Perspective. It’s calming. It’s a catalyst at times. Seeking out as many different perspectives as we can, lends some incredible ways to find our way through just about anything. Any obstacle. This one from Ryan Holiday is one I would put on my wall where I would see it the most. It’s a cold reminder that we choose. Here it is.
“Everything that happens to us in life – good or bad – is shaping us, informing us literally and figuratively for the future.“
Ryan Holiday
Take your day today, reflect on it, good or bad. I bet it would change the way you decide to take the next day. Maybe it would give you peace of mind enough to finally get that sound night of sleep? Maybe it wold be a enough time to get over someone that upset you by what they said? Or, find a approach to rectify a harbored ill will towards someone that is more humane? You have to stop moving, mind too, long enough to figure it out.
To me, we’re to busy. I believe there is so much to learn from our experiences like Ryan states, good or bad, that can gives us the edge we’ve been seeking. That happiness we’ve been chasing. That job we want to find joy in, but can’t because our worst day there haunts us. That next great idea that needs a little “watering” by thinking about it so it can bloom.
The key? A quiet still moment to release your thinking. A moment to self-reflect on the dots behind us that may connect or may not. I believe from our thoughts, our actions come. To that belief, Ryan is right, EVERYTHING that happens to us, in life, IS shaping us. What shapes us, also, beyond self, holds the power of influence shape others.
A real world example of the awakening that can happen when one slows down enough to reflect on themselves, is no other than the Great Resignation everyone writes about. COVID silver lining here for me, is it forced people to be shut in, slowed down, and working from home or having to isolate gave us incredible self-insight. The whole world got a moment to stop, say “what am I doing”, and decide to do something different. Explore.
We found out in those slower moments, that we can do better and more! We had an unlock that our current work or life, could be so much better, because we were forced to take the time to figure that out. I hate too, that a pandemic made us finally have that time to do some self-reflection, but we’ve taken time to realize we deserve better. So we took it. We quit whatever was holding us back, and are pursuing a right choice to do something that aligns more with our gifts.
The key? You have to be okay with taking a time out. Slowing down. Dropping into the dark recesses of reliving something great or bad that happened to you. Then you can build off of that memory or learn. You be more empowered to choose the next step with more confidence than ever. All the power, has always been in your own thoughts. Your power to choose to be still long enough to learn from them. Painful or not, your next leap is there. Happy hunting!
✌🏻Shawn
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