Throw that timeline away and believe!
The best thing I have ever done was setting a timeline for what I wanted to achieve in my life and then tossing it out!Â
I know this may sound like a contradiction or even a waste of time, but it is actually one of the most powerful acts you can do and this is why.Â
By writing down and setting concrete milestones for your future, you are confirming your desires to the universe. In essence, you are letting God know what you want in your life, and by scrunching that paper up and throwing it in the bin, or filing it in your waste paper bin on your laptop, you are practicing and exercising your faith. And this is one of the most powerful weapons you have in your arsenal.Â
Here is a little thing I learned about time
When I first met my husband, my anxiety levels were at an all-time high. Some of my most significant anxiety triggers were the milestones I had created for myself and my manmade timeline. It was all planned out; I knew where I wanted to be at 30, 35, and 40. And guess what? None of it worked out as I had hoped. These goals came and went, and with that I felt like I had failed in some way.Â
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Despite still teetering on the edge of anxiety, I’ve learned to manage this emotion by changing my perspective. Having a new view has taught me how important it is to let go of your earthly idea of time, and as a result, my happiness has improved dramatically.
So what happened?
When I first met my husband, my anxiety levels were at an all-time high. Some of my most significant anxiety triggers were the milestones I had created for myself and my manmade timeline. It was all planned out; I knew where I wanted to be at 30, 35, and 40. And guess what? None of it worked out as I had hoped. These goals came and went, and with that I felt like I had failed in some way.Â
Despite still teetering on the edge of anxiety, I’ve learned to manage this emotion by changing my perspective. Having a new view has taught me how important it is to let go of your earthly idea of time, and as a result, my happiness has improved dramatically.
Cover That Clock!
The more time we spend watching and not practicing faith, the more we get consumed with negative thoughts. It was this realization that led me to paint journey to acceptance.Â
The creation of this composition coincided with a period in which I was worried about my biological clock. I had yet to learn how to reframe my perspective. Nevertheless, portraying how imprisoned the subject was to time and how unable she is to look in the mirror will always serve as a visual reminder for me to regain control of my thoughts.Â
The lessons I learned from COVID
It would be remiss of me to have a conversation about timelines and not mention one of the biggest culprits of shattered hopes, COVID 19. What that whole debacle taught me was how important it is to claim time in a way that it doesn’t consume you. When we were all first locked down, I was pulling my hair out, feeling trapped and isolated, like everyone else! My husband and I were trying to get married and navigating a long-distance relationship when the international borders were closed. Long story short, it was a hot mess! Â
However, with a bit of introspection, I was able to recalibrate time into four units.
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Renew
I renew my body and soul through rest, relaxation, meditation, exercise, and nutrition.
Learn
I learn through books, experiences, and spirituality
Build
I build my household, knowledge, and my relationshipsÂ
Improve
I improve by seeking every day to be a better wife, friend, daughter, artist, and businesswoman
While I have written and continue to write my timeline every year, I am no longer a slave to it. I give my wants and needs over to the most high, take my hands off the steering wheel, and sit in the passenger seat. Instead of focusing on societal expectations, I now focus on my four units of time.
If you do anything this year, do one thing. Throw away those timelines built on steadfast milestones, identify your units of time and live in your faith.
