Stop complaining… start creating

As I have mentioned before, I am a firm believer that people basically have the life, relationship, career (fill in the blank) that they want. I believe this because I have been there myself. Even as a creative, free-spirit, I think that most of my life to this point was lived fairly mediocre, unfulfilled. In fact, I had convinced myself it was the best I could do, what I deserved and more importantly, what I wanted. Year after year, I gave it everything I had and put my complete self into whatever I set my mind to accomplish convinced I was living a fulfilled and purposeful life. I worked for others as if I owned the company, became the change I wanted to see in my relationships and took a deep hard look at who I was, what I was representing to others and the impact I was leaving behind.

It was when a visiting pastor at our church mentioned something in his message that it hit me like a bag of bricks. He said, “unless YOU do something, this is as good as it is going to get.” It was at that moment that I realized I had lived a life for others, giving and doing. I was going through the motions and unintentionally playing small in my divine purpose.  I realized that although giving and living a life for others may not necessarily be a bad thing when you lose sight of who you are and your purpose on this planet it can ultimately be destructive. That is the point I was at when I heard those words.

See, I believed in my heart that I had the life, the relationships, the job that I wanted and needed. I truly thought I was doing what I was destined to be doing. But when I was faced with the reality that this is as good as it is going to get, I realized I was the only one that could change anything in my world.

Like others, I often found myself making excuses for areas in which I fell short, complaining about my spouse, my job, my finances, life in general. But once I decided to create the life I wanted for myself things began to change. No longer could I blame my husband, my parents, my boss or anyone else for my discontent, shortcomings, financial means or anything that encompassed my world. I knew that even if I had to take baby steps to accomplish what I had to do, I needed to proceed in order to get where I wanted to get. I felt confident I was making progress and thus creating the life I wanted and deserved. More importantly, I was building a life filled with purpose and passion.

Girl, it’s time to focus on the sparkle. It’s time to take a stand. Examine the areas of your life, your relationships, finances, career, and so forth and ask yourself, are you fulfilled and genuinely happy and content in that area? If not, take a moment and discover what excuses you’re making, who, if anyone you are blaming but most of all, look at what steps you can take to get to where you want to be. Stop complaining… Start creating. Immerse yourself in change, in living the best life possible because unless YOU do something, this IS as good as it’s going to get.

© c. michelle bryant

Michelle Bryant is an entrepreneur, nationally acclaimed award-winning artist, inspirational speaker, self-published author of four books available at most online retailers, a multi-award winning, published photographer whose work is nationally used for worldwide marketing campaigns and featured on various items including but not limited to apparel. She shines her light and speaks from her heart in an encouraging and transparent manner and offers a message of hope, healing, and victory to any who encounters her or her works. You can check out her multitude of works at: www.divinelyfocused.com.