Recently I was REFLECTING ON THE IDEA THAT: THERE’S NO NEED TO LOOK BACK AND REGRET or be concerned about things that have already happened, as we can:
~ trust that everything that has happened in our life – ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as we define it – was meant to lead us to this point and it’s exactly where we’re meant to be, and
~ trust that everything in our life is unfolding exactly as it is meant to.
In fact, I often include this idea in my writing because I find it quite valuable as a way to get out of the past and into the present moment.
Well, this idea is all well and good if we can find something to be grateful for in the present moment. It’s predicated on the idea that we are happy – with at least some aspect of our life – where we’re at right now.
But, IF WE CAN’T FIND A WAY TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT THIS MOMENT, we’ll have a heck of a time finding a way to see value in what has led us to it. How can we be thankful for all these things that have led us up to this crappy situation, if all we can see is the awful aspects of right now?
So, how do we get past this? I have a couple of ideas to float by you – and see how they help.
ONE is to consider the simple word: acceptance.
~ acceptance does not mean that we feel joyful about what’s happening in our life or that we are OK with it, exactly. We may be in complete disagreement with what’s happening, it may go against our values, or it might even be quite painful, but…
~ acceptance is just a neutral starting place of non-resistance to what is. It’s an acknowledgement of: OK, this is what’s happening right now, or this is how it is right now. That’s just what it is.
~ acceptance allows us space to consider: Given the facts about this situation, where do I go from here? What action feels right to take right now – is it to simply feel the emotions? Or am I feeling called to take action to begin to change something?
If we spend our time resisting what is, we make it 10x harder for ourselves to weather the ‘storm’ that is (if we’re finding we’re in one), in this moment.
AND THE OTHER is either:
~ taking a step back from the details of the situation and looking at the big picture. Perhaps this will offer a way for us to see something that we’re thankful for, that we’re pleased about – about the situation as a whole;
OR the opposite…
~ getting into the details, and looking for the small things. Maybe the big picture is what gets us down, but there are some small things to be pleased about.
Wishing you a day of finding some small piece of this moment to relish and enjoy. ❤
Photo by Nuno Obey, pexels(dot)com