The 'Blessons'

There will inevitably be difficult, frustrating and challenging times in our life. Times when we cry out – question – and curse the situations before us. There are times when we are holding the regrets of a harsh reaction of a split second, the last hour, day, or times when a situation extends beyond just a bad day. Lessons are perceptions learned through study or experience that help shape our forward thinking. Most lessons aren't actually 'taught' but rather intrinsically accepted. They are formed through typically contrary or aggravating situations. Life comes at us hard and fast sometimes, and an overwhelming reaction generally precedes a rational response. The latter requires some practice in our mindset. In theory, there are many schools of study that provide protocol to effectively dealing with conflict. While I won't advocate a specific protocol here, I will say that unfortunately we don't seek advice or take a breath to step back and objectively view the situation until it is too late. We continue to question and curse the situation and can't move forward. It's okay to cry out at the conflict before us – but then we need to seek resolution or acceptance. The past is in the past – 'it is what it is – the rest is what we make of it.' So it is always the going forward that matters. We first have to get past…. 'it isn't fair'; 'it wasn't my fault'; 'I can't believe I didn't get the job'...

Life isn't fair – that's a given. It will give you an opportunity to accept.

It may not have been your fault. It will give you an opportunity to forgive.

You may not have gotten the job – it will lead you to a different one, (I know – that's not fair!) One time I did not get the job I 'wanted' and it turned out to be the best thing for me, but I couldn't see it for some time to come. So there are times to accept, forgive and give thanks for not getting everything that we ask for!

Take a breath in those difficult times and remind yourself of the ‘blesson’ -this is what I know as the "blessing in the lesson.'

Embrace the opportunity to get to the other side of a difficult time. Have faith that if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. Know that this will also be in his time, not yours. Recognize the situations or events that keep you from moving forward, and release them. If you can’t do it on your own, it is always okay ask for help. We are not here to “do life” on our own.

Try to focus regularly on the blessings in your life so that when the challenging ‘blessons’ arise, they may be comforted by all of those affirmations, which are grounded in the positive.

...always be the love that you are