Hey guys
Did you ever get an idea, a wish, a dream? And for the next couple of days or weeks, you think and plan out that life? For the last couple of weeks, my family and I decided to make a huge change. Life changing & exciting...we started going through the process to get the ball moving. Step one: complete. Step two: complete. Step three: denied. Due to something outside our control, we were unable to see this dream through.
At first I cried. Then I was angry. Then I cried because I was angry.
Once I got beyond the emotional reaction I thought back to other times when I made big life changes without any kind of interference.
I was immediately brought back to a book I read a few months ago called “Zen and the Art of Happiness”. In the book, the author discusses the idea that everything that happens to you is the best thing that could happen to you. And maybe you don’t see why at the time, but eventually, the reason will reveal itself. One of the examples in the book was how the authors son was a drug addict for over ten years. They begged him to get clean, and he would, then he would get right back into drugs again. Until finally, after his last of many life threatening experiences, he got clean and stayed clean. This man went on to open a successful rehab center. He credits his long term addiction for the success of the rehab center and all the help it has offered to people. Without his own addiction, he would have never opened the rehab center.
When I adopted this idea with my situation, my anger dissipated. It was gone. Upon further soul searching, I came to a conclusion -- maybe it’s not our time. Maybe there is more we have to do here before we make this leap.
Weird, I thought. Because normally I’ll hang on to anger like that for a long time. But it actually worked. I started thinking maybe the universe was working with me and not against me. Maybe there’s a reason I can’t see yet as to why we weren’t able to fulfill this dream now.
It’s an interesting thing when you see your own mindset shift and your old habits break. It’s amazing to see work you’ve been putting into yourself really pay off. One of the many reasons to keep growing and keep learning.
So, I leave you with a mental sweat exercise: try to release anger when things don’t go your way and see how you feel when you think about the other possibilities that could be in store for you.
Keep growing...
-A
Sorry if this was hard to follow. I wanted to discuss the situation without actually mentioning what the big change is/would have been. As always, I’m a writing work in progress. :)
Love that take on life’s happenings. I just may wish the same from now on ;) I’m glad everything worked out for you in the end -- a comment I find myself making often. Just more proof that everything will work itself out as it’s supposed to even if initially you feel upset or disappointed.
I always try to wish "May the best thing happen." We often don't know what that really is. I adopted this mindset on a job search over several years while I was at my last job. As disappointed as I'd feel when I didn't get a job I applied for, I'd remind myself that I didn't really know what it would be like, and maybe I was dodging a bullet. Ended up quitting my job and consulting, and it has many advantages over a job! It also has its drawbacks, but for me at this particular point in my life, it's probably the best thing. Best wishes to you on your endeavors!