The more I encounter moments in my life with increased awareness, the more I am okay with challenging situations. I know it is life teaching me something so that I can grow! I am convinced we are here to grow, and that life happens for us, not to us.
You might wonder how you grow? I believe it happens when you are willing to open up to situations that feel tricky to you, the ones that are out of comfort zone. In my book there is no such thing as failure any longer, I see every situation as something that comes up to teach me something.
You see, life will always present us with challenging situations – you might not like it but this is what happens! And a particular challenging situation will come up again and again until you change the way you respond to it. It is that simple. Something “always” happens to you? Well, change your response to that particular situation and see how things start turning out differently.
Some challenging situations can be extremely painful. When you loose someone you love. Or something horrible happens to you. When you feel you loose yourself completely in this world, or you feel so alone, no one understands you, and you don’t know how you are going to manage the day that is in front of you. Based on what I have learned from my own painful experience, the best thing you can do in those times is connect to the present moment as often as possible during you day (and night). Care for you by connecting with your breathing, tune into this moment. Or notice sensations in your body, and let the sensations anchor your in the here and now. Shifting your attention to breath and/or body sensations will help you move your attention away from your agitated mind. Do what works best for you to come into the present moment. Your agitated mind won’t solve anything when everything seems wrong! The more you practice presence, the more the likelihood for finding willingness within you to meet the challenging situation – and you will then meet it with awareness, and from a space of calmness.
When everything felt wrong in my life I could maximum see three to four days ahead. The future looked hopeless. I read books about how those situations can act as a great catalyst for change in one’s life, however I “knew” it would never happen to me! And yet it did. I was forced by the seemingly horrible situation to grow: To meet life as it is, and become more present, more aware.
My advice is that whenever you are in a situation you don’t “like”, acknowledge the challenge and as best you can see it as a learning experience. Take time to care for you. Come into the present moment as often as possible by going to your breath or sensations in your body. This will help you. And it may give you an incredible new perspective on this gorgeous life! X
