It is very easy to compare yourself to other people. When you look around, you may start to believe that you are not on the right path. In those moments, it is so crucial to remind yourself that there is no prescription for life. There is no set timeline you can follow that will guarantee happiness. Following societal norms in terms of typical life benchmarks will not lead you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Write Your Own Script
The narrative approach to therapy is becoming an increasingly popular treatment modality. This is because so many people lead lives that follow a set script or narrative. They do only what is expected of them. In narrative therapy, the goal is that you become the author of this script, rather than just reading someone else’s work as a recipe for life. In the end, this approach aims to bring you a sense of fulfillment as you begin to take ownership of your destiny.
Give Yourself Grace
Maybe you are not where you wished you would have been at this point in your life. That is okay. Things happened in your life that was out of your control. Life has thrown you curveballs. Maybe you continued on your same path after that or perhaps you carved out a new plan for yourself. The key to overcoming this regret is radically accepting where you are now. Once you embrace your current predicament and the options available to you during this time, you can start to move away from feelings of being trapped in the past.
Find Your Motivation
Once you have moved into the present moment, it is crucial to find your motivation. Often, a perpetual state of ambivalence leads capable individuals to indecision and consequent inaction. To find your motivation, it is helpful to reflect upon the interests you shared with others in your youth. Did you have a passion for sports, art, or writing? Is there some way that you can incorporate that into your career or personal self-care? If you are drawn to a particular area, follow that lead. You may be pleasantly surprised with where it lands you.
To create your personal timeline, you should 1) write your own script, 2) give yourself grace, and 3) find your motivation. Instead of comparing yourself to other people, you should practice faith in yourself and your ability to create the timeline that is right for you. At Valiant Living, we offer both inpatient and outpatient services to adult men for the treatment of addiction and co-occurring mental illness. Located in Colorado, our expert staff specializes in patient-centered care with an emphasis on narrative therapy. To learn more about the services we offer, you can reach us at (303) 952-5035.
