When is the last time you really had something to look forward to?
Do you keep something in your back pocket that you can think about and dream about as you go through your day-to-day life?
Are you able to see how that thing really keeps you going and promotes a sense of joy and happiness, even though it’s not here yet?
When I was a kid, I always really looked forward to going to my grandma‘s house. She lived about an hour away and although that wasn’t a big drive it was a large enough one that we didn’t go there all that often.
At times both my grandmas would live in the same town and being able to go back-and-forth between their homes was a gift and a joy for me. Even waiting for the newest Saved by the Bell episode could be something simple to look forward to. A favorite meal, a sporting event, an album release, were all things to plan for and look forward to.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to find ways to look forward to little things throughout the week. I love the idea of checking out my week on Monday mornings and seeing some of the things that are coming up that will bring me joy. There have been times in life where there was little to look forward to.
Grad school was a challenging time. Working full-time, attending school, and starting an internship are all things that were enjoyable, but often brought dread and a lot of work to my week.
I did look forward to finishing though! When I talk to clients, I often check in with them about what they have to look forward to in their lives. Sometimes people are so stuck in their present day that they can’t even begin to name something in the future that could bring them joy.
Getting a sense of what you can look forward can be especially easy for those that enjoy the holidays. For those that don’t, they might need to dig a bit deeper.
Having help and finding something positive to anticipate can really get you through when things feel tough.
So get out a calendar and make a plan. You’ll be finding things that you look forward to in your day and hopefully for months to come.
