“The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.” – Mike Murdock
I don’t know exactly what awaits me in the future. I have made many plans, yet I often find them difficult to execute in the present.
Interestingly, I’ve realized that I’m not disappointed or disheartened by this. Everything is a choice, and every choice we make is rooted in what we value most. While I have no doubt about what I value, a large part of my mind is often occupied by conflicting thoughts. At times, they feel so twisted and knotted that I find myself incapable of sitting with them long enough to figure out the “hows” and “whys.”
I will admit, I’ve had my doubts. What if none of my dreams work out in the end? What if I die one day with those dreams still residing, unfulfilled, inside my head?
It is a terrible thought.
Fortunately, in my experience, terrible thoughts often lead to clarifying answers. I have reached a point where I realize I don’t need all the answers. Not right away. I simply need to refuse to let my dreams idle. They are cherished and loved enough to eventually find their way from my head into my reality.
I am truly amazed by how calm I feel at this thought. I don’t feel rushed or like I’m running out of time. After years of battling that constant urgency in my 20s and 30s, this sense of calm feels almost weird. 🙂
When I wake up earlier than necessary to make space for myself, I feel how much I care for my own well-being. When I prepare tea and sip it without rushing—without traumatizing myself with yesterday’s unfinished to-dos—I am nourishing my spirit. When I write in my journal, I am taking the time to pause and reflect on the days gone by and the days yet to come.
When I make time to cook for my family, I am asserting love in ways much more palpable than words. And when I decide not to cook, that, too, is a reflection of another kind of love—self-love.
There are more such daily moments yet to fill the pages—moments where I choose myself, my well-being, and my sanity every day.
I’ve been choosing myself in different ways over the years, and I can see how it has fostered a deep sense of contentment. Sometimes, the shadow of “Am I doing enough?” looms in my mind. But then the next moment arrives—the next opportunity to choose myself all over again. I’ve learned there is nothing sacrificial about living a life well-loved.
And when the time is right, my dreams will get to live their lives, too. That much I know.
What is one small part of your daily routine that makes you feel most like yourself? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below.
Void Thoughts 