I believe there should always be a plan for your future, whether you choose to believe it is unfolded by a greater power, or you are the author of your own manuscript. There has to be a plan made and you are responsible for making it.

This week I have read a few blogs supporting this. One post stuck out above the rest since the author creatively used a cartoon to to point out various displays of true life experiences.

In my life, I am the author of the manuscript, but often the manuscript has become altered by the edits of those who come into and go out of my life. I never have actually related to a cartoon before but a guy a couple of years back said I reminded him of Rapunzel, waiting for my prince to rescue me from my tower. Now that I think about it, I guess I was.

Photo above by: shaferlen

I always chose to be different. I never wanted to follow the crowd or be labeled as “one of the girls”. Difference never has bothered me. I thrive on being different, I am an individual. This is something my parents instilled in me as a child. It has never impressed me to follow my friends’ lead – instead, I always was my own leader.

It is important to be proud of yourself and accept who you are. It doesn’t matter whether you are a struggling student, or working to collect that paycheck in order to pay the bills, or even have recently been laid off. The majority of people have felt at one time or another they were in a purgatory place in their lives, where they had to decide what to do to change things.

This is normal but you can’t allow yourself to stay in this mode for long. The one thing I have learned is to never say never because eventually you will find yourself in a situation where you may not have a choice than to do something you may not have planned to do. Leaving your options open is best for you.

Expand your possibilities. You should never limit yourself when it comes to your future. This doesn’t only apply to your job but in your personal life as well.

What you are doing today is going to affect you down the road. This is one thing you can count on. I learned early on I was not going to live someone else’s dream but my own.

I did bend to pressures, but they seemed to come within my family more than from anywhere else. For instance sneaking out with my cousin when we were teenagers. I was older but there was no stopping her. Instead I went with her, hoping to protect her to some point.

I think the lesson I needed the most was when I was 25 and got tired of all the inquiries about “where is Mr. Right”, and “when are you going to settle down”. For one thing, I couldn’t have been more settled down. I lived to work and spent time – although little – with my friends and family. I wasn’t looking for a man. I was working on my career.

But a visit home brought up words from my mother and older female family members that triggered a negative reaction from me. I felt like I wasn’t doing my best, and like a youngster wanting to please her parents, I did the stupidest thing I have ever done. I don’t regret it because things happen in your life that make you stronger and more knowledgeable. Also know what type of man you want.

You are entitled to make mistakes. Mistakes, or failures, are the life lessons you learn from. Although never easy to accept, it is obvious you can change these difficult times in to positive experiences – in time. What is most important is that you learn from each one.

Embrace Your Inner Child

There is a happy medium from being taken as a serious woman and a cold trout. Some men see this as being conceded other than a woman who wants to be taken seriously.

I think the part of me that is well hidden is my inner child. She comes out when she is in familiar territory. I wouldn’t say I am a stuffy person or that my inner child is shy or introverted. She is just usually well behaved until I release her, then she is a mischievous tomboy. Which isn’t always appropriate in a business meeting, but can be with the right clients. There are a couple of quotes I came across that put this perfectly – one is this from Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. He used each character to imitate true life experiences to children.

Jim said,

The most sophisticated people I know – inside they are all children.

Walt Disney said,

I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained.

Pretty powerful words I think. This means “take risks in life”, and I agree. Don’t set limitations to your inner child’s enthusiasm when it is time to unleash her or him. Be adventurous, be spontaneous, and don’t allow fear stand in your way. You will be surprised at the outcome!