February 16

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What is Your Five-Year Plan?

By Celeste DeCamps

February 16, 2021

BeHappy, FairyBlissFinder, Optimism, RabbitHole, SilverLining, visualization, WriteItDown

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" The best answer I've ever heard to this question is "I want to be happy." We're so caught up in our heads about predicting the future that we tend to scare ourselves silly with it. We go down a rabbit hole that leads us to believe that we're doomed forever if we don't find our passion right now. We worry that if we find our calling, we may be a complete failure at it. We'll let everyone down in our life and become worthless. It's incredible how quickly we can go to the dark side. It's this fear that will keep us from trying for a promotion, going after our dream job, or starting a new chapter in our life.

I've read about people reaching their goals and then becoming depressed right after. They finally wrote their book, completed an artistic endeavor, or finally got the corner office, and the anxiousness of what's next hits them hard. Now you're probably wondering if it's possible to ever feel fulfilled. I wouldn't bring you down this road to upset you. I'm here to be your fairy bliss finder.

What if we reframe our thinking into wanting to be content, satisfied and joyful? I know, that's absolutely crazy. It's like I'm begging for the universe to turn my world upside down. That's the problem. Many of us are reluctant to believe we deserve to be happy because we think if something good comes our way, that means the bad is just around the corner.

I remember my mother telling me a saying her mother told her. "Laugh today, cry tomorrow?" What? Wow! Really? Talk about never wanting anything good to happen for fear of what's in store if it does. What a sad way to see your life play out. Unfortunately, we tend to expect the worst instead of the best.

Is there a safe way to feel optimistic about our life without worrying about the world ending? I believe I've found the way. It starts with writing down what is filling you with dread and what lights you up with hope. You didn't think you were going to get away without making a list, did you? Writing down what's worrying you allows you to look at it and get it out of your head. You may find that your concerns are unfounded and could be traced to a belief that has outlived its use. Next, jot down what you want to achieve now or in the near future. The sky's the limit, which means you decide what will make you smile.

We live inside our heads and let our emotions get the better of us. We spend time taking care of our business, and our family, leaving very little time to ourselves. It's easy to fall into a funk and feel that our lives aren't going in the direction we envision. Putting pen to paper is a powerful tool because it makes us sit with our thoughts and put into words how we're feeling.

After taking stock of what we're anxious about and what we do want in our lives, it's time to call a trusted friend. Everyone needs a confidant that will not judge but listen as we put a voice to our thoughts. Sometimes we need a second pair of eyes to see our silver lining. The more we can help and encourage each other, the more we all reap the benefits of optimism.

We have the power within us to choose to be content. That's not to say that we won't face challenges and have concerns about how it will all turn out. Surrounding ourselves with people who care and love us will help us meet the battles ahead. Make your five-year plan around what will make you happy and help others do the same. 
About the author

Celeste DeCamps has a B.A. in Communications from the University of Miami. She worked in radio and television, was a professional belly dancer, drummer, percussionist, nightclub owner, and a sales rep for Southern Wine and Spirits for 12 years. Throughout her different career moves, speaking to and teaching women how to be more confident is Celeste's most fulfilling job.

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