Does the Future Scare You?

"Trust yourself. Trust your path." ~unknown

Ever worry about the future? I know, dumb question, right? I don’t know anyone who at some point or another… sometimes or maybe always… worries about the future. It happens. So, I want to tell you about an experience I had recently in hopes that it might serve as a reminder to you that you don’t have to be afraid of the future.

See, I’ve been losing sleep lately. Yes, maybe it’s my unruly midlife hormones fluctuating up and down but on top of that, it’s the worry and fear I’ve been feeling for the future. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve also been feeling a great deal of excitement for the future. Our family is on the cusp of some big transitions....

My oldest daughter, in her second year of college, has been learning the not so fun parts of adulting and with every year that goes by, she gets closer to full adulthood with all it's responsibilities. The uncertainty of where she’ll live, and her career options are just the tip of the iceberg of worries I have for her. And my youngest daughter, who has recently begun the recruitment rollercoaster as she prepares to play college soccer, has a mountain of uncertainty and decision making in front of her. (Let me just tell you, if you think it takes tenacity and grit to play at the college level, trust me, it takes almost as much or maybe even more to navigate through the recruiting process.) And yet, that is part of life. Right? Full of transitions, decisions, changes, challenges and uncertainty…

If the Covid Pandemic taught us anything it is that life is uncertain. No matter how much we like to think we know what our future holds, no matter how much we think planning guarantees certainty, the truth is… life is uncertain. Yes, we can definitely make plans and take all the actions necessary to lead us to our preferred future. Those steps do set us up for a greater potential of achieving our desired outcomes. But ultimately, even though we can control ourselves and our actions, we can’t completely control all outcomes. What we can do though is trust.

• Trust that as long as we are doing our part, things will work out for our greater good because we will either win or we will learn.
• Trust in ourselves and believe in our ability to figure things out. No matter how challenging or difficult the struggle, trust that you can get through it.
• Trust in others. Knowing that you have a support system to help you navigate the rough roads of life and hold the light to help you see the way when you need it most is so very powerful.  
• Trust in a higher power. Whether it be God, the Universe, or you believe something else… that is up to you. But whatever the case, have faith and trust.

Now back to my story… the other morning, I got out of bed from yet another sleepless night, feeling troubled and anxious. I went about my morning routine - exercising, meditating, and preparing for my day. One of my newest practices is to sit in silence and stillness and just listen. Most of the time I hear the sounds of nature: leaves rustling, birds chirping, crickets, airplanes, dogs, or maybe the hum of the nearest appliance. But this particular morning, I heard a voice compelling me to journal. Admittedly, although I have a gratitude journal I write in every day and a high-performance journal that has prompts giving me direction to write, I have not just sat and free flow written for quite some time. And yet, that is what I was feeling called to do. So I dusted off an old journal and opened it up to the next blank page to write… Only, the page wasn’t completely blank. At the top of the page, it read:

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

You can imagine my surprise, and laughter when I saw those words. It was as if (and of course) God knew what was in my heart and on my mind.

So let me remind you again… when you are feeling fearful, worried, or uncertain about your future or the futures of those you love, TRUST. Trust that you are right where you need to be, and your path will be clearly lit for you to see the way.

If you can’t see it, then let someone hold the light for you. It’s something I am always so honored to do for my clients. Because I know that often when we are “in it”, it’s hard to see beyond it. But when someone holds the light for us, our path becomes clear.

If you are feeling uncertain or fearful about your future, make a commitment right now to yourself that you will trust that your future holds great things for you and it will be as it is intended to be. My hope for you is that you will embrace the peace and strength that comes from trusting so that you may have the courage to take the next step forward into the future that is waiting for you.

If you’re at a transition point in your life but aren’t certain about what path to take, first, recognize that feeling uncertain or fearful about your future is normal. But it doesn’t have to control you or keep you from moving forward. Take your next step forward and schedule a KickStart Strategy Session today.