Life is not just a series of unplanned events but can be planned and directed.

Life Happens

“Life is what happens while you are making other plans.”
John Lennon (1940 - 1980)

Some of the most common things I hear people say in my office is “You’ve never seen anything this bad before” or “I know I should have taken better care of myself but……”. Why is it that we always look at things from the perspective of I should have or the feeling that we present the worst …… ever seen? Is it that human nature does not allow us to accept ourselves or the situation we find ourselves in or do we want others to know the reason we are where we are? Do we want to escape from the responsibility of our lives?

“I've arrived at this outermost edge of my life by my own actions. Where I am is thoroughly unacceptable. therefore, I must stop doing what I've been doing.”
Alice Killer, An Unknown Woman, 1982

We blame our circumstances, our significant other, or our upbringing for most everything in our lives. We focus on anything outside ourselves and do anything we can to avoid looking inside at our true selves. Life happens but we are the captain of our ship. We give the instructions. We are the responsible party.

“My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”
Oprah Winfrey

Taking control of your life is not as scary as one might think. It takes courage and determination but it is possible to become ‘the responsible party’. Life happens but if we are aware and in charge of our lives we can steer those happenings and create the life of our dreams. It is when we are not aware or are tuned out that we become caught in this cycle of ‘life happened what could I do”? We begin to drift away from our dreams and become lost in the fog of mental confusion.

“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.”
Carol Burnett

We easily take on the responsibility of owing a house, a car, or any other object but shy away from taking the responsibility for our life. We find the right computer, the correct address, and tolerate many different opinions. We do all these things unconsciously but fail when it comes to actively directing our lives and creating our life based upon our desires.

“Life only demands from you the strength you possess. Only one feat is possible - not to have run away.”
Dag Hammarskjold

Many times it takes a life altering event to grab our attention or cause us to make a mid-course correction. What we fail to see is that we can make that change alone by ourselves by simply making the intent to awaken and to accept the responsibility for our life. This one act – the intent to change – can be the catalyst for enormous personal growth. It can also create a world based upon your greatest ambitions and your greatest desires.

“No trumpets sound when the important decisions of our life are made. Destiny is made known silently.”
Agnes DeMille

Creating the intent and acting upon that intent can move mountains. It can create a vision that can not only change your world but the world of many others. A small change in your vision can alter your future in such a way that you will never look back at your past but will look forward to your new life with anticipation and excitement.

“If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.”
Rainer Maria Rilke

The phrase ‘life happens’ is misunderstood. It means that life is a series of events that are connected together to form the life you lead. It means that you are in control of its direction and its future. It means that your role in its direction is an active role not a passive one full of disappointment. It means that life happens are you direct it to unfold.

“This is our purpose: to make as meaningful as possible this life that has been bestowed upon us; to live in such a way that we may be proud of ourselves; to act in such a way that some part of us lives on.”
Oswald Spengler

Make your life happen in such a way that you will uncover amazing details of who you are. Make it show you the wonder of your existence and foster within you the drive and desire to grow, to seek your path with intent, and to find love in each moment of your life.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.”
Carl Sandburg