Hiding from Myself
Soundless Explosions
Day after day, things happen to me that have an impact on my soul. Of course, today was one of those days. Things happen to me, people say things to me, comments are made about me, and I, remain silent. Saying nothing is appropriate and the right thing to do. There is no need for an outburst. Yet there is an outburst, that takes place within me. The impact of daily living on my emotions is like standing in a hailstorm. I am bombarded with stimuli that provoke reactions deep within my mind. While nothing rises from my being to become thoughts that form words that leave my mouth to express how I feel. Silence is my most effective shield.
The accumulation of the silence can be corrosive. Sometimes, it can break through like water breaching a dam, and then, it is explosive. I have learned the importance of processing my emotions; by myself and with myself. I allow myself to experience and understand what is left behind after people have trampled through my life. My emotional responses have become my teachers and my friends. All the words and thoughts that run through my head were never meant to be spoken. I sift them through the filter of perspective, my silence remains unbroken, and my heart is no longer burdened. After that, quiet is an important companion I can bring along when I spend time with others.
When was the last time you spent some time alone to sort out what is bothering you? When did you take time to quiet the judgments and scoldings you are heaping upon yourself? Have you processed the interactions that left you unsettled? I recommend taking that time. It makes a world of difference for me.
Read and write for a better life with Faith 2 Talk Press
Read and write for a better life with Faith 2 Talk Press
Five Psalms of the Daughters
Difficult Days
I am revisiting the word difficult. Doing something that requires skill, labor, and planning. Difficult things require much effort to be successful and can be filled with hardship.
I was in the midst of a hard day. I had the thought that this is difficult. What I was working to accomplish was hard. It actually helped me to acknowledge the difficulty. It made it easier for me to keep pressing forward.
We live in such a win-lose society. Crushing the other side or an opponent is the goal. We want to dominate. We aim to completely leave other people in the dust.
We need to give greater weight to the efforts that we make, even when the results are not spectacular. If all we did was make it to an appointment, show up to a job we hate, or attend a gathering we really wanted to skip. Our efforts, especially the small ones, are important.
Our lives and our characters are built on completing difficult things. There will be no trophies or medals for the hard difficult days we endure. No one may notice or realize the struggle involved. That is why it is so important to tell yourself that you made it through a difficult day or tough set of circumstances.
When you find yourself in the midst of a difficult day, remember that day will end, and you will get a new one tomorrow.
Remember it is not winning that really matters in the long run. Instead, it is what we gain by walking through to the end of our difficult days or trials.
Read and write for a better life with Faith 2 Talk Press
Determination
More than 35,000 people ran the Chicago marathon this year. The first step for the runners was not at the starting line on race day. The first step was months before on the first day of training. Each runner needed determination to start training and perseverance to finish the race. The reward for the runners: a medal, joining the elite club of marathon runners, and the personal satisfaction of achieving a huge goal.
I will never run a marathon. I have faced challenges that seemed like a running a marathon. I can put becoming a lawyer and receiving a kidney transplant on that list. When I have something long and difficult ahead, I know that I will need inner strength and a lot of support.
Whatever challenge or uphill climb you face today, you have a reserve of inner strength. There will be moments when you will feel overwhelmed and like you won’t get it done. That is when your determination will kick in and help you cross the finish line.
Read and write for a better life with Faith 2 Talk Press.
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