Sometimes, you just need to start over
Life will inevitability lead to roadblocks, forks of decision, and sometimes, pitfalls…
As we cruise along the road of life, we often find ourselves in phases of serenity, cruising along the smooth road without a care in the world; in this state, we find ourselves to be content and dare I say, happy. It is in this blissful, safe state that we find it the easiest to just be. Other times, we find there is no way to escape the fog. The dark shadows of night seem to follow our every move, swallowing up any light or joy that attempts to emerge in rebellion as we seek to find our way out, back onto the well-light road of serenity.
Despite which side of the road you are on, or whether you are nestled squarely on the center line, tethering, there comes a point when the inevitable occurs, pushing us towards a point of decision we are not ready to handle. These trying times, tests of will and faith may seem hard or impossible, even more defeating than being lost in the fog, but in reality, they are challenges designed to bring out the best in you.
Understandably, you may feel calling some of the woes, worries, and heartbreaks of life challenging is minimizing the pain felt by those impacted, but that is not the intent. Hard times come, and challenges arise and there is no doubt that some challenges are devastating, even fatal… a fatal prognosis, the loss of a loved one, even losing one’s self. None of these situations should be wanted experiences, but they happen. It is not what happens that defines us though; it’s how we preserve.
Today, I heard the story of a man diagnosed with a brain tumor. The person spoke of how he remember, all these years later, how with the finite amount of time this individual had left, they dedicated their time to investing in others, particularly children. When I personally observed a gentleman with brain cancer, he too had demonstrated a sense of ease with his situation, which naturally brought calmness and serenity to those he influenced. These men turned their biggest life challenge, and fuel a passion to make things better for others. It is not just with health situations that this occurs though. I’ve seen women who were abused, battered, or broken seek out opportunities or even create ministries to help other people navigate the pain they experienced; they made their life test a testimony. But, the reality is, this is not an instantaneous process; it takes time and the amount of time needed for you to rise up and out of your challenge cannot be determined by others. We often let others define our healing process, put a timeline healing process, or assign an agenda to help us “process” the experience based on their needs, perspective, or reality. But, this is not only unrealistic; it is not feasible. We all need different things to heal. Holistic health embraces wellness wholly, choosing what is optimal for your well-being based on scientific evidence merged with your intuition. You may need a year of counseling, and that is alright. Even if you need five, there is no timeline. You may be able to thrive with only changes for which you have some semblance of control or maybe you need medical intervention. No journey is perfectly defined nor will we all be alright with a one-size-fits-all approach. The beauty that lies in overcoming your challenge is that you can actively decide and be a part of the process. From the most fatal situations to the most unexpected changes in circumstances, you can grow, learn, and even positively influence others based on how you navigate your life challenges. The most important thing to remember though, is you have to be open, willing, and vulnerable enough to take the first step in starting over after the challenge. Leaving yourself in a state of mental, emotional, spiritual, or even financial defeat will not serve you well. Though it is an option, it is not the best. Staying in a paralyzing state of fear forever will also not serve you well, nor will it allow you to turn your mess into a message or your test into a testimony. While there is no rush in moving forward and navigating out of the fog, remember this, every moment you delay is a heart untouched by your light, love, wisdom, and influence. Every time you choose to delay stepping out into the unknown, you push your blessings down the road. Freedom is necessary to start over, no matter how much of our finite time is left on this beautiful Earth. Freedom from fear of release. Navigate the pain, seek the support you deserve, and take the time you need, but remember to let the process be a process of healing and release, rather than a self-imposed prison of defeat.
Wishing you well..one moment, one breath, one step at a time, allow yourself to start over, at your own pace, in your own time. Be Remade as your past or present challenges do not define you; they were made to empower you.
Image by Joshua_j_Woroniecki on Unsplash
Hind Sight is 20/20
Often our tears of joy are reaped through songs of gratitude.
Life can be challenging and this year brought about more complex challenges that impact our health on a global scale. In fact, the year raised so many examples of how much eco-health impacts us all on so many levels; economically, financially, socially, physically, emotionally. No stone was left untouched this year. Even our spiritual foundations of what we hold true and dear were tested as we all went through a differing array of emotions through this 2020 pandemic.
As the year winds down, it is easy to gasp for air as we may feel the closing of this year will birth a sigh of relief. Hope of better to come on the horizon often leaves us motivated to get up and try again. While this attitude is of great value, it is also important to remember that with each rising sun, new challenges will come. How we choose to face them is important, but the often overlook element of how we learn from them and put this to our benefit and the benefit of others is just as, if not a more vital element to ponder. We know we have the potential to grow from our circumstances. The weather marks of our bruised hands reflect the many thorns we may have had to grab onto to get us to this point, but without the moment of gratitude from what may have seemed to be a hindrance, we will miss the beauty of our triumph, the grace of our blessing and the solitude found with knowing that our circumstances led to a sharpening of our sword. Yes, we are wiser, stronger, and more resilient with each passing of a conquered battle, challenge, or even defeat. Yet, when we forget to take a moment to reflect, reassess, and sit in stillness within an atmosphere of gratitude, the lessons are missed and an expanded perspective is not gain. In this everchanging world, we cannot afford to become stagnated by our own self-limiting beliefs or stubbornness to grow. We must take the stance of appreciation towards every situation, for when we do so, our light radiates brighter and our ability to influence others extends beyond our words. People model the behaviors that see. When you have come out of the flames and fire standing stronger, taller, and more refined, our character shows a reflection of who we truly are at our core and our actions and attitudes will be present for others to model. We have the power of influence, which of course starts with the actions and attitudes we model from our mirror reflections of self-worth, self-awareness, and extensions of grace.
What will your hindsight vision of 2020 be going forward?
Will it show that despite the unexpected, the unique challenges and possible moments of defeat, the character of a bold, confident and empowered woman who has a positive perspective not covered by falsies of Pollyanna, but rather drenched in the overflow of abundance found within the cracks of the crumbling sidewalk? Will you choose to stand firm in your understanding that even in the saddest of moments, you can find a lesson for which only you were destined to teach, a message only your mess could have prepared you to preach or an eye-opening example of how even in the worst of circumstances, joy and gratitude can be found and grace extended.
With age, often comes wisdom and maturity. So, this lesson I have learned, and although I know your wisdom around the subject is every present, with the dark shadows seemingly present to loom over the lamps of so many life-giving people this year, I wanted to be that small voice reminding you to choose to extend grace for the goals you may not have achieved, to extend kindness to those who may not have been present in the way you expected them to be, to allow yourself the space to mourn for those who you may have lost during this time of confusion, relinquish the fear of the unknown, and be open the truth that even with everything going on, small blessings still filled our hearts, our hands, and our plates, no matter how differently it came, this year.
Wishing you a moment of serenity this holiday season. For our perspectives and our health for forever intertwined; for this reason, I hope you choose an attitude of life.
Grow Your Business with Confidence
Entrepreneur Health & Wellness Tips
This blog post is dedicated to Entrepreneurs’ Health!
With the pending release of my book Master Your Mind, Mind Your Message coming this holiday season to print, I thought it was high time to focus on Entrepreneurs and Business Owners!
Coming to hard copy Fall 2020!
We know my focus is on Stress and Health Recovery and both are centerfold conversations when the topic of business ownership is on the table. Not only are they working to serve through their purpose, but they are taking the path less chosen; the path of financial uncertainty.
As an entrepreneur, the world is on your shoulders. If you are not able to produce results, this will impede your ability to care for the basic survival needs of you and your family. That is a lot of pressure that can put too much strain on an individual. We all know that our perspective impacts our reality and how we respond to different circumstances. The fine line between distress and eustress can often be perspective. Still, we all having a breaking point, and taking time to focus on our mental wellbeing will not only bolster our health on a physiological level, it will also impact our ability to run our businesses effectively and efficiently. After all, you cannot give what you do not have and if you are running on empty, then your efforts to serve will be mute, no matter the capacity.
What can we do?
There is no set way to conquer your stress that has an edge over all others. We are all different. We all have different needs and respond to situations differently. So, naturally, our approaches to managing the chaos will different. Still, I have a few suggestions below to get you started.
First, acknowledge that we need to be present to maintain your own sanity. Then, look for what centers you.
Look to manage your life in a way to leaves time to recharge.
Set realistic goals and expectations. Grace, kindness, and patience are key.
Use block scheduling to manage your priorities and emphasize priorities and you schedule your day.
There you have it. All great ways to maintain the chaos during the holidays.
If you are looking for more ways and support to remain your mental wellbeing while running your business efficiently, now is the perfect time to enroll in my program specifically designed for Entrepreneurs. Designed as a complement to my book, this program will teach you to manage the chaos without sacrificing your mental health. If you enroll before 1 December 2020, you can get 50% OFF! That’s right. Simply email me with the words, “I WANT IN” before the deadline and you will get a slot for 50% OFF!
How’s that for holiday cheer?
For more insight into the importance of mental health, consider this article by Awarenow.io.
Until next time, I look forward to supporting your well-being as your Stress & Health Recovery Coach with tips and insights to keep you well from an eco- and holistic health perspective.
Stay Amazing!
Special thank you to Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash for the cover photo!
