Veronique was extremely disappointed as she read her email advising her that she did not get the promotion she wanted.
She had worked very hard, honed her skills, came in early in the morning, and was the last to leave. Yet none of this had made any difference.
The promotion had gone to her work colleague, Adam, who whilst good at his job, would not, in her opinion, make a good manager.
As Veronique reread her email again, feeling sorry for herself and thinking how unfair life was, her mind kept replaying the hopeless words: “It’s just not in the cards”.
As Veronique believed she was destined not to have her dream job, and that no matter how hard she had worked, she blamed a higher power that her future was predetermined and that she could do nothing to change that reality.
For Veronique this belief and story would continue to play throughout her life and limit her choices.
The origin of the term “not in the cards” is derived from the cards used in fortune telling, for as human, we have always had a keen desire to know what the future has in store for us.
However, believing that our lives are already predetermined and that our actions cannot affect the outcome takes away our power that we are in control of our own life and have free will.
Free will is our ability and capacity to make choices that are genuinely our own. To accept responsibility for our actions, behaviour, and their consequences.
It encompasses being in control of your own lives.
Having dreams and goals and moving confidently in their direction and fulfilment means embracing change, disappointment, and sometimes loss.
But it also means being in control of your own happiness.
It means no longer giving authority or power to anyone or any external circumstances to dictate your life so that you can live life on your terms.
So this week’s challenge is to gain control over your life by recognising if you are avoiding taking personal responsibility and are playing the blaming game. Consider the following questions:
Do you focus on the past instead of looking towards the future?
Do you believe life is unfair and feel sorry for yourself?
Do you feel powerless to change things in your life for the better?
The truth is that the blaming game is not fun to play, and there are no winners. When we place blame elsewhere, we lose all our own personal power.
We need to take back our power and reclaim our right to life, to happiness, and to living with purpose.
Forever Creating
Deborah Ruth
Start by learning to trust yourself, and seeing yourself as being powerful, strong, bold and courageous. Know that when things don’t work out, you have the strength and resilience to try and try again.
For your life is yours to live and you are in control. Forever Creating
