Change Your Story

You can only lose what you cling to. – Buddha

The more we cling to the past the more we miss of the present. This sentiment is what guided me on the journey to start my business, Life. Design Your Own because it’s truly what I believe.

I believe we all have the power within us to create the life we truly want. One step toward creating the life you want is letting go of your “story”.

The story we tell ourselves as to why we aren’t good enough or why we can’t make our dreams a reality, all a fabricated story. This story was developed over the years by our own limiting beliefs that we let define us. We all have the power within us to change our beliefs and change our story and, by doing so, we all have the potential to live by the motto “Life. Design Your Own.”

13 years ago, after losing the eyesight in both eyes for 5 days, I received the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. While this was obviously devastating news, my response to my physician was that I was going to be the best MS patient he ever had. While at the time, I didn’t really know what I was declaring to my physician, what I did know is that each of us has the option to choose how we want our day to go, how we react to bad news and we all have it within us to create and live any life we truly desire.

At that moment, having just received a diagnosis of a non-curable, life-altering and debilitating disease that will progressively worsen and change my life forever, I decided I was going to design my life and story the way I wanted.

I can bring myself back to that exact moment, the day, the location. I often go back to that moment whenever I feel like I want to give up or say I can’t do something. Since that day I have been determined not to let a diagnosis, an event in the past, or any other difficult challenge I’ve faced determine my future. Since that day I decided to take charge of my life and not let any outside circumstances decide how my life would go.

What I did that day I received my diagnosis was, I designed MY story the way I envisioned it to be. My story was not going to be filled with sorrows, cant’s or excuses - my story was going to be designed with hopes, can’s and celebrations. It was not going to make a difference to me how big or small those can’s or celebrations were, it was my declaration.  

Beware of the story you keep telling yourself. It is easy to use excuses or limiting beliefs like, “I can’t” or “I’m not…good enough, smart enough, rich enough.” Limiting beliefs can prevent us from success, happiness, love or living out our dreams.

It’s time to shift your perspective and start choosing thoughts and beliefs that empower you instead of limit you.

Living from a place of limiting beliefs and fears won’t get you anywhere. Your past does not dictate your future, unless you allow it to. Declare today - I will not let my past life define me or my future.