Meet Fred. Fred's been quite unhappy in his life for a while now. A few years ago, he realized that the life that he was living wasn't suiting him anymore. He decided that it was time for a life pivot, but wasn't really sure what he wanted to do, or what changes he needed to make. He had heard that meditation might help him figure it out. So he started taking time out of his busy schedule to meditate every morning.
Within a few months, he felt like his mind was calmer and clearer than ever. He felt in tuned and connected with his thoughts and what would make him happy in his life. He realized that there were three main areas in his life that he felt needed changes. He wanted to play guitar more a hobby he had loved as a young single men. He wanted to spend more time in the city. And he wanted to be in a relationship with someone with whom he felt he could talk about his dreams, which he doesn't feel he can do with his wife anymore.
Impulsively, he quit his full time job to pursue a career as a guitar teacher, left his wife and rented a small apartment right in the center of town. He thought this would be perfect. His new life had all the elements that he thought would make him happy. But within a year, he was more miserable than ever. He was broke, sad, lonely, and lived between three super noisy neighbors. While talking to a friend about this, he realized that maybe he should have taken some time to think about a plan.
Sure, he took the time to connect within and make a vision. But when it came time to make a real plan, he acted without thought. Surely the life pivot could have gone smoother. Have you taken the time to decide how to implement the changes? There are millions of ways to reach a goal. He just never took the time to think about that.
He just acted impulsively and now he's lost the things that he Most, maybe he didn't have to leave his wife. He loved her so much and spent every day missing her. Surely they could have worked on learning to speak to each other more openly. And maybe he didn't have to quit his job to play more guitar. Maybe he could have just joined a band. Maybe this band could have been the perfect excuse to go into the city a few times per week.
He did all these impulsive changes because he thought they were the only route to finally getting the life of his dreams, a life that would make him feel happy and fulfilled. It's too bad. He didn't take the time to really check and see what all the available ways work to get to his desired destination. Otherwise, surely, his life pivot could have been more successful. Instead, he stuck further back from where he started.