We all begin life traveling on the “road to happiness.” At some
point during this journey we may come to realize we turned left
when we meant to turn right; which sidetracks us and puts us on
plan “D” instead of plan “A”. Life’s not exactly “unhappy” -
it’s just not as fulfilling as we know it can be. We begin to
feel as if life became” sabotaged” somewhere along the way. Now
it’s time to regain control and get back on track. You just need
to readjust the road map!

That said, you are at “choice point.” Maybe your choice is to
continue what you’re doing. OK. Just don’t expect different
results. Maybe your choice is to do something different to get
different results. Once we set a direction in life, all our
habits, behaviors, and choices either support or sabotage us in
reaching that destination.

Let’s take a look at some choices that may be sabotaging your
life and solutions that will support getting you back on track.

Sabotaging Choice #1 – Hit the floor running and don’t stop
’til you drop. Fill your schedule to overflowing so that even
taking a moment to catch your breath leaves you
hyperventilating! #1 Supporting Choice – Follow the airplane
rule, “put your oxygen mask on first.” Before you wake each
morning, give yourself a moment to be still with yourself.
Consciously take a few deep breaths. Visualize your day flowing
smoothly and easily as you continue to consciously breathe. On
today’s calendar, block out 15 minutes and write your name in
“pen.” Set your cell phone alarm. When the time arrives, use it
to sit and do nothing but consciously breathe. Doing this
ensures that you put on your oxygen mask first.

#2 – Sabotaging Choice – Hang out with toxic people who
criticize, judge and carry around all their emotional baggage.
For added effect and drama, make sure you unpack these people
often. #2 Supporting Choice – Find the “balcony people” of your
life. The people who always have “the best seats in the house”-
those who make sure to see things “from the top.” There is at
least one person who sees the best in you. Make contact with
them frequently. Let them cheer you on, inspire, motivate and
support you. Begin to create your “team” of balcony people- your
own cheering section! (Keep in mind these people are different
from the “nosebleed section people.” – those who can’t see
anything beyond the tips of their own noses and are committed to
sabotaging anyone who attempts to get better seats than them.)

#3 Sabotaging Choice – Procrastinate! – Why do today what you
can put off until tomorrow!? Let’s face it, if you let something
go long enough, it may just disappear altogether and you’ll be
“off the hook,” right? #3 Supporting Choice – Procrastination is
a symptom of a deeper issue and instead of being “let off the
hook,” you’re often left “hanging” your head in guilt. Why would
you need to feel guilty? You don’t, but you probably have a fear
of succeeding and guilt guards you from this fear. (And those
guards have some pretty hefty armor, don’t they!?) Instead of
lugging around all that heavy guilt, break free, connect with
your “balcony people” and let them cheer you on to victory each
and every time you follow through! Count all these victories and
as they add up, let them empower you to take the next step to
success.

#4 Sabotaging Choice – Hold onto the “right” attitude and make
sure you’re never wrong. It will keep you feeling like you’re in
control. #4 Supporting Choice – It takes so much energy to be
right all the time. Plus you really miss out on other ideas that
can enhance your life. Learn to apologize. Learn to forgive.
Learn to receive. Learn how to listen. (I could be wrong, but my
guess is that there will be many treasures waiting for you when
you give yourself permission to not always be right!)

#5 Sabotaging Choice – Fill your life with clutter, stuff and
mountains of paperwork. Keep all the drawers empty and the
tabletops full! #5 Supporting Choice – Clutter creates
confusion. Confusion clogs your life’s energy flow, your ability
to think clearly and to be creative. Clear your space. Begin
small. Sometimes it helps to set an alarm for 15 minutes and
begin. Take in small bites. As you clear the clutter, even a
small corner, allow yourself to feel good. Exhale. Let that good
feeling motivate you for another 15 minutes. You’ll be amazed at
how quickly de-cluttering clears the mind.

#6 Sabotaging Choice – Ignore self-care. After all, your mind
and body are only the mechanics that keep your life running. You
put gas in your car and send it for six month tune-ups; why is
extending the mileage on a heap of metal and glass more
important than extending the mileage on your life’s journey? #6
Supporting Choice – Taking care of the “self” is a number 1
priority. It is important to remember all areas of self: mind,
body and spirit. To begin, make one change in one area. For the
body: eat a piece of fruit every day, drink a glass of water,
and say one nice thing about yourself when you look in the
mirror. For the mind: have an intellectually stimulating
conversation with someone; read a book; watch a group of
children discovering the world at a playground during your lunch
break. For the spirit: sit quietly every day, subscribe to a
daily inspiration, and share your gratitude daily. You’ll be
amazed at how much more mileage you get with just a little self
care.

#7 Sabotaging Choice – Expect perfection or “black and white”
solutions for everything. – If it’s perfect, there’s no room for
option or choice, which means you don’t have to deal with it! #7
Supporting Choice – There is no such thing as “perfect.” Perfect
is a relative term. Striving to be perfect fits into the
category of needing to be right. Redefine your standards.
Consider the option of making gray the “new black” when it comes
to savvy thinking!

In reality, each of us practice all 7 of these sabotaging
behaviors, so you’re not alone. But you’re also not necessarily
in the best of company, either. These alternate ways of thinking
and problem solving solutions allow you to begin to make a shift
in the way you live your life, make the right turn and get back
on track. Choose one solution and begin to put it into practice.
You can make a change to empower yourself; and you can ask for
help in creating a new pattern. Be inspired this week to stop
sabotaging your life and get back on the road to happiness.