Your life experiences up to this point have contributed to the person you are today. You can probably point to plenty of good and bad experiences in your past. But what makes an experience good or bad? Enduring pain or loss might be considered a bad experience, but what if you also gained something valuable from that same experience? It is only your personal perception that determines whether something is positive or negative.
Painful experiences can easily foster bitterness and resentment, or they can usher in wisdom and gratitude. They can cause you to feel victimized, or they can awaken an awareness of your inner strength. They can tempt you to close down and guard your heart more carefully, or they can encourage you to reach out to help others in a more meaningful way. You are the only one who can decide which it will be.
Take a moment right now to think about some of your past experiences that you would deem to be negative or unwanted. Did anything positive come from those situations? Perhaps an unfortunate mishap led to meeting the love of your life or a trusted friend. Maybe you lost your job, but ended up getting a much better one shortly afterward.
At the very least, your painful experiences undoubtedly taught you some valuable lessons and you are much wiser now because of them. Do your best to find a hidden blessing, a benefit, or a powerful insight that you gained from each experience. This will help you to shift your perception and release any feelings of sadness or bitterness that remain from those experiences.
Moving forward, one of the most powerful habits you could develop is the ability to be dispassionate and calm in the face of adversity. Acknowledge that you are facing a challenge or an unexpected turn of events, then take a deep breath and turn your attention inward. Focus on your heart center and stay present in the moment. Rather than resisting the events or reacting emotionally, surrender to what is and consider that it might not be as bad as it seems.
Then ask yourself, “Where would I like to go from here?” Think about where you would like this situation to lead. Think about all the possibilities now stretching out before you. Consider ways that you might turn this challenge or setback into something even better than you had before.
Even if you aren’t sure where you’d like to go from here, simply express your intention to turn the situation into a worthwhile experience. Say, “I don’t know how, but something good will come from this situation.” Or say, “I’m open to the world and all its possibilities.”
Holding an open, optimistic attitude like this will do two things. First, it will make you feel more centered and empowered in the moment, even if circumstances are not as you wish them to be. Secondly, it will draw forth plenty of inspiration, ideas, and opportunities. These can help you turn the situation into something that you will one day look back on with a genuine sense of gratitude.
