Level Up
I’ve dabbled in video games like Donkey Kong, Crash Bandicoot, and the one that makes me laugh so hard it hurts, Grand Theft Auto, where I can’t control the car and keep hitting things and people. I’m not that coordinated with the controller. I’m more of a reader than a gamer.
It gave me an idea for a blog post.
I hadn’t realized it, but I have been leveling up. You know, like in the video games, when you complete a level and you go on to the next one that’s more challenging. I completed many levels I hadn’t even given myself credit for. Now, here I am, getting all cocky about how much I’ve leveled-up.
Well, I have!
Each time we experience something tough in our lives, we freak out in the moment, like, “How am I going to get through this? ” But we get through it. We continue to live. Even if it hurts so badly you can’t even catch your breath. In a day, a week, or a month, you’ll be a newer version of yourself who is stronger and wiser. You leveled up without even realizing it. You grew through the experience.
That’s life. We are constantly living our lives, and at the end of a challenge, we level up. Then we’re stronger to face an even more challenging life event. You see how this works. You level up, you live a better life.
So, how do we level up when we feel stuck in the same routine, same way of thinking, and unchanged life circumstances?
- Know one thousand percent it starts in the mind. We can’t get anywhere without having the desire to do so. If you play a level in a video game and don’t care what happens and don’t give it your best shot, you most likely won’t get through it. It’s the same way as life. What we put in, we get out of it.
- Get moving! Do something to feel better. It could be as simple as making your bed and tidying up your space or as daunting as sending out resumes for a job you really want (it’s daunting because AI reads them now, not a human – ugh! and you have to be precise just to get past the ATS -applicant tracking software.) I’m just pointing out that any action will do. Just do something good for yourself. I don’t know about you, but having a tidy space makes me feel good, and applying for a job or sharing what I create makes me feel like I’m being proactive toward the life I desire and deserve.
- Look at the people you surround yourself with. We are the product of the four people we spend time with. Are they happy? Productive? Positive thinking? If not, you might want to let them know kindly (if the relationship is important to you and you want to save it) that you notice they tend to be negative or bossy or whatever that might grate on your nerves. Maybe you decide to walk away. It’s okay. It’s your choice. As you level up, those who don’t level up with you will stay behind and you’ll attract and inspire those at your new level.
Look at your life and give yourself a lot of praise for all the times you leveled up. It wasn’t easy, but you did it. You might have come out of a season of life battered and bruised, but we heal. The important thing to remember is that we need to focus more on healing and less on the pain. That’s what works for me.
If you want to change but don’t know how, use your mind to see yourself leveling up. What does that look like? What do you want? What’s important to you? See it. Feel it. Believe in it. Don’t waiver on this just because your present reality doesn’t match up with it. Level up to it. Tip: Don’t tell anyone else what you see (to avoid naysayers.) This is your life, your dream, and your happiness.
Follow the points above to level up. Believe you deserve the life you see for yourself (such as healthy relationships, good physical health and mental well-being, earning a living doing what you want to do). Hey, you deserve it no matter what you’ve been through, who told you what, or where you’re at now. Focus on how much we’ve leveled up. We need to give ourselves credit for conquering the difficult levels and scary boss characters that seemed unbeatable. We leveled up again and again – and we’ll do it again!
Thank you for reading this. I hope I offered something of value that enriches your life and helps you to level up.
To leveling up,
Francesca
