Tag Archives: Retreat

Closing the Book

18 Feb

When we read a book, we open our minds to new ideas that increase our understanding of the world and those around us. We enjoy the learning and when we’re finished, can close the book, and put it on a shelf where it may remain. In our lives we’ll have millions of experiences. Some of the lessons will be fun and enjoyable, but others might bring sadness, and heartbreak. Each is important, and as we move forward, we can draw on all we’ve learned to help us as we move ahead. A new challenge may be similar to something we’ve already gone through, and like pulling a book back off the shelf, we can remember what happened and how we navigated it, looking for clues that will assist us now. That’s helpful when we prevailed before, but if what happened was left unresolved and painful, opening it back up may flood us with difficult emotions. We may be temporarily paralyzed as we recall everything that went wrong and how much it hurt. It may feel like we’ve been transported back in time and are going through it all over again. The past is gone, and we are in complete control of what we’re doing now. We can step back and objectively view what has happened and look at where we are. No memory can keep us in place. We are strong and can do anything we like. Every book has a lesson, and when we’re ready, we can close it, and move on. We’re in control of our lives and our future is ours to design. Life is filled with challenges, but nothing can keep us from anything we desire. Remembering how strong and capable we are, and trusting ourselves to prevail no matter what comes, enables us to step forward, confident we will succeed.

When we cut ourselves, our bodies respond immediately to heal the cut and create a scar. At first, scars are thick and tough, but over time they smooth out and flatten to blend in with the surrounding skin. It’s the same when an experience hurts us. In the beginning, we may put up barriers to prevent from being injured further, but as time passes, as we begin to trust we can let those walls come down a little. It’s good to protect ourselves, but if we want to build connections and create relationships, we must be willing to start again.

If we’ve suffered through a terrible experience that has hurt us deeply, we may decide to retreat and try to keep to ourselves. Avoiding relationships and isolating ourselves may make us feel safer but will not guarantee we’ll never be hurt again. Instead of hiding we can remember all the times we’ve overcome adversity in the past and trust ourselves to manage anything that happens. We are more powerful than we realize, and nothing can keep us from moving forward.

Today if you’re going through something that brings back a past disappointment, remember how strong and capable you are. Close the book on what has passed, and step forward with confidence. You are more wise and powerful than you imagine, and nothing can keep you from success. Trust yourself. The best is yet to come.

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Now What

30 Jan

As we’re moving through our lives, focusing on our goals, enjoying our associations with others, and working toward our destinations, sometimes things go exactly the way we plan. Events roll forward in predictable ways and the road ahead is open and unobstructed. When we’re moving forward and things are going well we feel confident and sure of success, and it’s only a matter of time before we achieve the goal we’re seeking. And then out of nowhere, sometimes everything changes. We’re steaming along and suddenly the bottom falls out of our plans. It’s like running headlong into an invisible wall. We may be stunned and rattled, speechless and unable to move. Sudden changes turn our course immediately, often without warning, and we may stand stupefied for a moment and wonder, now what? If everything we depended on disappears, and everyone who was with us turns away, we may be left standing, bereft and confused. Change is part of life and sometimes the changes we experience are extreme and unexpected. When they happen, it may be so dramatic and all encompassing that we may have no idea how to proceed. If we stop and stand still, and take some time to wrap our heads around all the changes and understand where we are now, we will find the courage we need to continue. The road we were on may be gone but there are countless others we can take and we can start again. We can regain our footing, refocus on what we want to do, and step forward.

When our lives are routine and things are happening the way we expect them to, we feel comfortable and sure. We know how our days will go, and everything is familiar. It’s good to feel relaxed and we may become complacent thinking we’ve got everything under control and all is well. If things suddenly change our first instinct may be to deny what has happened. We may believe if we don’t acknowledge the situation it won’t impact us. Looking away from an issue will not remove it, and ignoring problems will not solve them. Although we may desperately want things to stay the same, change will come, and we can do what is needed to continue forward.

When our lives suddenly change in ways we don’t want and didn’t expect, we may try to force them back to the way they were. We may attempt to restore what was, but there is no way to go back in time and no way to change what has happened. Life marches forward and will not retreat. We can step back, take time to process our new reality and then decide how we want to continue. All our dreams can come true but sometimes we must take the long way around to get to them. If things go wrong, we can find another way. If the bottom falls out, we can rebuild it. Everything is possible and nothing is strong enough to keep us from our goals. We can keep moving forward through any complication and find success.

Today if all your plans have suddenly gone up in smoke and you feel lost and confused, take a moment to understand where you are. Look around and decide how you want to proceed. The goal is still there for you and you can still reach it. Decide on the way forward and start again. The road is there and success is only steps away.

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