Maybe It's Time To Stop

There are many habits and addictions that people know are unhealthy.  It is difficult to make a change and stop these habits and addictions.  When addictions are mentioned, the usual ones are listed like drinking, smoking, gambling, overeating, and drugs.  Let’s talk about some behaviors that affect our mental and emotional health that maybe it is time to stop doing, too.

For instance, maybe it is time to stop carrying the weight of things that were never meant to live in your heart like the wrongs other have done to you and the burdens of your past.  Maybe it is time to release them and forgive yourself and others.  Your focus has been the hurts of life which has prevented you from living in the present.  It is time to give yourself the freedom to break the chains of your past.  You cannot change the past nor those who caused the hurt and pain.  Set yourself free from the prison of your past.

Maybe it is time to stop seeking the approval of others and worrying about the opinions of others and just live life.  Stop comparing yourself to others.  You were created to be who you are and to have the gifts and talents that were given to you.  You are the only one like you.  Other people will have different opinions, but your life is yours.  Your worth is not based on what others think. Your life is not a performance for others.  You were not made to follow what they want you to do.  It is time for you to be you.

Stop waiting for permission to live.  Live now.  You are waiting until life gets easier.  You have more money.  You feel better.  You lose the weight.  You have a partner.  And the list goes on and on.  You are the only one that can live your life.  Stop waiting and start living.  Life is hard and the struggles are real.  Learn to live through them.  Seek help and look for hope.

Maybe it’s time to stop holding on to everything that does not really matter and embrace everything that has value and worth.  Sometimes people hold so tightly to possessions and the past and how things used to be that they do not live now.  You cannot change the past nor can you recreate it.  You can celebrate the past and share the memories.  Focus on what has meaning not the trivial things of life.

Maybe it’s time to stop spending time on decisions that are not yours to make.  You fret and worry about things that you cannot change or try to develop a plan for someone else’s life and how they can make their lives better.  You spend all your time focused on things you cannot change or influence and therefore, do not live the life you have in front of you.

Stop basing your life on what you own and believing happiness is having more toys and the latest and most popular items.  Happiness is not found in things but in relationships and in the adventures and experiences of life.  Stuff will consume you and hold you down.  You just spend your time taking care of it.

Stop waiting to live and live in front of you.  Find people who enhance your life.  Let go of what is draining the life out of you, and find what fills you up and enhances your life.

Elaine’s website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different