When we were kids, it was easy to imagine that life would work out right 100% of the time. We imagined that all our choices would make sense, serve us well, and get us where we wanted to go. Everyone lives happily ever after, right?
It turns out there’s a reason Thomas Jefferson called it “the pursuit of happiness.” Pursuit–not just plain happiness. Joy and a beautiful life is something we have to pursue, and sometimes we can feel so far off track, we don’t know where we’re headed. If your life seems far from where you wanted it to be–remember. This is normal. No one automatically ends up where they want to be; we all have to work, struggle, make mistakes, and turn around before we find the life we’re really looking for.
Assess Your Situation
If you feel like life has handed you the short end of the stick, you’re not alone. The first step in getting back to the life you really want is to acknowledge where you really are. Often, we tell ourselves, “It’s not that bad,” or, “I don’t need to be doing anything differently.” If your life isn’t where you want it, the power lies with you. The first step is to come to terms with your dissatisfaction: life isn’t what you want. You were made for something better.
Recovering from an Addiction
If you’re recovering from an addiction, you’ll want to seek out an interventionist and get some simple answers. You might ask, for instance, how long does cocaine stay in your system? What can you do to break your addiction? The first step in getting out of harmful cycle is to seek help. If you could do this alone, you would have done it already. Do the brave thing and ask for help.
Find a New Route
Whatever direction your life was headed, you want to turn towards something new. If your job is dead-end and leaves you miserable, consider going back to school to make a better salary, feel better about yourself, and find work that you enjoy. Get an ASE Automotive Degree or teaching certification. You may not have a bachelor’s degree, and may not have the time to get one, but there are plenty of 2-year degrees that provide great options, and online courses make a BA and even master’s easier than ever.
Find a Community
One of the most important steps, as you journey towards a better life, is finding people who will support you. You need people who will help you stay away from bad behaviors and past addictions, and you may need to find a new circle of friends to help inspire you. A great community can change your life forever, so start looking for a group that positively influences your life. Some religious organizations or community events can be a great place to start. Find good people and find ways to keep being a part of their community. The right people will welcome you, and belonging to a healthy community will help keep you going forward.
