Did you ever realize one day that you’re sleepwalking through life? It’s a common thing to wake up one day and ask yourself, “what am I doing?”

I recently was speaking to a friend who realized he was just living day-to-day, and then he got laid off, not even seeing it coming. That made me think of all the times I got complacent. I often feel stupid and have regrets. You know, I should’ve, could’ve, but I didn’t. Self pity party. 

My friend did the right thing, he picked himself up and got moving again, trying new things. That is a motivation to me. That’s why I write on the side, because I want to do more, help more, and get myself out of the boring daily conundrum that we so easily fall into. 

I hear people tell me that they need to make changes. Some people do and some don’t. The reality is that if you want to change yourself, you need to change your habits. It’s not easy, it can be done. 

We’re all guilty of this. I worked jobs where I realized things were never going to change. 

That isn’t always bad. I mean if things probably won’t get worse, but they won’t get better either. I wanted more in life and after 2 years I know I have to move on. I am sure I would still be working there today, 22 years later, if I had stayed. Unfortunately I would probably be making the same money. I am not complaining, I really liked it there but I also wanted more for myself.

When you want things, you have to be conscious about getting them. I know we can’t simply change overnight. We have to work at it.

I make a plan and then I think about ways I can execute it. I also realize it takes time to get what you want. That’s why we shouldn’t just jump at the first thing that comes along.

I did that a few times in my life, I jumped at things that seemed like an opportunity only to get burned down the road. There are a lot of people that bring you in, use you, and toss you aside. They just don’t care. I had it happen.

On the other hand, sometimes we need to jump on an opportunity the minute we get a chance. Some things are only available for a limited time. I missed many of these. I was only able to jump on very few.

I also think my intuition is right most of the time, no matter what the people around me advise me to do. I feel I know what’s best for me. With that said, I will listen to the people around me and their advice. I weigh it carefully and look at the facts. I speculate a lot, even though I can’t predict the future I make educated guesses about what could happen a year, 3 years, and 5 years from now. That thinking and planning has paid off. 

It’s easy to say you would make rash decisions to take a big opportunity. To be honest, most great opportunities are often disguised as challenges and risks. You have to weigh out the pros and cons yourself.

So next time you realize your daily life is repeating day after day, you should try to wake up. Do you want to change? If so, then what will you do? What can you do? Did you miss an opportunity?

Unfortunately, many of us don’t wake up from this sleepwalking until we get hit with a brick. That brick could be getting laid off or a death in the family. Some unexpected crisis that wakes us up, hits us in the face, and then fills us with regret and disappointment. Sometimes even regret. 

I want you to be present in your daily life as well as your job. It’s easy to become complacent and let life go. I would like you to look around once in a while to be grateful, think about where you are, what your dreams are, and then maybe try something different. 

Remember to keep the faith. I know people take that statement religiously, but I feel we have to have faith in ourselves and that things will turn out for the best, at least not horribly. My mother always said things will turn out OK, as long as we’re alive. If we’re dead, who cares, we’ve moved on. But, if we’re alive and able to survive, life is good. 

Unfortunately, we all want life to be great! That’s why sleepwalking is a blind spot, it makes us think good is good enough until it isn’t. 

Wake up! Get moving! Make a difference!

My self reflection was like;

Have you ever had an epiphany that you’re just going through the motions in life? It’s not unusual to suddenly question your purpose. Many tell me they’re poised for change, yet only a few follow through. True transformation begins with altering daily habits.

We’ve all been there. I’ve held jobs where the status quo was unyielding. Stability isn’t inherently negative; things may not deteriorate, but they won’t improve either. After two years of stagnation, I sought more from life. Had I not left, I’d likely be in the same position 22 years on, with unchanged earnings. My fondness for the job didn’t outweigh my ambition for personal growth.

Achieving goals requires active pursuit, not passive dreaming. Change is a gradual process, demanding patience and effort. Hasty decisions can lead to regrettable outcomes. I’ve experienced exploitation by those who value their gain over your welfare.

Conversely, seizing the moment is sometimes essential, as opportunities can be fleeting. I’ve missed several by hesitating, managing to grasp only a handful.

Often, my gut feeling guides me better than any advice, though I still consider others’ input and scrutinize the facts. I indulge in speculation, envisioning potential scenarios a year, three years, or five years ahead. This foresight has been rewarding.

It’s tempting to leap at a significant chance, but remember, the best opportunities are frequently cloaked in challenges and risks. It’s up to you to assess the benefits and drawbacks.

So, when you notice life’s monotony, ask yourself if you’re ready for change. What steps will you take? What’s within your power? Reflect on the chances you might have let slip by.