One Red Hot Country Mama!

It is impossible to predict the future. In career, love and family life, you can open yourself up to the possibility for success, but you cannot guarantee the outcome. I was talking to Steve (the guy I have been dating since October) about this the other night over dinner… He said that no matter what the outcome is, it is good. Although the idea is not that original, sometimes hearing the right thing at the right time really makes it click.

For example, I can only have a great business idea and promote it to the extent that it has the possibility of success – but I can’t guarantee it will thrive. If it doesn’t succeed, that outcome is fine; I can learn from that experience and move on or I can modify my strategy. I can only help my friend who is having a difficult time in her relationship so she has the possibility of working it out – but I can’t make it work for her (even though it is so hard for me to see her in pain). If it doesn’t work out for her that outcome is fine; I can still listen to her and help her so that she has the possibility of moving on.

This way of thinking helps takes the fear out of reaching for our goals. I think that most of us can’t imagine life without that special relationship/job/possession/habit. But in truth even if we lose those things, we will still be ourselves, and somehow we will find a way to be fine. I think that this is a good mix of optimism and realism. It helps me stay positive while pursuing my wishes and dreams at the same time as realistically assessing and overcoming obstacles.