Have you ever missed a flight? Or a bus or train going on a tour with classmates or colleagues? I missed a flight early this year and for hours I struggled to rid myself of feelings of frustration and being annoyed with myself.
It was very early in the morning and, though I was frustrated, I had to come to terms with the fact that a few hours of my day would be spent walking around the airport, waiting for the next available flight. The choice to remain grumpy or rearrange my schedule and move on with my day was mine.
As it is, missing anything or being made to wait for much longer than we anticipated can be frustrating.
When we are young, we tend to believe that if we do everything right, behave well, go to school, then college, life will just progress as expected, everything will fall into place and by the time 30 rolls out, we hope to be established in our career paths, and settled to raise a family.
Now, when according to our own timing, we experience delays or different outcomes on the plans we had for our lives, we begin to fall into depression wondering where we went wrong.
I have been there. In fact, I am there.
Ten years ago, I had the most exciting picture of what I had hoped my life would be. But the journey I have been on has taught me to realize and accept that :
1. We are just finite beings. Though we have big dreams, which are good to have, no amount of preparation and admirable conduct will guarantee that we will have the things we dream to have.
2. In life, we are guaranteed disappointments. It may not be in the delay of what you desire to have but somehow you will encounter setbacks and therefore your vision of life, your reason for living have to be anchored in something greater than peripheral circumstances. Because when you make a successful career or marriage your ultimate goal and final destination in life, you will be disappointed.
3. There is purpose and value in that ‘waiting’ season. Often we fail to see that there is greatness in our times of weakness. This is where our character gets shaped and our perspective realigned. The ‘waiting’ is the story of our journey through life being unravelled. It is here that we write our script, it is here that we are made great! I have often cried when things in my life didn’t go according to my plans but lately I find I have an unusual appreciation for the toughest experiences I have been through. They molded me.
So what do you do when things are not going according plans?
1. Don’t put your life on pause, thinking that life will begin when you have a job, a child, a spouse, a house, a car; live now. Most importantly, be grateful for what you have at the moment, and make the most of your present. Do not remain idle in this time thinking that your happiness will come with the change of your circumstances. Focus your attention on the moment, be grateful for what you have now and this will lead you to a fulfilled life.
2. Don’t compare your life to that of others. Daily social media showers our online pages with announcements of promotions, travel plans, graduations, engagements, weddings, babies and we are left feeling like we are missing out on life. You are uniquely designed and regardless of where you are, what you have or don’t have, your life is meaningful. It is hard to see things this way at times, I know. But don’t give in to jealousy, it’s unhealthy and simply not worth your time. Rather, focus on your life, keep hoping, remain grateful and keep challenging yourself in the areas in which you desire to improve.
3. Allow every experience you go through teach you something and shape you. Reflect often and don’t stop learning.
Above everything shared, have your hope anchored in God. Circumstances change, money comes and goes, people can be on your side today and tomorrow be against you. But hope in God will always lead to a fulfilled life. If you are going through a difficult patch in your life and don’t know how to begin to find contentment or even trust that there’s a future for you, click on the banner pop-up banner below.