We are here to know ourselves by finding our own way in the world.
Certain things cannot be learned by reading books or listening to experts. No one can create a healthy way of living for us. Only life experience teaches us the most important lessons in our own way.
We can have mentors that we believe are wiser than us. But the reality is our own actions and experiences teach us most about ourselves. Experts teach us the language and beliefs of the world. But discernment is ours to own.
Many of us have been experimenting over the past few years and have been experiencing some sort of failure when things don’t go as planned. But these experiences are actually golden tickets to self-awareness. And become gifts because new opportunities open up when things don’t work out as planned or pitched.
Self-awareness emerges when we pay attention to why things fall apart. Because when we step back and learn from our experiments and close some doors, we create windows of possibilities.
When we face ourselves head-on, the sheer reality that we are curious and willing to try makes us healthier. Because by taking action, we get off our chairs to actively participate with life. And uncomfortable situations are part of life.
“That’s what alchemists do. They show that, when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”—Paulo Coelho
All this focus on positivity and happiness fuels the societal pressure for success and feeling accomplished. But in reality, these are traps to keep us separated.
The people who matter accept us as we are when we accept ourselves as whole people; no need for false perfection.
“That is why it is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose. People need to understand that no one is playing with marked cards.
Don’t expect to get anything back, don’t expect recognition for your efforts, don’t expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood.
Complete the circle. Not out of pride, inability or arrogance, but simply because whatever it is no longer fits in your life. Close the door, change the record, clean the house, get rid of the dust. Stop being who you were and become who you are.
No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn’t know it.”—Paulo Coelho
Then, surprises often emerge because they haven’t breached our defenses yet. A hasty move to ease tension might stop the growth of something new. By pausing and learning from our trials, we foster new growth within ourselves in our own way, and, frequently, in the world.