Judging by my title, you might be expecting a
religious article explaining where we go after this life and what's going to happen
to us after we die. If that’s not what you were thinking, I guess I assumed
wrong and you don’t think like I do. If that is what you were expecting, well,
you're out of luck! Although that is a very good question that many people do
not know the answer to, right now I'm more concerned about what the next 10
years holds.
As a senior in high school, my mind is weighing
upon what I am going to do after I graduate ... if I graduate. Just kidding I'm
definitely going to graduate this year. I haven't gone to 13 years of school to
get held back my senior year! As of now, I am planning on serving a two-year
mission for my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, right after
graduation. So right there I already delayed the inevitable choice that I will
have to make - where to go to college. DUN, DUN, DUN! And then what to major
in. DUN, DUN, DUN! And then what career I want to hold for the rest of my
earthly existence! DUN, DUN, DUN! And that's all IF I can get into college and
IF I can pay for my tuition.
The fact is it's stressing me out. I want a career
that will make me happy, one that I can enjoy. But, I don't know what I want to
do. I have ideas, but none of them seem quite right.
My parents have often told me that no matter what I
choose to do, I will be successful at it. They believe this because they
believe I am talented. Haha! That’s debatable!
But that’s where I think I’m going wrong. I don’t
have enough faith. I don’t believe. Last night, my friend and I were discussing
11:11 - at 11:11. I mentioned that I didn’t know if it would really matter or
if I cared if I told someone what I wished for. The first thing she said to me
was, “Don’t you want it to come true?” Then, when I asked her why she thought
her wish would come true she said to me, “Cause it’s a wish! I have to believe
it will come true or it won’t!”
Wow. There’s some power behind that statement. Right
there is the answer to my question. And that’s why you write your blog posts
over the span of several days and not just one folks! Haha! I think we can take
that statement, and apply it as a universal principle. If we simply believe
that something will come true, it will. Now, we obviously are not talking about
unrealistic feats or things that we cannot control. The impossible is still the
impossible. However, it is for each and every one of us to decide what is
possible and what is impossible.
So I’ve been holding myself back worrying about my future.
I’ve been missing out on the present focusing on what is to come. I’m already
preparing myself and doing all that I can do to be ready for life, so why
should I worry? It’s just wasted time! I need to believe in myself and believe
that I can find a career that will make me happy. That’s my next goal in life:
to believe.
This is the first blog I’ve read that had comedy mixed with a serious undertone. I read this with your voice in my head because it fit so naturally to how you speak to me at school. I was really touched by your blog, senior year does punch your faith straight in the stomach. Reading your struggle about college and church and all these things going on in your life is very relatable (minus the mission part, never really thought about going on a mission). I believe you are capable of anything you have planned, it’s just that you need to slow down and focus on ONE. Focusing on one goal and sticking to it (while having your other goals as fall backs) would be the best option for you future and current sanity.
ReplyDeleteI am going through the exact same thoughts Levi. I know for fact that I am going to graduate but I still have doubt about my future. NAU is where I am going and it's comforting to know that's settled. Although for some reason I can't shake the lack of faith in myself for me to go out on my own and survive.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I find posts like yours that show me how to discover belief in the simplest of ways. The more and more I read and see how to be faithful in yourself, the more I gain optimism for my own future.
Believe me I have spent PLENTY of time worrying about everything. I have learned it only drags you down and prevents you from seeing any of the good things found in life. Even though I still have many things I'm anxious and nervous about, I know life will work itself out.
I for sure do not know what will be happening in life in ten years time. Heck I don't even know for certain how things will be going in three years. I just know that I have to do one thing to push myself and reach my goals: believe.
Belief is a powerful thing. Take, for example, the placebo effect; if someone is given a fake treatment that they believe is real, their condition has a chance of improving simply because of their expectations of the false drug’s helpfulness. Belief influences the mind and body in more ways than have and can be properly documented.
ReplyDeleteHowever, one cannot just believe and expect everything to go as planned. Effort is key. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Mentally, one must develop confidence and determination. Physically, they must be willing to work toward their goals by any means necessary. The body and the brain must work together to accomplish great things. Wishes may or may not come true; they depend solely on what one does to achieve them.
Your enthusiasm is admirable. Whatever you do in life, never lose it. Use it. Make it work for you. Set your mind to your perfect career, toward your perfect field of study, to thoughts of happiness and wonder. Even if you lose your way on the path you decide to take, never be afraid to forge your own.
A setback is only a setback if you allow yourself to see it as such; great opportunities are never always presented as such.
I love this! I could guess what friend you were talking to, but whoever it was, they were so right! I love to believe in everything; it makes life a bit more magical. I know that believing in everything is naive, but it's more fun! Life is stressful, and I understand when you said you were holding yourself back by worrying. I have found myself doing the same thing. When there is so much to worry about it is hard not to; however, there is a quote that I came across that totally changed my state of mind. Walt Disney said, "Why worry? If you've done the very best you can, worrying won't make it any better." This quote brings me peace because of how true it is! I hope you can believe more and worry less, and I hope Mr. Disney can help you as much as he has helped me. Thanks for sharing, and good luck!
ReplyDeleteI am going through the same exact thing. I don't know what to do after high school. I don't know where I want to go to college. I don't know what I really, really want to do in life. I always liked thinking I could become an astronaut, but I thought that was impossible. I like welding because I'm good at it, but I don't think that's what I want to be stuck doing. I always felt like I was the only one not knowing what to do. I felt weird every time Ms. Percy would call us in and talk about where we want to go to college. I never really had a specific answer for her. It always stresses me out. I love how you said,"...it is for each and every one of us to decide what is possible and what is impossible." Now, I'm actually thinking of becoming an astronaut!
ReplyDeleteI just want to first start by saying that it was an awesome moment to watch you open your mission call and to see where you are going to spend the next to years of your life, where you are growing to grow personally and spiritually. I think a lot of us relate to this blog because we are all in the same situation, and it normal to be nervous or feel weird, or unsure. I think that that feeling is there to challenge us. It's like when you're nervous for a game or a performance because you know you have something to loose, but conquering that worry and fear is worth the panic. I wish you so much happiness on your next journey. I've enjoy growing up with you and being by your happiness and silliness.
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