Keep Moving Forward

Keep Moving Forward.

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time. I first heard it Disney's Meet The Robinsons, only to learn that they had actually stolen the quote from Walt Disney himself. Not that the idea is particularly unique to him either. A quick google search turns up many famous people had very similar things to say in regards to success.

Keep Moving Forward.

For all intents and purposes, this has basically been a mantra for me ever since I first saw the movie years ago, but despite the repetition of this phrase, I never really took the time to consider what it might actually mean in my situation.

When I used to say the phrase, it was usually in the context of the depression I felt. I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning (Keep Moving Forward). I didn't want to spend hours at a job that I hated (Keep Moving Forward). I kept telling myself this over and over again and yet never seemed to find myself in a forward position. In fact, most of the time I felt like I was actually moving backwards.

Frustrated by my lack of progress, I examined my actions. I had been forcing myself to get out bed, I had been forcing myself to go to work. I had been forcing myself to move forward and yet my life seemed to be getting worse and worse. Why couldn't I ever seem to get anywhere?

Finally, after years of attempting to get to a better place, I realized what I had been missing. I had the mentality of Keep Moving Forward, but I had never stopped to ask myself what I was actually moving toward. When I finally did, I found the answer to my lack of improvement.

I was not moving towards a better me or a better life. The only thing that I was looking at was the end of the day when I would no longer have to think or struggle, but instead just lose myself into the escapism of alcohol and partying. I would tell myself, Keep Moving Forward and you can drink tonight and forget about all the misery that you are enduring and just have fun.

But by doing this, I limited my vision. Sure, I was moving forward, but I was't moving toward anything in particular. I was just rambling along, hoping that someday everything that I desired would fall into my lap.

No wonder I never seemed to get anywhere.

I needed to change myself and my habits if I was ever going to get to where I wanted to be. So, I started examining my life, trying to shift my focus from what I wanted now (instant gratification) to what I wanted to be in the future. I knew that I wanted to be healthier, so I started exercising and eating more nutritious things. I knew that I wanted to think clearer, so I started meditating. I knew that I wanted to a professional writer, so I started devoting as much time as I could to writing.

I started making these changes, and something very interesting happened.

I was still depressed.

I was still angry, I was still sad, I still found it a struggle to get out of bed in the morning. These things that were supposed to make my life better didn't seem to be doing anything at all. I was so frustrated, what was the point to doing anything if it wasn't going to make me feel better.

I wanted to call it quits and just sink into the misery that I had become so familiar with.

But despite my desire, I felt in my soul that there was really only one thing that I could do.

Keep Moving Forward.

Keep Moving Forward. Change takes time so Keep Moving Forward.

So, I did. I kept exercising, I kept meditating, I kept writing. I Kept Moving Forward. And day by day, though small at first, I began to notice my improvements. A few less cigarettes here, drinking more water there. Small changes, but changes that showed that I was getting better.

All because I Kept Moving Forward.

This brings me to the present. Yes, I am still frustrated and I am still depressed, but without a doubt I am getting better. Everyday I am getting better, even if it is only small changes at a time, I am still getting better. I still have a lot that I need to work on and a lot that I need to build on if I ever expect to get to where I want to be, but at least now I can build upon the confidence of my improvement to help me get there. Change is a very slow process, but I know that I can get where I want to be.

As long as I Keep Moving Forward.

I am Oliver Neighborly and this is just the beginning.