The last few days have been one of those times when I felt that if I heard one more bit of bad news, I’d start smashing dishes. Being a compassionate person who always wants to help is somewhat torturous when it seems like so many people are suffering. I sat down and did a reading for myself which really helped. Essentially, the reading was a reminder about exactly what I’m supposed to be doing here…and it isn’t carrying the world on my very small shoulders. God’s are much bigger…
What also helped was my message from Mike Dooley’s Notes from the Universe this morning…
(If you aren’t signed up for Mike Dooley’s Notes from the Universe, you might want to check them out. They are really empowering and free! The link to his website is: http://www.tut.com)
“When something difficult or painful happens always look to see what it makes possible that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible.
Like a new adventure, a closer friendship, or chocolate in your peanut butter.
Everything makes you better,
The Universe”
Made me stop and think about some of the things that are worrying me just in my own personal arena…
Good friend whose marriage is falling apart
Good friend whose mother is dying of cancer
Friend’s husband who lost his job
Levy failure and layoffs at my teaching job
So if I ask myself the question posed, what are these situations making possible that would not be possible without them?
Good friend whose marriage is falling apart
For Her:
-Time for her to nurture herself instead of just caring for everyone else
-A stronger feeling of God and her own spiritual nature
-A deeper friendship between us
-Improved health
For Me:
-Pushing me to remember that I am not here to carry other’s pain or shield them from it
-Letting God work through me instead of trying to solve it or make it better through my own resources
-Honoring my need to put boundaries up when things become to draining or overwhelming for me
Good friend whose mother is dying of cancer
-A chance to heal old wounds
-Deeper reliance on Spirit
-Opportunity to really love and nurture herself…almost an excuse to take time to give herself what she needs and to take the time to do it
For Me:
-To see how to survive and grow through something so painful as the loss of a parent
-To learn how to listen without trying to fix
-To lean more on God and let him work through me instead of trying to carry it on my own
Friend’s husband who lost his job
For Him:
-Push to go do what he’s always wanted to do and start his own business
For Me:
-A confirmation that good things do come out of bad
Levy failure and layoffs at my teaching job
For the School District:
-Open Communication about financial realities personally and in the school district
-A chance for the district to pull together and keep the school district strong even in challenging times
-Forcing a closer look at our intentions for the school system and our children as well as our own financial needs
-More compassion for those who are struggling both on staff and in the community
For Me:
-How to keep myself free of negative thoughts and living in a space of fear
-How to put up strong boundaries and keep my focus on the present moment
Having some challenging times yourself?
Maybe try the activity above with your own situation and see if it helps. It has certainly helped me!
And remember…even if we can’t always see what the situation is making possible, it doesn’t mean that down the road it won’t become clearer.
Hang in there!
Enjoy the day!
Nancy