This goes out to my clients, friends and family who have complained to me about people asking about their future.
I have an important message for everyone. You ready for it?
Stop asking people when they plan on taking the next step in their lives.
- Stop asking a newly married couple when they plan on having children.
- Stop asking new mothers and fathers when they plan on having their next child.
- Stop asking people in a new relationships when they are getting married.
- Stop asking people when they are going to leave their job.
And here’s why?
Most people have reasons for the decisions they make in their lives. Sometimes the choice is in their hands and sometimes it’s not. Infertility is an issue that people are just beginning to talk about and discuss. According to the National Infertility Association, 11.9% of all women have received infertility services at some point in their lives. 1 in 10 women will opt to have infertility services in their lives. Are you 100% sure the person you are asking about isn’t dealing with infertility?
As for marriages, I recently posted something on my Facebook page about when to say “I love you”. I actually personally read the article and I loved the message. It discussed how people have different time frames for things in their lives when it comes to love. Men are more likely to say I love you first. This was a surprise to me. What I took away from the article is that people do things when the timing is right for them.
For my readers out there, when people ask you these types of questions, let them know that when your status changes, they will be the first ones to know but for now you are enjoying where your life is at today. We could all stand to appreciate more of today and not stress so much about the future. This is the very basic of mindfulness, something that I teach in my therapy sessions and use in my life.
Today.
This present moment. Where you are at right now. Take a look around. This is the only moment that matters.
This topic might be controversial to some people so I welcome comments below on how you handle when people around you are asking about your next moves in life.
Amanda Patterson, LMHC, CAP , Mental Health Counselor of the Year by the Florida Mental Health Counseling Association, decided to become a therapist while attending Nova Southeastern University. She saw the need to help people achieve the life they wanted to live, while creating a life of her own. She completed her master’s in Mental Health Counseling and started a career in the juvenile justice arena. Amanda has been a therapist for ten years and has a private practice in Wellington, Florida, specializing in depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and substance abuse in teenagers and young adults. Amanda is a believer in holistic treatment and she practices veganism, meditation and yoga in her life. Find out more about her practice here.
To schedule an appointment, call or text Amanda at 954-378-5381 or email her at amanda@amandapattersonlmhc.
