Forwards and occasionally sidewards – everyday musings of life

Thankfully last week’s grumpiness didn’t last long, although Mr Grumpy did reappear on Saturday after a few things that I really shouldn’t have let get to me. Still, not everyday can be a good day…or can it be?

I believe that part of the problem in today’s society is exactly that, people expect everyday to be a good day where the sun shines, everything goes to plan, people are happy and life is just as the influencers and TV ads show you. Real life isn’t like that – I mean REAL life outside of the vitual world of screens. I’m not going to write about how dull and miserable real life is because I don’t think that either. However, real life is hard.

Everyday should be a good day…

I’ve met many people who appear to always be happy, cheerful, smiling and satisfied with their lives. Sadly, often these people are fragile inside and they put a brave face on their troubles. I’ve met people who are mostly down and pessimistic about anything you talk to them about…This isn’t the post to write about what I observe about these people or the reasons for their unhappiness with the world. And then there are the realists, people who accept that life has it’s ups and downs with good days and tough days. In my experience these people tend to be content, grateful and take each day in their stride. They appear to have a mission, or a purpose that steers them down a clear path and helps them to navigate the speed bumps and road blocks along the way.

It was while I was reflecting on my 2025 (draft) goals that I realised that what I’d written was completely tactical and didn’t link in with a bigger picture or a strategy. I realised that what I’d failed to consider is one of the first exercises I ask my coaching students to do…

Think about your long-term goal or even a related dream, then write it down.

I had jumped straight in feet first setting the day-to-day, low-level easy to achieve goals. I’d missed the most important part of the process, the one which is going to help me be a realist, I hadn’t reviewed or consulted my longer-term strategy.