Let’s face it - we all long to be better at
life. We long to be more successful, respected, confident and happy. Regardless
of the circumstances and despite our differences we all long for more joy and
vibrancy in our lives. In fact people ultimately search for happiness and
freedom from pain.
None of us are immune to being hurt or to
hurting others. The hurts we’ve caused or the hurts we’ve experienced whether
long ago, or as recent as yesterday can create deep and long lasting wounds
along with pain and loss that result in a myriad of negative emotions that hold
us back from living a life of joy, freedom and peace
It’s easy to get stuck in the pain of our
lives. It’s also very easy to become a “victim” of circumstances that suck us
deep into a cycle of victimhood such as, “Poor me”, “I can’t,” or “Did you know
what so and so did to me?”
I’ll never forget my hospital roommate in
the Sunnybrook Trauma Centre after a nearly fatal automobile accident our
youngest daughter and I were involved in.
I hovered near death for days due to extensive fractures, internal
injuries and numerous surgeries. After
3.5 weeks in ICU, I was transferred to a room with another accident victim.
Day in and day out I watched her spew out
angry tirades at her husband. Her accident occurred while she was running an
errand for him and she viciously blamed him for her injuries. As I listened to
her endless bashing and blaming, I could sense his deep pain. Never for a
minute did he intend for her to be hurt, but she couldn’t see beyond her limiting
beliefs that he was responsible for her injuries.
As a result of her anger she was tense,
riddled with pain and refused to comply with any exercises the physiotherapists
were asking her to do. I could see she had made a choice to be angry and her
negative attitude and hostility were impeding her healing and progress, that as
a nurse, I knew was easily within her grasp.
A young visiting high school student asked
me, “Are you angry with the woman who caused your accident?” My response, “She didn’t intend to cause the
accident. I choose to put all my energy
into recovery. I can’t afford to expend one ounce of my strength, emotions or
attitude toward being angry.”
Attitude is everything! If we really want
to be happy and free of pain, we need to make positive choices that will propel
us in that direction. Of course I wasn’t
“happy” about the accident and the months of recovery and hard work ahead, but
I was happy to be alive and I purposely chose to do everything possible to regain
my strength and to learn to walk again.
Friends, tough stuff happens! We may not have a choice in what happens in
life, but we always have a choice in how we respond. When we make positive
choices regardless of the circumstances, we help ourselves.
When you make positive choices, in spite of
the difficulties, you truly take charge of your own happiness and your ability
to move beyond the painful situations that prevent you from being all you can
be. I can assure you, it is possible to
be happy despite the perpetual ache. Believe in yourself and be determined to make
positive choices that empower you to take charge and be the CEO of your life.
For more information,
or to attend Annette’s October 13 seminar, BE ALL YOU CAN BE, in Strathmore, visit
www.annettestanwick.com
Annette
Stanwick has a passion to encourage, inspire and uplift others, helping
them make positive choices to rise above and let go
of painful experiences, confining fears and self-limiting beliefs &
behaviors.
She
is an International Speaker, Author, Freedom Facilitator, Coach & Health
Care Professional. Her keynotes,
seminars and her award-winning & best-selling book, FORGIVENESS: THE
MYSTERY & MIRACLE continue to have a global impact.
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