ANOTHER CHANCE

Through pain you learn alot about yourself. I can personally say that I have had the privilege of learning my love language, my purpose and passion, as well as learning the ugly truth about me. There are times that one relationship or a chance interaction has taught me numerous things. Today, I did like to take just a moment to share my ideas.

Today, as I reflect, I feel honored to say I have embraced hurt. I know that sounds like an oxymoron but it is true. To embrace it does not mean I enjoyed it, hope to experience it again, or that it was the only path to the outcome. It means I have chosen not to be engulfed by hurt and let it take power to change the trajectory of my life to one that is dismal. It means that I accept it as a learning experience that has allowed me to fall in love with me and strive daily to create a better version of me. Often we find it romantic and fairytale-like to fall in love. Even after the novelty has worn off in the relationship we accept that the “small” flaws are the quirks that make them “your person”. Even the most irritating thing often becomes the thing that you hold dear on the occasion you break up. They are etched in your memory and heart irreplaceable by the next experience. I believe pain, flaws, and mistakes should operate the same way. We should learn that all experiences in life are a part of the total journey and not dictated by one thing that happened or how we feel in the moment. Much like that romantic love we must take the good with the challenges, compromise, and ability to grow through learning.

As I look back on experiences I have had that were hurtful and challenging I find it impossible not to smile in the aftermath of the outcomes. No, some things were not what I anticipated or desired but they ALL grew me. They made me approach things differently(even if it took my hardhead more than once to get the lesson) and challenged me to accept how great I am. I know it is difficult for people to find the positive and appropriate median for exclaiming your own greatness. At times and very dependent on who you are; you can be renamed as arrogant. It is tragic that we won't allow people to celebrate themselves. Society often would prefer for you to wallow in your pain opposed to utilize it for purpose or be transparent about it. I choose to pre purpose all that has offered me challenges knowing I am up for it and can conquer it. How about you? Do you take these moments and casualize them or accept that the consequence of them should be growth and victory?

Take a moment to rediscover your greatness and opportunity for choices. You have choices in the way you promote and grow you. You have the choice to rename things in your life. You have the choice to visualize what good you got from a situation and not miss it by focusing on the bad. You have the choice to take your individualized journey and not compare it to someone else. So, your assignment is to choose one or all things from the list below :

1. Make your progress visible.

   1. Journey your progress. This allows you to see what you HAVE done in the effort of growth.

   2. Do this regularly. That may not mean daily for you but commit to a time even if it's weekly.

2. Rename your hurt.

   1. Give definition to your pain by changing it from a con to a pro. Some say create a Pro and Con list but I say create a column for your Con’s and a blank column for the Pro’s. Now spend some time transitioning the Con’s to Pro’s. What did you learn or gain from the experience that can now make this Con a Pro?

   2. Remember, i’ts what you learned about you and not about someone else that is helpful in this exercise.

3. Create a Vision Forum

   1. This may be in the form of a Vision Board or maybe it's just Post IT Notes on your bathroom mirror.

   2. The idea is to create a space to remind you of what your goals are. It may be a solid marriage that you see failing, it may be for a job that gives you financial freedom from your current employment that is not paying your bills.

   3. Hurt and pain come from the biggest to the smallest things and Vision gives you motivation to work through it and see you clarity and your steps to greatness.

4. Celebrate your victories

   1. Gift yourself for your progress. Don't wait until the process is over(It never really is). Celebrate the daily, weekly or yearly things. Take yourself out for a latte, spa day or my favorite, “Shop Therapy”. This may not directly relate to pain but it is important to invest in you. When you are able to do this it encourages you to see balance.

   2. Forgive yourself for being your biggest cheerleader. Some call it selfish but its self preservation.

5. SMILE and LAUGH

   1. The statistical evidence shows that laughter evokes many positive things.(This is not an all inclusive list)

      1. Stimulates your organs to operate properly.

      2. Relieves your stress response and soothes tension.

      3. Improves your immune system and mood.

This time is yours and you are enough. Even with the pain you can overcome obstacles and enjoy life and the journeys. Take the wheel and don't let anything steer you off course or make you turn around due to the turbulence. True to the cliche’;It's just a bump in the road. Remember you drive an All Terrain Vehicle.

#Blogit

#ClearCache’