“You CAN’T have your cake and eat it too!” What does it really mean? We’ve all heard that expression throughout our lives, but do we really understand what is being said?
Think about it – the expression implies that you can have your cake – but what now? You’re supposed to just stare at it and NOT eat it? Sounds pretty unfulfilling to me…
When it comes to Life Reinvention – I’m a firm believer that you MUST have your cake, and you MUST eat it too!
You are entitled to have what you want in life – you have the power and the responsibility to use it, own it, and grab life by the horns to make what you want out of it.
No wonder so many people are lost and stuck in a life that they don’t want to be living. They’ve been brought up believing that they are not to indulge in what truly makes them happy. That they can only have “so much” but not “the whole enchilada!”
That’s absurd! Why on earth can you not do what you love, be with who you want to be, create the hobbies and interests that you want to cultivate, and build your life around your optimal existence. If you can pursue your life without taking it at the expense of others, you deserve to pursue all that makes you happy.
Are you afraid to go after it? Do you think you may not succeed? You won’t be able to attain it?
To that I ask you, Is the risk not worth the reward?
You need to prioritize yourself and begin to create the framework for what you want. These can be small Reinventions – baby steps towards the bigger goal. But start setting your sights on what you want from your life and be clear about how to get there.
I often talk about creating that roadmap – without it you just won’t get there or be able to chip away at the obstacles with clarity if you can’t define the path for yourself. This is one of the tools you will find in my book RE:INVENT YOUR LIFE! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? to help you get on the right track.
Do you want to have your cake AND eat it too? Then go for it! What are you waiting for?
Here’s what I do to stay the course once I’ve identified something that I want to embrace (or tackle) as a new part of “project me”…
Every night I go to bed, thinking about the few major things I want to accomplish the next day (or on Sundays, for the next week – in which case I write it down.) Sometimes they are personal goals, some are business goals and tactical plans…. Some are family plans and projects… I’m not a “type A” person, or so I’d like to think, but I find it keeps my head organized and clutter free, helping get through the things I want.
We all juggle a lot on our plate. Weekends are for loftier goals but squeezing in some of the soft and precious stuff into the middle of a work week is good for the soul. Sit back in the middle of a busy day – close your eyes – take a deep breath and clear your mind. Allow yourself that focus and clarity to indulge and get back to “you”.
When was the last time you stopped and put yourself at the front of the line? Yes, you’re entitled to have your cake and go ahead…EAT IT TOO!!!
“Our Greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.”
– Confucius