Some events are painful as they are happening yet, upon reflection, are valuable lessons. Some of the best lessons come from painful experiences, especially if you have some stubborn in you like me. I like to believe that the more painful the situation the better the lesson. This has a way of taking some of the sting out of the emotional situation. We humans are storytellers so we tell ourselves all sorts of things. For example, “Losing my job was the worst thing that ever happened to me” a person may tell him/herself. Losing a job can feel a multitude of uncomfortable ways. After time has passed, one can see that not having that job opened up other possibilities i.e., a better job, going back to school, traveling, moving and the list goes on.
The Joy and Happiness Book Club read Rising Strong by Brene Brown this month. In the book, the author talked of these times as the dark part of a hero’s journey. When we enter these situations, we don’t know what the future will hold. It is helpful, during these times, to release expectations and be open to what lies ahead. We emerge a changed person.
You may have already had some of these journeys in your life. Perhaps it was when you and your love ended your relationship. Maybe it was moving to a new town or state. Perhaps you are on your own hero’s journey right now.(Hang in there Hero! You got this!!) These types of experiences help us grow and develop into our better selves. We are wiser and stronger having experienced them.