13 Takeaways from the Challenges of Life
I hear from lots of folks lately who have faced or are facing big challenges. I’ve been doing this dance myself – and the lessons are equally big.
Here are a baker's dozen of my takeaways from two years of challenge; perhaps they'll help you somewhere along your path:
Choice is a powerful tool; in each moment, there are many paths to ease, peace, and beauty. Choose to focus on what feels good and brings joy. My friend Susan calls this “joy-spotting.”
It can be easy to drop into the rabbit hole of doom (I’ve been there multiple times). Stay in the present moment feeling what you’re feeling, and put your mind in your back pocket. Your body/mind/spirit is calling for your attention, so listen and take supportive action.
Everything is temporary.
Healing is a spiral or circuitous journey; you have likely visited and will revisit parts of your current challenge throughout your life. Find new perspectives with which to view it.
You are not your pain/dis-ease/discomfort/anxiety/fear; it is only one expression of you - an informant, a messenger. Work with this part attentively and lovingly.
Loud messengers are our teachers. A good starting place to explore the meaning of your challenge is to ask “what have I longed for but not yet succeeded in creating in my life?”
Pain/discomfort can be experienced without suffering; this requires a disciplined mind; with practice, we can create a new and surprisingly comfortable experience.
It’s important to honor and acknowledge our bodies/minds/spirits for consistently moving in the direction of healing and life.
How we label our experience matters. We can harden our experience with words that are birthed from resistance – “bad,” “painful,” excruciating” – or we can choose words that keep the energy flowing – “fiery,” “transformative,” "life-changing,” “opening.”
Your thoughts are your prayers. Pay attention to your thoughts and practice maintaining positive focus and compassionate self-talk.
Curiosity and creativity keep energy alive; be willing to play with these often.
Create an inspiring story for what's transpiring and what you're creating.
Remember to smile.
Stay strong, my friends. You’ve got this. Here’s my joy-spotting –