And they lived happily ever after. The end. Once upon a time…
Why do we so often start in reverse when approaching new situations? Instead of living in chronological order, we often jump ahead and write the ending to the events in our lives without ever living the beginning or the middle of the story. We don’t automatically count from 10 to 1 in natural progression, nor typically read from the back of the book first. So, why do we tend to create a narrative about the people, places and things in our lives that begins with an end point? We all do it at one point or another, we predict the future and then don’t live the present. Most of us yearn for control and then allow events to play out in our minds gravitating toward what we “think” may happen. This protects us. Keeping us small, but safe. When we do this, our story ends. Abruptly. Without ever really having a chance to be told, the narrative stops.
We don’t develop that friendship, we don’t pursue that idea, and we make excuses as to why something will not work. We allow our fears or preconceived notions about what may happen control what actually does happen. In the process, we alter our own destiny because the energy and effort that we put into today is fragmented and skewed toward some future worry or past concern. We deplete our resources controlling outcomes that may never happen. So…what if? What if we wrote the entire story, answered the question being asked, and sought out and celebrated the process of our individual progress in living?
Eager to know what happens, to get the results, we shortchange today. How can we change our narrative so that we feature a beginning and middle and an end to every story we tell, in every chapter of our lives? There is only one way. We need to be transparent with ourselves. Vulnerability rips the mask right off of our need to control and in the process of being vulnerable and honest with ourselves, we get a bonus. The bonus is that in controlling less, we actually wind up more in control, better able to respond, to make sound decisions from a place of knowledge instead of from a place of fear. We slow down our answers in order to actually allow the questions in our lives to be asked and heard! We live our lives in chronological order.
3 Tips For Living Life Chronologically
1. Celebrate The Process: When we concentrate on the process rather than the end goal, we move in a logical progression that has us anchored in the moment and recognizing all of the elements that make up our day-to-day lives. The fabric of all these small successes and set backs creates our own unique blueprint.
2. No Spoilers: We need to watch the movie! If we give away the ending or foreshadow too much, we suck the life right out of the experience itself. The real drama is in today. It is in this moment that we can alter events, make choices that respond to actual situations, and show up with curiosity and intention.
3. Do The Do-over: Do-overs really do exist! We don’t always get it right the first time, or the second time. Our stories evolve. They are supposed to. If the road we are taking is not going where we want it to, we can always take a different route. We are each a work in progress and therefore, there simply is no ending, only possibilities! What’s next?
Randi Levin CPC, founder & CEO, Randi Levin Coaching – is a nationally recognized transitional life strategist, Fortune 500 keynote, author, and reinvention expert. Randi supports women in becoming legends in their own lives! She works with emerging entrepreneurs and women in transition to redefine their legacy so that they can move from wanting success to living successfully. Randi is a legacy catalyst employing the power of today to curate, design, and drive choice and limitless growth. She is a relatable resource and an action-oriented coach building upon her 15 years in Corporate America, her tenure as a stay-at-home super mom, and her successful reinvent and pivot as an entrepreneur and sought-after life strategist. Randi Levin Coaching is widely quoted and featured in top media outlets and she is regularly a featured guest expert on podcasts, radio, and women’s panels. You may have seen her quoted or as a contributor in Thrive Global, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, Business Insider, American Express OPEN Forum, Working Mother Magazine, Better After 50, or Covey Club. Her workshops have been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Randi is the creator of The Personal Success Accelerator System and a contributing author in the anthology series Get RESULTS!