If there's something we can all agree on, it's that life can be wonderful. But it can also be unfair and unpredictable.
We are always subject to unforeseen events and situations both in our personal and professional lives.
The company we envisioned working for until retirement suddenly shuts its doors.
Our spouse of 20 years files for divorce, claiming he or she no longer feels that "spark."
This is precisely why I encourage people to remain nimble, to always expect the unexpected.
Though it's impossible to detach ourselves emotionally from the things and people we value, we need to approach them logically as well and accept that they may cease to be in our lives someday.
So how do we ensure we're not completely blindsided by unforeseen occurrences?
For one, the mere act of visualizing yourself without that person or partner can help soften the blow.
And as the title of this post suggests, you needn't put all your eggs in one basket.
If you're single, don't pin all your hopes on any one person until you know they're seriously committed. In the meantime, keep dating. As I've noted in earlier posts, a partner should make a great enhancement to your life -- which isn't the same as depending on them to feel fulfilled or fix your problems.
Those already in a relationship should not condition their happiness on their partner's mood or approval. A partner is only part of the overall happiness equation-- we also have hobbies to cultivate, places to explore, friends to converse with, and skills to learn.
That being said, if your partner's rotten attitude is rubbing off on you and derailing the relationship, a serious talk -- and counseling, potentially -- is in order. But, mind you, it isn't like you have to hit the pause button just because your love life is not going as smoothly as you'd like.
If you're lucky enough to love your job, kudos to you! Unfortunately, there's no guarantee your situation will be permanent. From layoffs to pay cuts to obnoxious higher-ups, something may come up that will prompt you to contemplate a career change.
Just as I stated that you should not rely on your date or significant other to be the be-all and end-all of your existence, you should not make your satisfaction in life contingent on a job.
Jobs give us purpose and structure, sure, but at the end of the day, what matters most to corporations is the bottom line and appeasing the shareholders. That's why I encourage you to draw on your talents to do other things on the side for supplemental cash, whether it's baking, writing, or designing websites.
There are no guarantees in life -- except for death, taxes, and -- what else? -- change.
It is imperative that we embrace change rather than be fazed by it. Appreciate what you have today, but consider your other options in the event things don't work out.
The truth is that you can make plans all you want (and that includes hoping for the best and planning for the worst scenarios), but depending on what life throws at us, such plans may always remain fluid.
After all, if you had told Elizabeth Taylor she'd marry 8 times in her life, would she have believed you?
And who would have thought we'd spend the last year in a pandemic -- one that led to countless layoffs, business closures, cancelled events, and postponed weddings?
Whether things in your work and love lives are great or miserable as we speak, you can count on one thing ringing true: They will not remain static.
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