5 Ways to Get Back on Track And Stay There

[success]When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another and ourselves. ~ Jack Kornfields[/success]

It happens to us all. We get caught off guard by something or someone and suddenly we’re off track.

Last week I got caught up in an unexpected and frustrating event that drew me in and took up my whole day.

It took up my whole day, because I allowed it to; making my life a whole lot more complicated than it need be. And I wasn’t feeling too happy.

I’d forgotten that happiness doesn’t mean there are no problems to manage, it means not connecting feeling good to resolving ongoing, annoying experiences.

None of us are immune from getting caught up but it doesn’t mean you should forget you’ve handled annoying, frustrating situations before…or that you’re still strong enough to handle them now. And it doesn’t mean the entire experience was a waste of time.

When you find yourself no longer focused on what really matters, or on what’s valuable to you, the experience isn’t wasted if you become aware that changes need to be made.

Your present and future depend on creating new habits and new ways of looking at old issues.

Living as your greatest self means paying attention to the unnecessary distractions that hijack your attention. Consider it part of the growth process.

We’re not perfect, our world probably isn’t perfect either. As you can tell I’m most certainly not perfect and I’m okay admitting it. 

But we can all turn those ‘off track‘ moments into opportunities to let go of habits or old patterns that eat up a huge amount of our time and contribute very little to our happiness.

If you’re ready to give up the old way for the new, get yourself back on track…and stay there, try these tips on for size.

1. Live and learn

Sometimes by falling back we find ourselves moving forward. Each mistake you make is simply evidence that you’re trying. Don’t beat yourself up. Listen to the message. Fight and fume if you must. But don’t believe that because something knocked you off your feet you have to stay there.

Stop weighing yourself down with things that are out of your control.

It’s up to you to pick yourself up, it’s up to you to decide what you now want. No one can do it for you. No one will care as much as you if you don’t live your dream. it’s all up to you.

Choose how to view your experience.  Look around when you know you’re off track. Pay attention. Remind yourself you’ve got this handled.

You can spend time creating the life you want or living the life you don’t want. It’s entirely up to you. If you’re going to create a storm there’s no point in getting upset when the days turn dark and it chucks it down with rain.

2. Don’t forget you’re human

On those tough days when you know you’ve messed up, when you’ve wasted your day and it’s challenging dealing with the fallout, remind yourself that you’ve got through bad days before. You can’t get back on track when your mindset is one of annoyance or anxiety because you fell of the path.

Remind yourself you have a history of coming out the other side, and you will smile again.

Your destination isn’t always a place, sometimes it’s just seeing the same thing from a new perspective. Connect to the energy of something wonderful coming out of each experience, and you’ve got a greater chance of  most rough days ending up being more of a blessing than bad fortune.

3. Find your way back through awareness

Give yourself a pat on the back for being aware enough to recognize something isn’t going the way you want it to. Being aware allows you to put something in place to prevent a recurrence.

Take pride in the fact that knowing you’re off track is the first step to getting back.  

Getting caught up in experiences means we can’t see the wood for the trees. With awareness comes the chance to put some space between you and troubling events. You’re giving yourself a chance to view the whole thing with new eyes. And once your eyes are open you’ll discover there are stars hiding behind the clouds.

Your new found awareness means you’re flexing your inspiration muscles and supporting your growth as a person. Be easy with yourself, you’re in the process of becoming.

4. Hush the clamouring mind

It isn’t the frustrating experiences that cause our problems. It’s the clatter and noise our mind makes about the events that are the true cause of our troubles.

The underlying choice is simple. “Do you want to be happy, or do you not want to be happy?”

Decide this and suddenly you’ll discover you’re back on track. Your path has been cleared of some of the junk that creates obstacles, because ultimately the power within you is always greater than any barrier you might encounter.

True growth is the moment you decide to let go of what’s not okay and look AT the challenges instead of getting lost IN them. Stop allowing the noisy voice within to dictate how you’re going to handle your experiences. Instead decide you’re going to feel happy no matter what.

Once you’ve made that commitment you’ll notice it becomes harder and harder to get lost in the problems and challenges of the day.

5. Reclaim your power

You are the only hope in your world. No one is coming to save you. You must save yourself. You can change the way you feel in an instant by switching your focus. Reclaim control over your life and get out there and shine.

Learn to interrupt the pattern of thinking that takes you off track by asking new, more empowering questions of yourself.

What’s going to happen if I don’t do something differently?

How will my life be different if I changed something right now?

Is there any way I can improve the situation right now?

What in me is bothered by this situation?

Stop stepping into the melodrama of life and choose instead to distance yourself from the part of you that enjoys it. Stuff happens and being bothered by it doesn’t change it, doesn’t make it go away so why shouldn’t you just be happy, regardless?

Understand that you are the maker and creator of your experiences, at some level; and each experience is valuable to you, mirroring your beliefs about the world. Trust yourself, trust your intuition, and trust that there is value in all that happens. You have the power to change direction when you need to.

Find something in every experience that you can feel good about and keep your attention on that. However hard you have to look. However small, there’s something to be found.

Your greatest self is, as it is for most of us, permanently under construction. Enjoy the process, reach beyond the safe and familiar, remembering sometimes it’s the moments that take us off track that breathe fresh purpose and determination into our life.

You probably have your own stories to share on this topic. I’d love to hear what works for you…so be sure to leave a comment below and let me know.

If you enjoyed this, please share on your favorite social network. Each share or like helps to reach more people who might be looking for a little practical and positive encouragement in their life. And we can all use that. Right?

Encourage one another.

Love Elle