You Have the Power to Change Your Life!

Did you ever read (or maybe your kids read) the “Choose Your Own Adventure” (CYOA) stories? CYOA’s filled the shelves in bookstores and libraries for 20 years but went out of print in 1999.

My two boys loved these books. We’d read them together at night alternating who answered the multiple-choice question at the end of a page or segment. The CYOA allowed the story to change when the reader made a different choice. They had the power to change the story for the characters.

(NOTE: In 2006, CYOA stories found new publishing life with Chooseco Publishing House.)

---

Have you ever thought about your life that way?

That you have the power to change the story you are living?

Your life is a journey, and you have the power to change its course. Your life is a story, or even a series of stories, and you have the power to change the ending. Whether it’s your attitude that you change, a habit, or your behavior, the change starts with you. It starts with small steps that eventually work their way to the mile markers of a marathon. It starts with a single paragraph that moves into a whole new chapter of your life.

---

What are the multiple-choice questions that elicit change?

Major life events have the ability to exert control over our lives, but it is how you answer the multiple-choice questions those events present that determines your next chapter. Major life events have the ability to teach us about ourselves, and it is how we react that determines the route of our life journey or the next chapter of our life story.

• Graduation and moving out on one’s own teaches self-reliance.
• The first job or career teaches pride in a job well done or the need to stand up for yourselves. (Many times, however, this is preceded by a job well done at school or at home.)
• Marriage teaches the value of loyalty, support, and communication.
• The pain of divorce teaches eyes-wide-open in the next relationship.
• Raising children solidifies your beliefs and values.
• Health issues teach the importance of taking care of body, mind, and soul.
• Death teaches just how fragile human life is and to value every day on this earth.

---

---

What I won’t tell you!

I won’t tell you that change is easy. It’s not.

I won’t tell you that once you make a decision to change that you won’t have to re-commit to that change each and every day. Because you will.

I won’t tell you that you won’t stumble and revert back to your old self. Because you will stumble and fall, but once you’ve made your decision, it’s easier to pick yourself up, readjust, and move forward.

---

Going forward.

If you don’t like how your story is going, it’s time to conscientiously evaluate what has happened and make different decisions. You can improve your life.

Worried about what people will say as you take control of your life? It’s like the commercial I caught the other night: If you do good, they’ll talk about you. If you do bad, they’ll talk about you. Why not just do YOU?

When you get to the end of a page (day) or a chapter (month), you are the only one who has the ability to make changes in your life.

---

What about you?

How can you conquer adversity in your life? How can I help you? Are you ready for change? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

---

Until next time . . .

Before you go . . .

If you would like to receive my newsletter “Coffee and Conversation” in your email, please CLICK HERE! to subscribe.

If you would like to comment, but not publicly, feel free to email me at rebecca@rebeccakojetin.com

And please consider sharing this post.