A New Beginning Opens Up
I can breathe again!
With the end of any challenging experience brings the opportunity for a new beginning and direction in life. We aren’t defined by the challenges themselves or if we make mistakes, we are defined by the changes we make as a result.
My recent challenges have finally levelled off and in the last couple of weeks I finally had the chance to exhale. My renewed sense of awareness, focus and direction are creating a sense of peace that feels like I am in a state of relaxation all day long. I don’t know if it is just that my mind and body have finally de-activated the “All Systems Alert” button or if the new beginning is the major cause but what I do know is that my new normal is feeling fabulous!
The Storm itself is meant to cause upheaval and depending on what your life lessons are and where you are on your path that upheaval could be either minor or major. If you are too far off your destined path the major storm can be quite stressful but the storms themselves open up opportunity for growth and transition that you may not have reached without it and hopefully the wisdom you gain is used to your best advantage. The storms should NEVER be wasted and what ALWAYS comes with them is the opportunity to change things to your liking, you always have a choice.
I’ve experienced both minor and major storms and “God willing” there aren’t many more of the major ones destined but honestly it feels like my latest one really cracked me open and as hard as it was to deal with I really like the end result.
Along with my new beginning came a greater appreciation for the parts of life I used to rush through, I used to get so stressed about making everything I had on my plate fit into my day whether it took up all of my “ME” time or not. I crammed as much as I could in my day in order to whittle down my ever-growing “to do” list but I was depriving myself of a much needed decompress time at the end of the day and I’ve been doing this for many months, maybe even a year. No wonder my new sense of peace and direction has me feeling like I’m in a state of relaxation all day long, it makes sense that unwinding from that much lack of self-preservation feels so cathartic.
There were so many benefits that I’ve been able to take away from all my experiences and digging for the deeper strength has been the hardest task but I definitely learned that no matter what if you have to go through something difficult, don’t do it alone! Regardless of how strong you may think you are, vulnerability is the key to finding the new path. It doesn’t mean you are weak, actually it is probably the moment you are most open because when you are vulnerable you don’t have the fight left to resist. Resistance is what prevents you from embracing change and during the storms is the time when the most change is needed.
If you are currently in a storm in your life (minor or major), neither are easy, keep reminding yourself that it will eventually pass and when it’s done there are many gifts on the other side waiting for you. Embrace them for all that they offer, stay open and mindful that you don’t resist. You have more inner strength than you probably realize and when you dig the deepest the biggest rewards will follow. The rewards may not look the way you had envisioned, they will likely be better and bring you a greater sense of peace, as they did with me.
Shelley Hallmark 