What does thinking outside the box mean to you?
When you live your life doing the same things, day in and day out, week after week, month after month, year after year, at some point everything will become extremely boring. Only because your everyday living has become a routine.
I find this happens a lot with people and their jobs. They continue to work in a job they hate and never seem to look for a way out. The majority of the time it's because they are scared to fail.
But, why is everyone so frightened to make changes if it will actually benefit their well-being?
Sometimes, many of the things we refuse to change, are the causes of our misery and unhappiness.
I came to realise a while back that my current job was not fulfilling me at all. I felt over educated, underpaid and was extremely tired of the workload. After working with the company for so many years, my body started telling me it wanted a change and I truly believed it needed it. So, whilst still working there, I have been putting things into place, in order to give myself a new challenge in the future. Its not going to be easy, but it is definitely going to be worth it in the end.
I know there are many people out there feeling saddened by the direction of their journey in life. Only because, they are not where they want to be, or with whom they want to be with. I know life isn't easy. But, the way I look at it is that, it's never too late to turn things round. It's never too late to make things happen and there is nothing wrong with failing, as long as you use it as stepping stone to picking yourself up.
I have always said. Want better, work harder and except nothing less than you deserve. Travel, be happy, take risks and have no regrets. Stop focusing on the what the ifs and whys? But, most of all, live with love in your heart. If you don't have love in your heart, you cannot live a loving life.
So many people want so much, but expect things to be dished out to them on a plate and I am sorry to say, life doesn't work like that. You have to act like a bull and go out and fight for everything. Not literally fight, but do what it takes to succeed.
How would you feel, if you could do the things you have always wanted to do? How would you feel if you could go to all the places you've always wanted to visit? I'm pretty sure, you would all feel amazing. It would be great to live that dream as well as look back and know that you made it happen.
So what's stopping you? What is stopping you from opening your mind to different possibilities? Remember that there is always a way and everything is achievable if you put your heart and soul into whatever you want in life.
Life has got me down many a time. I have felt like things have gone against me. I have fought depression on numerous occasions, to the point I have almost given up. But, when I think about all the beautiful places I have not seen. When I look at all of the experiences I have yet to have, it makes me more determined to hit my goals and succeed. Sometimes, when you take yourself away from certain situations, or give yourself a break from the norm, you find that that are so many more options waiting. The world is your oyster and that is a fact.
"You can't get anything, if you don't try, "my mother would always say and she is right. Where there is a will, there is a way.
When I look back to this time last year, I can definitely say, I have turned my life completely around. I have done so many amazing things that I can truly say have given me hope. I have decorated my home, gone on a Virgin hot air balloon ride, experienced Indoor sky diving with my sons, become a student again, organised a few social events, run the British 10k, almost completed my 3rd book, been on holiday, and lost two and a half stone in weight.
It's funny, because I was told a year ago by a friend that he felt I was not happy within myself why things were not going well for me. I personally felt that I had too many burdens on my shoulders to carry, hence why I was slowly being sucked into a dark tunnel. But, who can blame me? When you are living with life's struggles on a daily basis and raising two children on your own, you become drained, fed up and exhausted. But, I guess my life required balance, so I gave it that.
I was also told that I was not thinking outside of the box. Really, me? I had always considered myself to be a positive person, even in the worst of circumstances and no matter what happened, I did everything in my power to take life to the next level.
I guess when someone tells you something you don't want to hear, you disregard their advice or opinion. To be honest, I just felt insulted, because to me, I have always been someone who found every way possible to achieve whatever I set my heart on, even if things are not going well.
I didn't really see the bigger picture at the time, but now I do, because I have opened my arms to life again and I'm embracing it.
I forgot to see the many ways round all my dead ends. I failed to explore other alternatives. My mindset was all wrong. Rather than appreciating my efforts, I was being hard on myself. Rather than acknowledging all my achievements, I was focusing on my failures. I was doubting myself and this actually made me forget how strong I was.
In order to make my life an amazing story, I had to re-write the next chapter and make sure it was worth reading.
Thinking outside the box means to think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective. To me, it means finding another way to have something, that everybody else is fighting for, but struggling to do so, because their mindset is limited in being creative.
I have always been someone who likes to explore, seek adventure and have fun along the way. Not because life is about having fun. But, because life is about being happy, feeling fulfilled and appreciative.
I have travelled to many places in my lifetime. Grenada, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Paris, Dieppe, Amsterdam, Barcelona, New York, Brooklyn, Pokipsy, The Bronx, Miami, Marbella, Majorca, Carcassone, Dubai, and recently Croatia. I have to say, my search for more knowledge has not even started. Each experience, gets even better, but, I guess that is because I am opening my eyes to other ways of living outside of the UK. The saying is, what you don't know, you will never miss. But, trust me, we are all missing out living in the UK. That's why, it is so good to get out there and gain knowledge about different people, their ways of living and their culture. Knowledge is power and you can be very powerful with what you know and the way you think.
After visiting Croatia, it has made me realise that there is so much beauty out there for everyone to see, but not everyone can see it, which is sad. I just wanted everyone to see how amazing another country was. Hence why I vlogged everyday and took many photos.
There are so many different cultures, lifestyles, ways of living, which has made me acknowledge the fact that the country I was born in, prevents many of us from being a happy. Unless we have money. We work to pay taxes or bills and if the government had its own way, no one would be able to go on holiday either.
You can't earn too much, because they will take it away from you. You can't work, without having to declare everything you work hard for. The rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.
I for one, do not intend to live my life suffering because of restrictions. Restrictions cause you to feel defeated. What we all need to do is, overcome the obstacles.
I am going to continue to work with what I have and make the most out of everything to get the best results. It may take longer than everyone else, but I never said I was in a race with anyone. You see, I am thinking outside the box, to get an even better result.
I refuse to be defeated and I certainly will not have anyone dictate to me how my life should go, or how I should spend my money, after I work so damn hard for it. Life is what we make it.
Growing up in the UK has unfortunately had me stuck in what seems to be the system, the system run by the government, its rules, regulations and it has permitted me in some cases from doing certain things I have wanted to do. But, by the grace of God, I have still been able to provide a roof over my children's heads and give them the best life. People may think that I am lucky. Others may even envy, but what are those same people doing to make their lives better? The way I see it, don't watch what everyone else is doing, make whatever someone else is doing be the inspiration you need, for you to go out there and get exactly the same, or even more.
To be honest, my boys give me the strength to keep pushing forward, because if I don't, who else is going to do everything for them that I do?
Becoming 40 this year, has given me such a kick in the right direction.
I am certainly going to be older, but definitely wiser.
I plan to live life to the full, travel with and without my boys, but most of all, I will celebrate my life.
Yes, money plays a big role in doing the things you want to do, but you have to be smart. Start saving, stop wasting your money on unnecessary things you don't even need. Stop dreaming and start living. Live your best life. Step out of that old box and create a life time of good memories.
Are you willing to think outside the box? By looking further and trying not think of the obvious things, but to try thinking of the things beyond them.
