Escapism or Dreams?

I once chatted with a young man on the Internet who was interested in moving to Oregon. He was extremely bored in Arizona and wanted to move anywhere else. He merely chose my area because he knew someone here. I told him that if he is bored in Arizona, he might be bored here too, and feel more miserable after the move than before. I suggested that he decide where he would really want to live, and move there. Plan, don't just jump anywhere, I said, or you'll continue feeling miserable.

"Wherever you go, there you are," someone once wrote. And it's true. If you move to a new town, go on a vacation, change jobs, change careers, or change partners simply to escape your problems where you are now, you'll probably wind up in a similar situation than the one you came from. Escapism doesn't work.

The right hemisphere of your brain listens to your emotions, and then motivates you to act on them. Negative emotions such as fear, boredom, loneliness, and other anxieties are picked up by your right brain and cause escapism and procrastination. They cause people to jump at opportunities which, in the end, usually don't amount to being much of an improvement. The anxieties follow you to your next destination.

Fortunately, your right brain also listens to your positive emotions such as hope, love, and the thrill of new challenges. These emotions come from your dreams and desires. Focus on achieving them, rather than escaping discomfort, and then you can really rid yourself of your anxieties--even if you keep the same job, spouse, and home.

Dig down inside of you; listen honestly to yourself:

What do you want?

What do you enjoy?

What do you dream of?

What do you desire?

What talents or interests do you want to be using in your career?

What kind of person do you want to be close to?

What kinds of customers do you want to be helping?

What amenities do you want your hometown to have?

Who do you want to be?

Don't use logic; let your thoughts flow freely. Don't belittle your emotions and daydreams--listen to them. Learn from them. Only then will your right hemisphere produce for you the truth of how you want to live your life. Then, act on it.