Handling the “Ifs” in Life

I actually looked up the meaning of the word “if” and there were several definitions but one stuck out with me. It is, “in the event that”. Words that have similar meanings to if are uncertainty and doubt.

Our life is full of “ifs”. So how can we handle all the uncertainty and doubts that we face? My go-to is God but not everyone can do that. So…. what can you do instead?

My suggestion, take each day as it comes. Learn from it and move on to the next thing. Learn to appreciate what you have and work towards what you want. Realize that you can’t control the things that others do but you can control what you do about it. Yes, life is full of “ifs” but life is also full of “and” and “but”. (Related post: Always Room for Growth)

Realize that you have to take the wheel. You can control how fast or slow you go. You hold the power in your responses and your actions. Hopefully, that will help you to realize that you can’t let your fear of the uncertainties of life control you. Yes, I get it. The world is certainly crazy. You don’t have to be. Relish the small things in life, like a drive on a pretty day, having coffee with a friend, and laughing at a good joke. The list is endless. The point is, enjoy today and cherish every moment that you have in this lifetime. That is what truly counts.

So, what did I learn from this? Joy can be contagious. I have also discovered that my joy can also depend on who and what I surround myself with. I have to be honest, always, with myself, first. I also have learned that I need to stay true to myself and my values. The “ifs” don’t get to me like they used to because I understand more now than I used to. I can see things clearer. Is it always that way? No, but I will tell you that God has a big part in making me who I am today. Dealing with the “ifs” would be a whole lot harder without Him.

What can you gain from this? The power to control your life is within you. Some people don’t want us to realize that. So, how can you change it? Learn to surround yourself with people who will treat you the right way. Stay away from bad situations and bad people. Realize that they are only out for themselves and don’t care about you or not like you want them to. There is a reason why they are called “toxic.”

If you are struggling with making a decision on something? Write down the pros and cons of it or the situation. Sometimes it’s once you see it on paper that you can better make a decision about it. I did that once about a boy that I dated when I was in college. When the column for the cons overtook the pros then I knew that it was time to cut him out of my life. (Related post: Everyone has a bad day, now and then! So, what can you do to make it better?)

It seems like it’s backward but sometimes you need to get through those really, really bad times in order to appreciate the good things that do happen in your life. Then you should begin to see that the “ifs” in life don’t matter so much anymore.