Mixed up. Haphazard. All over the place. These phrases used to describe my life. I’ve always dreamed of a well-put-together life with purpose and meaning, but it seemed like no matter what I did, all the pieces didn’t fit. Years ago, I began to pray for that life. I wanted everything I did to be connected and aligned. After taking the necessary steps to obtain a well-balanced life, I’ve recently begun to see the vision I have for my life unfold. My life is by no means perfect, but from the major meltdowns to the elaborate epiphanies, it feels right. I’m healthy and happy. I’m sharing my story. I have meaningful relationships. And I just started a new job in mental health. This didn’t happen overnight or by chance. It took handwork, sacrifice, and last but definitely not least, lots of prayers. Now that I’m in such a healthy and productive place, my prayer is to continue to ascend higher. Here are the ways I plan to move forward:
1. Remain Humble.
First and foremost, I plan to remain humble because not too long ago, I was in a terribly different place. I know all too well the pains of working outside of one’s purpose and not being able to make ends meet, so I appreciate my new place in life. I also know that in a millisecond it could all be taken away. Nothing is guaranteed, and tomorrow is not promised to any of us. By being humble, I plan to continue to do everything in my power to maintain and move ahead in all my endeavors with no ego or pretense.
2. Give back.
My new job heavily focuses on helping others, which is something I’ve been fortunate to do since I first started working. I recently decided to take things a step further by devoting a portion of my personal time to give back. This past weekend I trained to become a NAMI support group facilitator. I plan to spend a couple hours per month leading a support group in my local NAMI affiliate. Giving back has always given me a sense of fulfillment that I haven’t found in doing anything else.
3. Stay Focused.
With so many balls in the air, I often wonder how I will keep it all together. I have to focus on my motivations for doing all that I’m doing to keep it all in perspective. Losing sight of my why will ultimately hinder me in doing what I feel that I am supposed to do, so I have to stay focused. When I get overwhelmed or have a bad day, I have to keep in mind the big picture, the prayers I’ve prayed to get to this point and most importantly, the purpose in my heart.
A mental health blog 