Dear Angela,
I’m in a rut. I was very successful in my 20s (mission, college, graduate school, career, condo) and now I'm 34 years old and nothing is happening. I can get myself to work in the morning, but afterwards, it’s Netflix city for five hours before I head to bed. I want to blame this on the fact that I’m not married so I’m missing a sense of purpose about life, but I know that’s a cop out. How do I get my act together?
— JustOneMoreEpisode
Dear JustOneMoreEpisode,
We feel your pain! Netflix is getting us all these days. Here are some tips to get you out of your rut:
1. Remember who you are. God is your father. Therefore, creation, success, power and self-mastery are an integral part of your identity and destiny.
2. Baby steps. What did you learn on your mission? “Set goals. Make plans.” Life is the same. Keep your goals small so as to not overwhelm yourself. Focus on building the habit of goal setting and goal achieving before you try to tackle big goals.
3. Service. The fastest way to experience a sense of purpose is by serving those around you. It allows you to expand your talents, meet new people, and feel the love of God.
4. Re-evaluate…kindly! You're 34 years old and nothing is happening? I think you should check that again. You’re going to work, paying your bills, writing to advice columns, and at least wanting to be better than you are today. That’s a lot, and it’s worth a pat on the back.
These are just a few steps to get you started. Avoid the temptation to be frustrated by a lack of monumental progress; keep in mind that it's by doing the small things that the bigger things become a reality. Hope these help you to “de-rut” your life.
Keep us in the loop on how things go.
Love,
Angela
Readers: How do you keep your ambition alive and healthy? How do you get out of a performance rut?
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Angela Trusty gives advice about religion and relationships. Submit a topic to askangela.dn@gmail.com
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