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Life’s A Journey Not A Race Or An Event

Written by: Lorraine Cohen

Article Overview: Imagine looking at your life as a series of invitations to be fully alive in each moment. See those situations that stretch you out of your comfort zone as healing and growth opportunities - blessings in disguise. Savor the people and moments that bring you joy. Slow down and bring your focus out of the past and future to the present moment to appreciate and receive the daily gifts that come your way.

Life’s A Journey Not A Race Or An Event

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious” - Einstein

As a coach and psychotherapist, I often have conversations with clients about looking at life as a series of experiences that are part of an unfolding journey. This point comes up when I hear them talk about things are not moving fast enough, wanting to get rid of a feeling or situation as fast as possible because it was uncomfortable, and looking for instant gratification.

Do you read a novel and turn to the last page for the ending before finishing the story? We have become impatient people with a low threshold for discomfort. As soon as something comes up that we don’t like, we see problems that must be solved and eliminated NOW.

I admit there are times when I would like things to move faster than they are. The more I struggle against the pace of things or what I’m experiencing in the present moment, good or bad, the more frustrated and stressed out I become. Some of my most greatest insights and growth has occurred when I let go of resisting what I was experiencing to just “be” with whatever was happening. Some of my greatest joys have come from those times when I stopped long enough to feel all the gifts and blessing in my life with gratitude and appreciation.

What’s the hurry to get to the next moment? In the haste to move things along, you might be missing some great insights and experiences that aren’t immediately apparent. The key is allowing the feelings of peace to co-exist with the discomfort. Is it possible? You bet!

~ The relationships that seem to be the most difficult can teach you the tons about love, compassion, and forgiveness

~ Receiving help and support from others might initially bring discomfort that leads to feeling greater self-worth and love

~ The painful experience you want to get rid of might help you find a strength and courage you never knew you had

~ The desire that didn’t happen fast enough might manifest in a new form that is even better than you could have imagined at a time that is more perfect for you

~ The times when fears and anxieties are high can become powerful experiences that help to deepen trust and faith in yourself, others, humanity and the Divine

Every experience you judge to be good or bad has contributed to the person you have become. Every experience has a purpose and meaning even when you have no idea what that is. It’s a matter of your attitude and perspective.

Look at some of your most difficult life situations from the viewpoint of a healing and growth opportunity rather than a problem or punishment.

What have they taught you about yourself that can help you today?

What value can you take from those experiences positively?

How has that person or situation been a gift and blessing for you? Helping you to feel compassion, practice patience, find your voice and speak up, develop your inner strength, deepen your faith…?

Imagine looking at your life as a series of invitations to be fully alive in each moment. See those situations that stretch you out of your comfort zone as healing and growth opportunities - blessings in disguise. Savor the people and moments that bring you joy. Slow down and bring your focus out of the past and future to the present moment to appreciate and receive the daily gifts that come your way.

Enjoy the journey with all of the bumps and blessings!

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Article Tags: beautiful thing, compassion, conversations with clients, einstein, feelings, forgiveness, gratitude, haste, hurry, impatient people, insights, instant gratification, looking at life, pace, painful experience, present moment, self worth, strength and courage, threshold, unfolding journey



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