Can you believe in the good of everything on your Journey to Recreating You?
Sometime ago I found a wonderful red leather journal and on the outside was a beautiful phrase that resonated with me carved into the leather in gold script: “Believe in the Good of Everything.” I didn’t need a journal but they were “on sale” and I could imagine giving this as a gift to one of my inspiring adult children. Today I write about how that beautiful red journal never left me and unknown to me, acquiring it was the first step in recreating me once again!
Knowing what you value is key in finding the good in everything and recreating YOU – Over the months ahead I found myself on a journey of simplification. That is a story for another blog. I discovered, or should I say I rediscovered, that of all the things I could part with, ANYTHING in my home that had a beautiful message on it or throughout it was a “must keep.” It occurred to me that in this magnificent day of technology where everything can be shared with the world with the click of a mouse or the “send” or “post” on your phone, I had a responsibility to make time to share my wealth of positivity. At first this seemed a daunting task. Slowly, I started to write in that beautiful red journal; it was always destined to be the vehicle of this journey, even though I didn’t know it when I bought it.
We get messages in our lives, signs, in all forms, and we don’t always answer the call. Are you paying attention? Check out my 4-step game plan
What’s in it for you to believe in the good of everything and how will it help recreating you? There is an inner strength that I don’t believe is attached to a specific religion; it is a faith that transcends all religions. In Alcoholics Anonymous they call it believing in “a Power greater than you”; I call it believing that everything that happens in our lives is guiding us, molding us, preparing us for some new chapter that we couldn’t fully become without the journey. In essence, it gives me the ability to “Believe in the good of everything.” Don’t mistake this phrase for saying that “bad is good.” It is more about believing that everything that happens to us is not without its purpose and power to impact our lives and often the lives of others and grow us into something we would not have been otherwise. Over time we learn that things are going to happen, things well beyond our control. Sometimes we will look back and wonder how we made it through; with each challenge, crisis, disappointment, we emerge stronger and wiser and the sun does indeed rise the next day.
When you try to believe in the good of everything are you burdened with trying to understand Why…why you…why now? Years ago I was the Program Manager for a four week long Career Program and we started every day with a quote. I found so many great ones; in fact, they nicknamed me “Queen of Quotes”. That was before you could just Google a quote, find images for it and read all about the author of the quote in a matter of minutes! Later when I randomly Googled some of the authors of those quotes I realized that typically the power of the words came from a significant life – you see everyone has a story! That is because every life is significant.
I came to realize that believing in the good of everything and the phrase “wisdom of the ages” is not about acquiring a lot of knowledge over the years and understanding everything. It is about experiencing a lot of life yourself, and also through the many people you meet along the way. It is this multitude of diverse life experiences that paves the way to a new understanding that there can be purpose to each life event. It is up to us to recreate the meaning of each of our life experiences as we grow in wisdom and understanding; in this way we can literally change our perspective of our life and of others.
For me I came to appreciate that over time believing in the good of everything is kind of like connecting the dots to complete a picture. I have a beautiful quote I keep in my bathroom on my mirror to remind me that each day I can know this truth: “BELIEF – When you come to the end of everything you know, and are faced with the darkness of the unknown, FAITH is knowing one of two things will happen. Either there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly.” Barbara Winter. Understanding comes as we move through the darkness of the unknown to the light of inner knowing. This takes time and patience.
There are no free lunches; we have to pay our dues, live the gains and losses, and then we get to inspire and be memorable. One of these quotes is: “Bromidic though it may sound, some questions don’t have answers, which is a terribly difficult lesson to learn.” Katherine Graham (check out her amazing life). Don’t get stuck on a question.
The incredible motivational icon, Jim Rohn, had a great phrase when he talked about this. “Don’t ask why this and why that; I wouldn’t sign up for that class. Winter will always follow Fall, and Spring will always follow Winter. That is just the way it is.” Use your energy in another way and it will be easier to believe in the good of everything.
Adopt this approach to believe in the good of everything on your journey to recreating you! Next time you are faced with the unexpected try to embrace what you cannot yet see or feel or understand. When you start with this thinking it will help you have the ability to focus on taking the steps of moving forward rather than staying stuck in the why. It may be years before you can find the acceptance and gratitude but when you do, YOU will take yourself to a new level of joy and peace in your life.
How have your life experiences connected with each other over time to enable you to find a way to believe in the good of everything on your journey to Recreate YOU?
Send me your successes for it is in sharing that we empower each other!
