Smack-Dab in the Middle of an Awesome Life

This summer has been the best summer ever. Yes, there have been some adventures, some trips, and some experiences that have been enjoyable, but that's not the best part.

It's not just the things I've done, it's the things I've thought, and the way I've felt. There has been a nearly imperceptible shift in my attitude, but when I look at where I was, and see how far I've come, I cannot deny the changes that have been taking place.

I remember that I was trying an imagery exercise about a year ago, picturing what I thought my ideal life would look like. The problem was, I was adding in so many variables that were beyond my control that my ideal life was not even in the realm of possibility.

The image in my head was a picture of certain people, doing certain things, in a certain place. The overall concept of this imaginary picture was peace and happiness, but I was missing the point. Peace and happiness can be mine without certain people, places or things. My dream was so specific, that I was constantly disappointed with where I was in life, not realizing that it's never the variables (people-places-things) that make us happy, it's the constants (attitude and mindset).

Control is simply an illusion, isn't it? I don't get to control how someone else feels, or thinks, or acts, and no one gets to control those things about me, either. If I'm not happy or at peace, I have no one to blame but myself.

No longer do I say to myself, "I'll be happy when So & So does this. I'll feel peaceful when I live in Such & Such a place. Happiness will be mine when So & So and I do Such & Such. Peace will be a part of my life when I have done Such & Such." Nope. Now I just say to myself, "Today I'll be happy. Today I will be at peace with my life." 

A magical thing happened when I RELEASED MY EXPECTATIONS, when I was no longer attached to the outcome. The very things I was seeking, happiness and peace, became part of my daily life. I let go of my limiting view of what that would look like, who would be there, and where I would be, and now I find myself smack-dab in the middle of an awesome life. 

I've always had an awesome life, but I forgot that. I've always been an awesome person, but I forgot that. We forget some pretty important things when we operate under the illusion that we have any control over the events and people in our lives.

What's holding you back? What lies have you been telling yourself that you would be willing to release, if you knew you would be happier? It's scary to let go of tightly held beliefs, but it's worth it. You just might find yourself smack-dab in the middle of your own awesome life, for the price of letting go of your expectations. Go ahead; try it. What have you got to lose?