If you stopped for a moment and reflected over your life, what moments stand out that you can look back and say they changed you? For the better or the worse. The experiences that influence us are many, yet we can all likely remember many of them.
A defining moment is one where you are urged to make a pivotal decision; one that changes the trajectory of your life. Think about one where you chose a particular path that led you to where you are today. What if you had chosen a different path? Chances are your life would look quite different now. The point here is to acknowledge that you have made decisions throughout your life and had influences that contributed to who you are and how your life is going now. This is not about looking back and having regrets. Remember it has been said that hindsight is 20/20. Instead, this article is about looking back and identifying how these moments transformed you as a person.
Maybe you lost a loved one. Obviously, this is a life changing experience. How did your relationship with that loved one influence you? What memories do you have and cherish that you shared with them? All those memories contributed to who you are, not just the loss of them.
Maybe you had a school teacher who told you that you were not capable. What did you do with that message? Did you internalize it and believe it? Or did the anger you may have felt inspire and motivate you to be the best version of yourself? While we don’t have control over other people, we always have control over how we respond to them.
Maybe you graduated from a school you didn’t think you could get into; or you won a contest someone encouraged you to enter; or you married the person you never thought would be interested in you..think about the feelings you had when this happened. These exciting and positive experiences certainly changed the course of your life. Defining moments don’t have to be negative or tragic but also can be surprising and wonderful.
Here are some take-a-ways from life changing moments…
You are resilient.
You can deal with adversity.
You can adapt quickly.
Now consider what decisions you are making today that will influence your future. Certainly we can’t predict the future but we can plan and set ourselves up for success with consciousness and intention. The definition of the word ‘de-cide’ is to kill off all other options. Choose wisely and mindfully.