We are all given special gifts that grow when they are shared. We all have something that we've been blessed with for the sake of blessing others with it.
I've been blessed with the power of perspective. I have always been able to find the bright side of any situation... however it used to be as a defense and I would go into a blissful state of denial whenever anything stressful would come up.
Throughout my vertical journey over the past few years, I have come to realize how much beauty is in every experience - no matter how negative or positive it seems to be. I no longer deny the difficult situations, and I truly embrace all the different feelings that come up, knowing the bright side is in who I become in the process.
The bright side isn't denying the stressors, but rather appreciating what they offer!
Most often those hard times offer so much growth, experience, wisdom, strength, courage, and confidence.
Courage doesn't mean you don't have any fear; it means you feel the fear and you do it anyway!
I call those stressful times "resistance training".
Just as in working out, the only way to tone and strengthen a muscle is to add resistance - and that goes for our emotional fitness as well. It is just as important for our minds and souls to be conditioned as our bodies.
I know there is a lot of uncertainty right now in the world. We are in completely uncharted waters, and that can evoke panic and stress to new degrees.
... But it can also offer some incredible strength for us individually and collectively.
I personally see this as a total gift to be relieved of any obligation other than to stay home and be healthy! When have we ever been given a total green light to put ourselves and our health first? Never!
Think about it. We may never get this opportunity again to be able to unplug from our jobs, go home to our families and take time to rest and recharge!
I know some of you are saying, "yeah, but what about bills that pile up and businesses and jobs that are lost?"
I get that, and I'm not saying these stresses aren't there or to not be frustrated about it. Trust me, I fully support the cleansing tears!
Let's just first put aside what we can't change and then focus on what we can.
The world is at a standstill right now. Every single person on this earth is being affected by one common circumstance.
This connects us.
This challenges us to get creative.
This reminds us of of what is truly important - our health.
This wakes us up in a whole new way.
This gifts us with a new perspective and a healthy dose of our most precious resource - our time.
I realized I've been training for times like these. I've been preparing and nourishing my mind, body, and soul on a regular basis so that when troubling times arise, my physical and emotional immunity can carry me through it in a way that I become grateful for those circumstances.
I wish you all health and happiness during this unprecedented time. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone, and there is always another way to look at every situation. Each moment we are given the choice to redirect our focus. After all, where we focus, energy flows!
I leave you with a prayer that I say every single morning. It has pieces from the Serenity Prayer as well as other parts I've gathered in my healing journey. It reminds me that we have no way of knowing what each situation will lead to, but we can align ourselves so that we fulfill our purpose in any situation. All we have is right now, and right now, I choose to see this differently.
Dear God,
Thank you for the seemingly good and the seemingly bad, for at this moment I do not know the difference.
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Thank you for the strength, wisdom, and faith to fulfill my purpose.
Amen.