Author, Take Thy Own Advice!

Like others, life still presents challenges for me. And even though I know what I would tell others to do to help them through these life situations, sometimes it’s difficult to take my own advice. Last week I went through a situation that was almost identical to one a friend was experiencing.

I advised him to accept that change would only occur over time and since there was nothing, he could do to make time go faster, that he should decide if there are any actions, he could take in the meantime to make the situation better. What can I do to make things better, not what do I hope the other person in this life situation does to make me get what I think I want.

So, with reluctance I accepted my own advice. I used the tools I talk about in Change Your Thinking, Ignite Your Life. I accept that I can only control my part of the situation and that I need to help myself stay Happy, Healthy, Grateful, Intelligent, Successful and Sober. I realized that having this other person involved in my life wasn’t giving me happiness and I had to accept that. The song “Walk On” by U2 was very helpful in beating this message into my head (after I played it 50+ times). And worry and regret are not healthy experiences, so I exercised more. I made a list of those things I have for which I am grateful. I read my own book and was reminded of trusting the process and how progress and growth take change and change takes time.

I used these tools to take control of the things I could control about this situation and let time happen. I stayed sober! I proved to myself that what I am telling others will work because I followed my own advice and let it work for me. There are things in life that happen that aren’t what we think we want to happen at the time, but sometimes we look back at those events and realize that without those events happening, we would not be where we are today. And I love my life and it just keeps getting better! This door closing has allowed another door to open that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. I’m going to look for that newly opened door!

I hope you will do the same the next time you are faced with one of life’s challenges!