Sincerely Sarah

All of my life, I think it’s safe to say that I’ve been very taken care of. I have everything I want plus so many extra blessings that I really have no room to complain of lack in any area. I’ve been raised by my parents with my decisions pretty much made for me – almost as if the option wasn’t there – you get a job, go to school, behave as a respectable and well-mannered individual. Well, now that I’m testing the waters out in the real world, who’s going to be there to tell me what to do? Who’s going to ensure that I succeed and do what it takes to be comfortably sound financially, physically and mentally?

I’m slowly, but all too surely beginning to see that only one person can do that. Me. Nobody else can force me to work my ass off in order to achieve the goals I so badly want. Nobody can make me eat healthy, exercise, think positively, do my best, etc. Nobody! And for the most part, nobody really cares what I do. So while I’m sitting around pacifying my lazy bones, eating ice cream, procrastinating life, is the joke on the world or is the joke on..uh, me? Well, let’s see, while I’m basking in instant gratification of all my feel-good-now activities, subconsciously creating habits of an unhealthy lifestyle, all the while thinking I’m just living for the moment, and blah blah blah, there are other people out there working as hard as they possibly can, putting in the uncomfortable time to lay a foundation for their future so that they can live off of their efforts in the future!

So why is it so easy to put things off that we know are going to benefit us? Probably because if there were no challenge, there would be no separation of successful people and unsuccessful people. I’ve read before that successful people are in fact successful because they are willing to do things every day that most people are not willing to do. It’s those small sacrifices every day that will build up a habit and produce the “snowball” effect for success and happiness. So am I going to make good choices every minute of every day? Well – no. But I am aware of the benefits that hard work and sacrifice has on our future.

So who is going to decide how your life unravels and how much happiness you live in? Only that one person looking back at you in the mirror. You want to give up and coast by in life, ignoring your God-given purpose? Fine by me – you’re hurting none other but yourself. But I hope and pray that you – and I – get out there and do whatever it takes to achieve every single goal we have inside of us. AND START NOW! That is all.

Sincerely,

Sarah

Decisions.

We’re faced with them every second of every day. Some are minuscule decisions, such as “Do I want plain milk or chocolate milk?” (Ok, that’s a given. Of course I’d choose chocolate…) And some are more difficult, such as “Which type of car should I buy?”

I’m currently in the phase of my life where I’m free to make any decision about my future that I want. I’m not tied down, don’t have any children, don’t own a home, etc. It’s just me right now. I find this extremely terrifying and surprisingly exciting at the same time. Where do I want to live? What kind of impact do I want to have on the world? What do I really want? It’s out there, but it’s up to me to choose. Do I have to make the perfect decisions right now? I sure hope not. I think that as long as I’m heading in some direction, that’s better than sitting stagnant waiting for life to come to me. I’m also realizing that it’s pretty damn easy to not move in that forward direction because of that little thing called COMFORT (which I, unfortunately, am a fan of.)

But I’ve also noticed the ripple effect that occurs when you do step out of the comfort zone and use your talent/ability to do something, anything. Just starting that task of what you know deep down you want to do is very inspiring and motivating – as long as you keep at it and never let yourself go too long in the “waiting room.” Life is out there – it’s not going anywhere. It’s up to me to take action and do what God put me here to do! There really are no excuses. You either do something, or you don’t. Period. So…let’s get to it!!

Sincerely,
Sarah

Since I can remember, I’ve known that I was chosen to be in this world for a reason. I don’t know why or how I know that, but I just do. Sometimes we find that purpose through people, a child, a cause. Sometimes it just falls in our lap and it’s handed to us – we just know what to do. But for me, and probably most people, it’s a struggle to seek out that one thing that makes us feel fulfilled and useful, while keeping us reaching for more. Although a glimpse of direction has been found in my life, I feel that my purpose is yet very broad. How do I narrow that path and find the one thing to go full-force with? Here are some things that have helped me reach the accomplishment of finding my general meaning in life.

READ!

I can’t emphasize enough how important this has been in my life. We have the words of experts and geniuses of all fields sitting neat and bound for us just waiting to be picked up and taken in. Plus, what can it hurt? If we get the slightest lesson or bit of good advice from a book that helps to better us in some way, I personally think it’s worth it.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Have you ever noticed that when you’re around people who bring you down and complain constantly, you go down real easily and end up right there with them, spreading the negative faster than it started? Well I’ve found that the same effect takes place when you’re continuously around positive influences. And the more positive people/places you consciously surround yourself with, the more these positive circumstances will find you. The hard part is consistently associating with these positive forces, as it is too easy to be sucked back into the negative. But keep at it! Good things are coming.

Only do what you love.

Most people I meet are not doing something they’re passionate about. Although I enjoy what I do, I know myself that I’m not doing what I want to do to make a difference in the world. Why do we do this? From what I’ve read/heard, we are so programmed to go to school, get a job, work 9-5, bring home a paycheck, retire at 65, etc, regardless, I repeat, REGARDLESS of whether or not we truly believe in what we’re doing and feel a strong passion toward it! There’s really no reason to NOT do what we love, no matter what it is. If we’re inspired about something, no matter what it is (design, religion, animals, children, shoes, coffee, computers, whatever), we can put our energy toward that and find a way to make an income off of it as well! That’s what I hope to find…a job in life that gives me personal freedom and financial freedom to do what I love.

The book that helped me realize that we should live for our passion, is called Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk. The book is extremely eye-opening and inspiring. Get it, read it, love it!

“The best marketing strategy ever: care.” –Crush It

Sincerely,

Sarah