Are you happening to your life?

Or is it happening to you?

I love to ask myself this question.

It’s a powerful way to put your brain to work looking for areas where you are letting life happen to you instead of the other way around.

These are the areas where we have the most opportunity to take back our authority and move forward with intention.

The challenge is that our brains like to stick with the status quo, the comfort zone, the same ol’ same. And so we can slip back into complacent autopilot without noticing.

Now, if autopilot and comfort zones work for you then by all means proceed. But if you’re reading this chances are you’re like me and you want more than what your comfort zone can provide.

It’s an interesting paradigm we humans contend with.

A part of us wants to cozy up on the couch and binge Netflix or scroll for hours, but there is this other part, this part of us that is nudging us to create more, to challenge ourselves, to push the boundaries and find out what we are capable of.

And here’s the thing, both are entirely optional AND both are 100% ok to pursue. There is no right or wrong here.

The deciding factor is typically when the discomfort of the stagnancy we can experience when we’ve been comfort zoning it for too long becomes so uncomfortable that we are motivated to make a change.

This is why I love the question, ‘Am I happening to my life?’

Am I choosing my life with intention, or am I sitting back letting it happen without my supervision.

How do you know if you’ve slipped into auto-pilot living?

Here are some clues:

• You feel stuck

• You feel out of control

• You literally feel like life is happening to you

• You make excuses about why you haven’t made progress

• You feel unsettled, dissatisfied, unhappy with no apparent reason

When I find areas I’m trying to coast, I just notice and ask myself: ‘Am I ok with coasting in this area right now?’ ‘Do I want to change how I’m showing up in this area?’ ‘Does showing up this way align with my values, goals and mission?’

If you found some areas where you’ve been unintentionally coasting, it’s ok. This is a no judgement zone. No need to beat yourself up or try to bully yourself into compliance (this doesn’t work by the way).

Frankly, sometimes life truly is happening to us and we totally need the comfort zone coast time. Just know there is nothing wrong with this.

And there are other times where we have that inner knowing that it’s time to push ourselves beyond that comfort and grow.

I truly believe this is why we have desires and dreams. They are the pathway to our growth, our contribution to the world, our destiny.

I believe it’s the universe tapping us on shoulder and saying ‘It’s time.’

Let’s choose what’s next powerfully and with intention.

I believe in you and your ability to live life on purpose, with purpose and intention, with full authority over what you are creating.