Pay Attention to the Traffic Lights, by Louise Griffith

The time is now to let your light shine. Our world needs what you have to offer. When you honor the wisdom within you and step into your personal power, you appear in the world as the authentic and courageous person you are. Others will be drawn to you because of your vibrancy and passion for life. Are you ready to be all that you can be?

Can you remember learning to drive a car? Do you still recall the day you slipped behind the wheel, having passed the exam? Perhaps you felt both fear and excitement. The day had come. You had done it! You were in charge. With keys in hand and gas in the tank, you triumphantly turned on the ignition. As you drove off on your own for the first time, you may have heard some final words of advice, “Keep your hands on the wheel, don’t drive too fast, and pay attention to the traffic lights.”

Letting your light shine is somewhat like driving a car for the first time. You conquer your fears, empower yourself, and move forward to greet life. This feeling of success propels you into the next moment. What would your world be like if you experienced this feeling of exhilaration on a daily basis? Consider the positive impact in your relationships with others and with yourself as you view life through this lens.

In the metaphoric world of traffic lights, you know “red” means “Stop.” As you think back, what stopped you from pursuing your dreams? Was it choosing to be mediocre instead of successful, complacent rather than proactive, or was it a fear of failure? Fear is a powerful negative tool that can keep you from becoming all that you can be.

Each person lives with fears unique to his or her life experience. Some people fear not being good enough, while others fear being too powerful. Some people fear not doing it right, while others fear being too successful. The list can go on with extremes going in negative or positive directions. How you think determines your life. These thoughts can connect you to your inner wisdom or they can disconnect you from your personal power. Train yourself to listen to your wisdom rather than your fears. Don’t go through life on cruise control. Navigate with intention. Conquer fear with a plan of action. You hold the keys to making transformation happen.

Change begins with awareness. A successful plan combines the knowledge of what is no longer serving you with a vision of what you would like to create in your life. Sometimes, you ask people you trust to support you in ways that will be helpful. Other times, you step out in faith believing that even though you don’t know all the details, things will work out, perhaps better than you may have imagined. Faith is a type of knowing and trusting that brings you peace and courage when you need it.

Pay attention to the traffic lights in life. You can do this by listening to your internal dialogue, commonly known as “self-talk.” These messages impact the way you see you and interact with others. Choose to live your life consciously, learning when to stop destructive thought patterns and relationships that diminish who you are. Be proud of you and what you know.

There are many warning signs along the road in life, which can help us navigate the path ahead. Sometimes when the light turns yellow, we speed up. Other times, we slow down. Good drivers execute caution and pay attention. What signals in your life are you looking at and which ones are you choosing to ignore? Many people have issues involving self-worth, elements of stress, or confusion regarding one’s life purpose. Pausing allows you moments of quiet, which may be used as a time for reflection. When you consider the quality of your life, the relationships you hold sacred, and your passions for living, you consider options to move you forward. Remember that you are in the driver’s seat. You are the one who chooses to use the gas pedal or the brakes.

Many people are living with internal scripts that were written for them by others. Who told you what you could or could not do? Was it a family member, a teacher, or a peer? Perhaps you heard messages that impacted you in a powerful but negative way, such as: “ Can’t you ever do anything right?” “Don’t get a big head.” “ You’ll never amount to anything.” Those messages were a reflection of the person speaking them and not about you. However, many believed the messages. They incorporated them into their life script and have been living life as though those messages were true.

Today cars rely on the efficiency of computers to run more smoothly. You can figuratively apply the editing features of a computer to your life’s script. “Cut, paste and delete “ are just a few of the tools we have all become familiar with in our technological world. Use them in the real world of authoring and editing your life. You can accept the script you were given or change it. You decide. You can rewrite your own script and value yourself as the shining light you are.

An elementary teacher told Einstein that he wasn’t bright, he wasn’t good at math, and he wouldn’t amount to anything. Can you imagine our world without the contributions Einstein made? Elvis Presley was told in high school he was not a good singer and he was not good enough to pursue his goal of singing on stage. That didn’t stop him. Whether or not you believe he was a gifted musician, you may agree that he made an impact that changed the world of music forever. Oprah Winfrey was pulled off her job as a co-anchor for the evening news at WJZ-TV in Baltimore because she didn’t fit the profile others had created for her. She didn’t let that stop her. She stuck with the process and believed in herself. Oprah continues to be a bright, shining light in the world. All three people paid attention to the traffic lights. They saw them as signs to be acknowledged. They decided to trust their internal sensors and not be stopped by other’s opinions.

When you edit your script, you refuse to be negatively impacted by what you have experienced. You discover the courage to create a life you love. Understand that this new way of living will present you with many choices. Become aware of opportunities as they arise. Live life by choice and not chance.

Circumstances in life can put us in the pause mode. Perhaps you are in one now. Consider your options. Is it best to stay in idle or shift into gear? Remember you are in the driver’s seat. You can also choose the time to move. Only you can make it happen.

Take time each day to be grateful for the blessings you already have. Gratitude is an excellent habit to form and one that will serve you well. It’s important to acknowledge the circumstances in your life, be they discouraging or uplifting. By doing so, you stay connected to the present moment. Gratitude can connect you to joy.

A “green” light means “Go!” It’s time to honor the person you really are. It’s time to stop pretending that you are less of a person than you are. You are more than enough. You have the resources inside you to be all you want to be. You can pursue your dreams. You can take courageous risks, embracing challenges along the way. You can decide you are worth it. You can begin living from this truth. You can create your life story and fill it with joy, wisdom and love. Be conscious of your choices. Move forward with intention.

Since you have the power and opportunity to choose your path in life, create some excitement and enjoyment. Although you cannot predict or choose the traffic lights you will encounter in life, you can choose creative responses.

These keys will take you where you want to go:
~ Take time for reflection
~ Write your own life script
~ Conquer your fears with a plan of action
~ Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk
~ Practice gratitude
~ Celebrate who you are

Of course you’ll hit some stoplights along the way. You may even take a detour once in a while. However, you are still behind the wheel and in control. The time is now to let your light shine. Be confident and authentic. The world waits for you and the gifts and strengths you bring. Deal with the stops that hold you back, pause often, and accelerate ahead into the life you have created. Above all, enjoy the drive!

International speaker, success coach and licensed psychologist Louise Griffith helps people ignite their passions into action. She can be reached through her web, or by calling 952-435-5656.