and wrong, what is true and false, what is important and what is trivial. When you adopt the standards and the values of someone else or a community or a pressure group, you surrender your own integrity. You become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
 
Have you ever wanted to take a chance and try something new? When you've thought about putting those plans into action, have you ever thought...
 
But what if I fail?
 
Someone else is doing it better than me...
 
I couldn't possibly... I'm not qualified enough/educated enough/have enough experience
 
Will I be judged? What will people think of me?
 
Know that you are enough. You can do this. It's time to kick comparisons to the curb. It's time to start living by your own standards. It's time to start believing.  Don't let the fear and doubt control you, they are not the deciding factor in your future successes. Pay close attention to your desires and let them guide you.
 
Because this life is yours. If you make it so.
 
Your turn! What are your passions? What would you like to invite more of into your life? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments.

Image via Julian Bialowas

11 comments:

  1. I ADORE Julian Bialowas's work. So, so good. I've been thinking about this a LOT recently. I feel like everyone around me is making all these long term plans and I'm just desperate to make the most of now. I'm currently making tiny baby steps into pursuing photography as a career rather than just a hobby. Its scary and I have a LONG way to go. But I'm determined, and thats the biggest part, right?

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  2. i need to invite more balance and positivity into my life. unemployment has done a number on my self confidence and has really made me question all of the things im passionate about.

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  3. I am loving this post, and your blog. Found you through the GFC hop. :)
    -Sara @ The Hinton Hook-Up

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  4. Oh gosh ok seriously your words are hitting home for me! I'll be honsest. I would LOVE to start a blog.... well I have one.... so I guess get serious about it! I would love to have write a lifestyle blog with an emphasis on DIY/interior design. I would love to be an interior designer. Fear is holding me back. Fear that I will be just another fish in the sea. Another "wanna be". I need to invite confidence into my life and know that I am ENOUGH!

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  5. I have been feeling "off" for about a week now and it's been hard to shake the feeling. I try not to feel down but sometimes it's hard. I do feel however like time is just slipping by and I am not putting any of it to good use. There is always a reason why I don't do something and while I am trying to shake that, I still find myself making excuses. I have always liked the idea of Mood Boards and after debating whether they work or not for a long time I have decided to give it a go. There are so many things I want to do in life and so many ways I want my life to be but I just keep hoping that "one day" it will change and be what I imagine. I think (I think) I am finally going to work on making it happen myself. Thanks so much for stopping by my place. :)

    www.MySerendipitousLife.com

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  6. I love this post. I'm so guilty of second guessing myself and putting stuff off out of fear.

    Thanks for sharing this. It has been such an inspiration.

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  7. I literally had the mini version of this thought process go through my head today at work. It was amplified by the fact that I hate my casual job but I totally let an awesome photography portfolio building opportunity slip by because I was too scared but lesson learned - hopefully!

    Thanks for such a thoughtful and inspiring post, as usual! LOVE IT.

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  8. I love this post. Life is way too short not to have fun when we can and to do the things we're actually passionate about. We're all good planners, but we plan for the far distant future and we just don't know what that might bring - we have to believe we can achieve our goals NOW. Then comes the planning! :)

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  9. I've been feeling like this recently too. I spend so much time on Pinterest and Tumblr, idealizing a perfect life and thinking how long it is going to take me to kick-start myself so I can get where I want. Instead I'm going to try and do something I've always wanted to do every day even if it is just a small step towards a big goal. Thanks for writing this post :)
    Rachelle x
    inspiredbytheretired.blogspot.com

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  10. These are some beautiful words :) Def needed to hear this today!
    Found you from Story of my Life blog! Very glad! New follower.

    Jessica

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  11. It's a pity that I've had all those doubts and questions that you mentioned at some point or the other. But you're so right! One should begin everything by believing that it's possible.

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