If only”” really means “”only if””
Go visit the home of an "if-only" person. Unfortunately, many (not all) are in old age homes. They sit around all day long discussing what could have been, what would have been, if only…"
That’s misery. And it started long before. If you don’t want to end up like that, now is a good time to start being happy.
Imagine anticipating a truly joyous day. Maybe you are getting married, having a baby or going on vacation.
A co-worker, however, in an effort to diminish your enthusiasm, reminds you that marriage is a pain, children get sick and vacations come to an end.
Annoying isn’t it?
That’s what happens when we say "if only." We ruin an otherwise lovely life. That’s because we don’t mean "if only," we really mean "only if." I can only be happy if….
Putting conditions on life’s happiness is a sure recipe to ensuring there won’t be any (happiness that is). Even if we knew what would make us happy in life, it is scarcely important, because life doesn’t seem to care that much and will dish out something completely different.
Only by understanding that what happens to us is actually good for us, will we ever be at peace with life.
If you want to make the rest of your life better than it has been so far, then make a list of all the "if only" statements you have in your head, then burn them.
That will really light up your life.