“Once you choose hope, anything is possible” – Christopher Reeve
As I go through my life encountering new obstacle’s and trials; good times and bad times, one thing I try to keep as a way of life is to grow, learn and improve, no matter the circumstances. Whether it is discovering something new about myself, another person or embracing a new perspective on life, I try to live my life in such a way that I never become complacent or satisfied with the way things are.
I know this sounds like a common declaration, and it is, but it is also a choice to live with a commitment on something we can control. And that is, no matter what happens in our lives, we always have the option on how we react, respond and what the next steps look like in our lives.
I realize for some this may sound like an impossibility because perhaps you have lived the majority of your life underneath someone else. Not only were your best ideas and thoughts overshadowed, but they were rarely heard or even considered as an option. So if that is you, this concept may seem foreign, strange or outlandish, but it is never too late to start your best life.
Consider the fact, that no one can make you do anything. No one can make you so angry that you hit them, even if you want to. No one can make you so sad that you stay in bed with the blinds drawn for three days, even if you feel like that is the best thing to do. No one can hurt you so bad that you feel as if life is not worthy of living, even if the thought crosses your mind.
You see, we are all human and therefore we are subject to frailty, disappointment and poor decision-making, however we are also a resilient specie that tends to find our way in the darkest hours. We never really know what we are capable of until the options we once had are no longer options. Until we find ourselves with our backs against the walls of life, the path of least resistance is the preferred (human) choice.
I get it and have been there on many occasions. If I could spare myself a little initial temporary grief, even if it meant a longer period of travail after, I took that route almost every time, but I also lived to regret it every time as well.
Growing and getting better in less about just getting things right, and more about learning why you do, or should in the first place. It is coming to an understanding about who you are, how you are wired and the various proclivities you have at a specific time and realizing the specific reason you make the choices you do. And then after all that, deciding to make a better choice for yourself, consciously.
I purposely omitted specific issues that we face, like death of a loved one, death of a relationship, loss of a job and health issues that come our way, because we are all bound to encounter one or several of them in our lifetime. The key is what we do when we are there.
We will discover what we are made of, what we truly believe and how we respond during a crisis. In most cases if we actually take the time to examine our responses we will learn something new about ourselves. Perhaps that something new is favorable, and you continue down that path of growth, or perhaps that “something” fell short of what and who you thought you were. Instead of getting upset or angry with yourself, maybe it is your season of growth and getting better. Nothing beats a failure like a try, so get to trying and expect a better outcome.
Keep Pressing,
Hank G