Are you scared of never getting the “wake-up” call?
What happens when life denies you the call?
What is a wake-up call?
According to the Cambridge dictionary, “if something that happens is a wake-up call it should make you realize that you need to take action to change the situation.” So, it’s easy to conclude that the purpose of a wake-up call is to awaken you to something you have been neglecting for some time and needs your attention immediately. However, it’s important to note that a call doesn’t usually start right away in this “attention-desperate” status. They typically begin almost as a gentle and concerned warning, and it’s only after been repeatedly ignored, for one reason or another, that they escalate. Later on, after their wake-up call, most people discovered that there were indeed many small warnings that they dismissed until the situation hit harder. And then they get the call — an incident, a personal disaster, a moment that changed everything in their lives. From there, it’s up to the person to answer the call and create some change.
Is this a call, or is it just fantasy?
When people hear the term “wake-up call,” I think many of us have this romanticized idea of what it should look and feel. According to movies and books, a wake-up call is that obvious sign that manages to answer all the main character’s questions and doubts. It usually happens when the character is at their lowest point, only to have everything sorted out later. That moment when the light shines on the character’s face and, as the triumphal music gets louder, it illuminates the right path. A surprised and hopeful smile replaces a confused and almost devasted look. And from there, everything is fixed.
It’s a trope that you see time and time again. Wake-up calls are portraited as these moments that are just bound to happen in whatever journey you are on. But one thing it’s for sure: whatever it is, and whenever it does happen, it’s going to change your life forever. And because of it, people are waiting for that “darkness followed by prosperity” moment to happen to them. They want to receive the message that it will change everything in their lives and then some. Unfortunately, the chances are that they will have to keep waiting, maybe forever. So I have to ask… What if you never get the call like in the movies?
No call? Answer it anyway!
Don’t be scared about not getting a wake-up call like in the movies. There may be already signs in your life that eventually might turn into a call. Still, the question is: do you want to wait? Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to take action before disaster strikes?
Life will continue regardless, so you shouldn’t wait but instead start making some changes. Deep down, you already feel like something needs to change. That’s your sign, your wake-up call. You don’t need divine reasoning. Your intuition is your best friend in life, not some unknown sign from the universe that might never appear. It’s not like in the movies, but it’s there, and it’s calling for you. Take some time and space, and listen to your intuition. It will give you that clarity to help you figure out what you want or need to do.
Hello? It’s me…
Regardless of how you get your wake-up call, the real challenge is doing something about it. Choosing to answer the call instead of ignoring it is complicated because, deep down, you know that things need to change if you answer, and change is scary (Carver, 2020). At the end of the day, maybe that’s the real reason why you think you are not getting wake-up calls: because you are too scared to pay attention to them.
References
- Carver, C. (2020, January 09). Maybe This is Your Wake-up Call. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://bemorewithless.com/wake-up-call/
- Eid, G. (2019, May 20). Don’t Let Death Be Your Only Wake-up Call. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://medium.com/swlh/dont-let-death-be-your-only-wake-up-call-e29134c2ed2
- Levoy, G. (2017, July 18). The Power of Wakeup Calls. Retrieved January 19, 2021, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/passion/201707/the-power-wakeup-calls
