For some reason this year, the holidays have me STUCK! We have all been there from time to time, right? I’m an emotional mess. There is a multitude of reasons (or maybe excuses) I could give but the truth is I am stuck and struggling to reach goals – personally, professionally and financially.
Whether it’s a relationship problem, a work challenge, a financial habit (good or bad) or a health dilemma……inevitably on the path to our goals, something gets in our way. It is weird how this has hit me during the holidays. As I reflect on the past year which was filled with LOTS of challenges and look forward to the new year, I am trying to put things in perspective.
I’m trying to get unstuck AGAIN! Yup, unfortunately it happens more than once year for me and I’m sure for others too. My focus gets pulled in a million directions. My goals start to look unobtainable. My emotions get jumbled and I am an emotional mess. I often want to blame it on the MS but the truth is, I used to get like this BEFORE the diagnosis came along. Time to take responsibility and face the fact I let everything and everyone influence me which causes me to lose my focus. I play the comparison game despite my best efforts to squash those inner gremlins. Comparison will not only steal your JOY but it will also have you wondering about “what really matters most?”.
I know, why am I rambling on about this, right? The truth is there is ONE powerful question which always helps me. When I find myself overwhelmed, distracted or bombarded with requests or life’s chaos, I stop and ask myself a simple question. It usually helps me to regain my focus and use your time better:
What really matters right now?
It sounds so simple, right? It is not as easy as it seems. This simple, but perspective-shifting question can help you to get unstuck in the most common challenges of everyday life. There are times when the noise in my head is so great, even this one question is difficult to answer. During those times I stop and repeat the Serenity Prayer. 
It has saved me more than once over the years when life became unglued. It helps to focus my thoughts and THEN I can ask the question of “what really matters right now?”. Staying focused in the present has actually been a blessing to me reaching my goals.
You may need to set a reminder on your phone – once an hour, twice a day or whatever works for you (or however often you need it). Get into the habit of pausing and choosing what really matters right now. When you do, you’ll find your days more productive, your stress lowered and your time used well. And in the end, you will find you have reached the goals you have set for yourself – short and long term.
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 