We often hear about the importance of setting goals, of having a ‘vision’ for our lives. But what if we don’t? I wouldn’t call myself a drifter; I’ve always had plans, dreams, and aspirations. But when I look back now, I see that I wasn’t asking myself the right questions – I wasn’t being crystal clear, or coming from the heart, about what I really wanted.
Now in my 40s, I know that having this kind of clarity and destination in your life is something I wouldn’t choose to be without. The cost is just too high. Before you know it, years have gone by, and you’re not where you want to be. You’re not lighting up, not as happy as you could be.
A few examples from my life: I spent years living in the city, and in Brooklyn, when in reality, I’m a country girl at heart, wanting to scale mountains and fish with all my free time. I knew for nine years before starting my education in Somatic Experiencing that it was 1000% for me. I delayed it for a number of what felt like valid reasons, but what it boils down to is that I wasn’t clear — wasn’t being heart-centered — about how I wanted to spend my time, clear about a destination for who I was becoming. The cost of that is that I spent years trying and trying, doing things that weren’t lighting me up, keeping me unsatisfied and going nowhere . The thief? All that time I could have been happier, living in alignment with my truth.
And this extends to nearly every part of life: relationships, the way we treat our body, connect with our family, self- our time, finances – everything.
What’s one area of your life where you’ve been unclear on a destination? What’s the potential ‘thief’ at work there? Is it time? Missed opportunities? Or something else? If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you really choose?