Life was never meant to be a straight line much as we want things to be predictable and go our way. We know that uncertainty is part of life, and we have all experienced the often-heard phrase that ‘change is the only constant.’ Yet, we find ourselves thrown off balance when things turn in an unexpected manner.
Unexpected events come with a hidden purpose – they compel us to find the unknown and unexpected ability within to cope with, and grow from the experience. Not only do we discover our own hidden abilities, but we also deepen our faith and understanding that our ability to solve a problem is always greater than the problem.
Sometimes we need the external direction to change, in order for us to change our internal direction. Complacency and overconfidence have a way of giving us a false sense of security and well-being. When we look back, we will realise that much of our growth came from life taking us in a new direction.
We stress when things don’t go as per expectation because we fear the unknown and probably find ourselves so attached to the way we want things that we find ourselves unprepared to handle the sudden change. When we replace fear of the unknown with the excitement of the road less travelled, we move from a sense of attachment to a sense of discovery.
Sometimes to appreciate one extreme, we need to go to another extreme. Financial stress has made us appreciate the value of prudence and saving. In times of ill health, we have often recommitted to and appreciated a disciplined lifestyle. When we are unable to find lasting happiness in the extreme indulgence of external objects, we then start the quest of looking for joy within.
When a smooth sailing life gets disrupted by the twists and turns of life, we need to embrace change and remind ourselves of the simple but inescapable fact – life was never meant to be a straight line.
(Picture – Light in a Turkish restaurant in Jakarta )
👏👏👏 Our experiences so well expressed ! We marvel at our own capabilities when pushed out of our comfort zone.