I’ve been trying to exercise a little more freelance discipline lately and part of that’s meant getting up earlier.

Well, I was up at 5:45 this morning and for some reason, decided to get on Twitter. (Social media is not a good way to start your day.) One of the first things I saw was a tweet from someone saying, almost in a positive way, that they had so many things they wanted to try in life that they didn’t want to choose.

I felt the same way when I was around 21 and just finishing college…to the point I called my mother, crying that I had to pick just one field and stick with it.

I felt trapped.

Fast forward 18 years and my life is both more focused, and more diverse than it’s ever been.

That’s because instead of wallowing in a sea of choices, I’ve spent years deciding where I want my interests to live.

Writing is how I make my living.

Martial arts is a hobby.

Learning languages is how I get mental exercise.

Gardening is what I do on breaks during the day.

Cooking is what I explore on nights and weekends.

Travel is something I can do any time now that I’m location independent.

If you’ll look closely at all of those, most revolve around the freedom that I’ve gotten from prioritizing a flexible, higher-earning independent career. I put that first because I need money, but also because most ways of making money out here require you to trade off your life and health.

I refused to settle for that trade and made the choices I needed to, to get the diverse life I wanted.

If I hadn’t done that, I’d still probably be sitting around, sad that I couldn’t do everything I enjoyed.

If you’re finding it hard to choose, it’s time to think bigger…beyond the impulses you’re feeling right now and toward a life that will give you the space to explore while minimizing risk.

Look at what it will take to lay the foundation of a life you want. Start there and be willing to say “no” to any of the things (even other things you’re interested in, at least temporarily) that won’t help you get what you want.

Megan

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