Look for the "gift" in all situations
I approach life with the underlying assumption that we are here for a reason and all our adventures on earth are a part of learning to express that high purpose which is to be as loving as possible in every situation. Knowing we have a purpose enables us to look for and find the “gift” in all situations and to realize that there will always be another lesson to learn. It's never too late to improve a situation. All we have to do is to be willing to see things from another's point of view and to act accordingly.
One example from my life is when my mother had triple by-pass surgery in her late 80s. My mother and I were never close and I was scared she'd die before we mended our relationship. Not knowing what the outcome would be of her surgery, I decided to stop battling with her. I took responsibility for the arsenal of stockpiled anger I aimed towards her for most of my life. I forgave myself for holding on to childhood grievances because, when I was little, I didn't know I had an option. As an adult, I was able to see my role in every anger-filled situation. And I finally forgave her for what I perceived as her “wrongs.” At the same time, I realized that her personality was only a very small part of her. In her heart she was a divine soul who only wanted to be loved and appreciated. She just didn’t know how to get what she wanted and her behavior was caused by that lack of awareness. I was just like her. I wanted to be loved and accepted and thought that I had to fight to get it. When I realized my error in logic, I decided to see my mom through the eyes of love and her eyes reflected love back to me. So my mom's heart surgery resulted in a healing of both of our hearts. I don't know if it would have taken place without her heart surgery. God works in mysterious ways!
Our task is to develop our awareness of Spirit's presence in all situations and draw it forth as the predominant element of our consciousness. It's much easier said than done. Like mastering any new skill, the development of faith takes practice, and that is what this life is for. Our world is but a laboratory in which we experiment with different attitudes and experiences until we learn that love is the only one that works. As we go through times of testing, it helps to remember that there's a gift in every situation if we are willing to let go of our need to be "right."
It's said "problems are the doors through which we walk to peace." To move beyond what appears to be a challenge, we must hold the awareness that everything that comes to us can potentially work in our favor. Our thoughts are the keys that open the door to the storehouse of blessings. We can transform the lead of our pain into the gold of our enlightenment if we are willing to "expect a miracle."
Our job is to put our love out there and live our truth. The universe will take care of the rest. Our pain comes when we do not give love. We were born to love. We function most powerfully when we are giving love. The world has led us to believe that our well-being is dependent on other people loving us. But this is the kind of upside-down thinking that has caused so many of our problems. The truth is that our well-being is dependent on our giving love. It is not about what comes back; it is about what goes out.
Every one has a core self that is perfect – our essential core is peaceful and whole and is unconditional love. The work of healing is in peeling away the barriers of fear and past conditioning that keep us unaware of our true nature of wholeness and love. When we identify with that inner core, respecting and honoring it in others as well as ourselves, we experience healing in every area of life.
People and events aren't here to be labeled or judged, but experienced and learned from. We don't need to divide life into either's or or's; we can see the richness of it all. Then we discover an infinite range of hues, depth, and intensity that make our journey joyful. As Carlos Castaneda’s Don Juan explained, "All paths lead nowhere, but those who follow the path with heart will bless their journey."
Categories: Personal Growth, relationships, happiness, optimism, Courage, Spirituality
Tags: enlightenment choices personal development personal growth spirituality happiness
So true. There is something to be learned in all situations, positive or negative. The gift is really the gift of life. You cannot go through life harmoniously if you don't learn from your mistakes and from difficult times. Great inspirational posts, keep up the good work.
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