We all know the saying “Follow the yellow brick road” from The Wizard of Oz. I can’t help it…” Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow brick road.” Following a path without any idea of where you are going is nonsense. Also, “The blind leading the blind” comes to mind. And we all know that when Dorothy and crew wound up at the Wizard’s door, he did not have all the answers. The better answers about each of their directions in life came from the support and or confrontation between Dorothy, the lion, the scarecrow, the tin man, the good and evil witch, and let’s not forget the munchkins. Ultimately, each individual determined their weaknesses, strengths, and golden path, not the yellow one.
The most profound and usually correct answers for every life challenge we face are all stored within each of us. Test it out. When you are relaxed, ask yourself about something you have been pondering. Am I in the correct relationship? The answer will be there inside you. You will hear a yes or no answer coming from within. Am I in the proper job? A yes or no will resound. You can even go further and ask, “Why?” Answers will come from your inner voice!
People are in force telling themselves and everyone else what they “need” to do, what they “should” do, or what they “could” do, but does anyone else really know what is best for you without you first identifying what you truly want in life? Have you thought about what you truly value in life? Could you make a list of what you value most in life now? I guarantee you it is not the values of your past. Check-in with your present self and figure it out. Past values may have been socialization, school, parties, clear skin, and fame. Now values could include time to read a good book, have leisure time, tight skin, garden, get-togethers with close friends and/or family, and your kid’s accomplishments. Depending on your life stage, the value system will change. Being clear on your values will help you set life goals. Life goals are essential if you want to get on the golden path!
The beginning of change is to identify what is not working for you in the present. Ask yourself what part of life you are not enjoying. What makes you feel tough? What feels overwhelming, exhausting, or depressing? Decide how to decrease those aspects of your life immediately. If carting the kids around makes you feel degraded as if you are a bus driver, look for a carpool; if it is cooking, find a neighbor who loves to cook, and trade a task that you enjoy, such as doing hair or makeup for her, or babysitting for her. I would gladly cook for a neighbor if she pet-sits my chihuahua child so I could spend more time working or traveling without the guilt of leaving the little guy alone. Let’s say you abhor gardening, and your friend loves it, but she can’t stand shopping by herself or doesn’t have the stylist talents that you have. Exchange the gardening for personal shopper services.
There was a famous therapist named Virginia Satir, a master at group therapy. Virginia Satir’s most outstanding talent was connecting people to people and creating support systems for her clients. She would have a group and find out one could sew, another stayed home with a child, and another was a carpenter. Connecting how each group member would help and support another towards their dream was a fantastic talent Virginia Satir possessed. Virginia found that the most significant social dilemma was insufficient support from family, friends, or neighbors. People became too proud to ask for help. Let’s face it: many of us live across the country from our relatives; we don’t live in ethnic and cultural neighborhoods any longer, and we have lost our physical connections to friends and family. Neighbors tend to drive into the garage and close the door behind.
Please feel free to reach out and touch your neighbor. They most likely like the camaraderie and could use the company and your help. Move closer to family if they are supportive, go to support groups, and create links and networks to help you on your life path. Okay, here it comes….” people who need people are the luckiest in the world.” Hum along!
Organize your life and live an organized living situation; get organized by following what you dream about. Add friendly ways to manage your life by creating neighborhood barbecues, potlucks, and get-togethers. You can just organize your mind and figure out what you value.
