Do you sometimes feel as if you are just sinking or drowning under a never-ending wave of problems? How do you, or can you pull yourself through this and keep your head above water?
A couple of years ago I was part of a group who would regularly meet and talk about life. How wonderful it is, how hard it can seem and generally share experiences on all level and manner of subjects.
One evening a group member spoke up and said: “I really enjoy these meetings. When we are here together in this room I feel very calm. My cares and worries drop away and I experience a true sense of happiness and companionship, as I know that everyone is here without judgement or opinion. We simply come together, share and learn.
However when I go home, I know that tomorrow morning I will open my front door to a battlefield. The war will rage on around me and I will be tossed and turned as never before. It will be as if every bit of calm and clarity I have experienced will be lost the minute I re-enter the world.
Prepare yourself, friends, for outside that door is a war zone that can never be conquered.”
I was taken aback by this dramatic outburst, and quickly came to a conclusion that this person was missing the point, not taking in the things that we learned in the group. I felt, for a long time that this person was weak and they must be having a very sad life indeed that they view the world as a war zone.
Then, I divorced a long term partner, left my long term job and set out to build an entirely new life based on my core values and beliefs. It was going to be beautiful, and EASY!
Or so I thought…
Then the chaos started, the expectations piled up. MUST do this, MUST go there, MUST make money, MUST MUST MUST.
But I wasn’t doing it.
I wasn’t becoming the the person I thought I could be in my new life.
I wasn’t doing the things I thought I would do in my new life.
That is when I realized what the group member meant.
We do indeed live in a war zone, sometimes it seems as if everyone has the answer, “just choose to be happy” they say.
Easier said than done to be perfectly honest.
There is however a simple way, a basic way to build the confidence we need to gradually turn the Battle into a Dance.
Remember this:
EVERY day day we spend in OR out of the war zone is a day where we learn all kinds of things that can help us.
EVERY new day that we enter the war zone is a chance to start again. However ‘good’ or ‘bad’ the day may be, there is ALWAYS something that we can take with us as a tool for the future.
This is what that Group Member years back had not yet accepted. Tomorrow, is a NEW day. Whatever happens it will not be the same day as today and everything you do tomorrow, will be with the knowledge and lessons that you learned today.
Whether you are up, or down, keep your consciousness aware for the twinkle of possibility that will shine somewhere.
So, before you open the door in the morning, take a deep breath and do a few basic things that will stick with you for the whole day:
Think out loud: This is a new day with new opportunities and new lessons to be learned.
Think out loud: Yesterday I learned everything that I need to survive today.
Think out loud: Whatever happens today I am Grateful, because it will be new and exciting and I will learn all kinds of amazing things.
Take another deep breath, and step out into the day ahead with a massive smile, because ANYTHING can and will happen.
One more thing.
When you get home after your challenging day on the Battlefield; sit down and ask yourself:
What have I learned today that I can use tomorrow?
