“The other day I saw a funny bumper sticker that asked:
“What do you know that you’re not letting yourself see?”
– Paul S. Boynton, “Begin With YES”
The question rang true for me.
Let’s read it again:
“What do you know that you’re not letting yourself see?”
My first thoughts were times in my life when I felt stuck.
Stuck in grief,
pain,
the role of a caregiver (no regrets but still felt stuck),
a job that was going nowhere,
a location that I no longer want to live in.
Other times I wanted so badly to accomplish a goal and I had to make choices to think of myself first or others that I loved.
As I thought about these things, I realized that feeling stuck is a choice.
This may not sit well with some who subscribe to the idea that everything is beyond our control, but I believe the biggest thing we have control over is our thoughts.
For instance, when Larry died grief was real. Instead of stuffing my feelings, I made the decision to mourn.
Mourning was painful. I had to make a choice to take steps to heal or face the alternative: live the remainder of my life stuck in sadness and pain. I had to realize that I couldn’t heal by remaining stuck in the “why” so I had to let it go to embrace healing.
While going through the process, I realized that healing from the death of a loved one does not mean living a life devoid of the sadness that accompanies death. It does not require forgetting their existence. Sadness is still under the surface – it’s how I deal with that sadness that counts.
I chose to recognize the difference between transient sadness that comes with memories and the heart-wrenching, debilitating “I want to jump over a cliff because I cannot stand the pain” sadness of the first months of grief and mourning.
Now I call it “riding the waves”.
Waves that come in different forms from small tidal waves to tsunamis.
The normal daily ups and downs of tidal waves with an occasional tsunami that hits swift and knocks one off ones feet.
The key is keeping one’s head above the water until back on shore.
The other situations required similar thought processes:
Sometimes identifying the problem is the hardest part because it requires knowing things that we are not letting ourselves see.
Identifying the problem, making a choice, planning action steps, and finally taking action.
XO Lisa
Grateful, Thankful, and Mending! 
Lisa, your words offer us choices. No matter what we face in life, we will always encounter a variety of waves. Each has a purpose, but with renewed faith (never easy when struggles keep crashing upon us) we can ride most of the waves. Fortunately for me, riding God’s surfboard is a whole easier than swimming alone. Have a blessed week.
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For sure! As always, I appreciate your insights!
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Great post Lisa!
And to think we were riding the waves together in our post simultaneously while we were writing yesterday! 💖
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GMTA! 💕
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💖👏🌷🤗
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“but I believe the biggest thing we have control over is our thoughts.” 💕
So true Lisa! I’m reading…well, re-reading a book called “As A Man Thinketh”.
While not overtly spiritual, it is. It explores the connection between our thoughts and our actions or inaction, it’s dictates on who we allow ourselves to become and the need to take charge of our thought life to enact real change. There is even more scripture concerning this and certainly something I need to become the master of, guarding and choosing my thoughts to act, react and become who I need to be.
“and take every thought captive to obey
Chr-st”
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace”
“and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of G-d, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chr-st;”
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Oh Laura, your comments are an entire lesson on their own! You have reminded me that I need to re-read that book. I’ll put it on my list! I love your insights and you too ❤️!
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You are my favorite person and definately my soul twin💕
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Ditto! 💕
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Very thought provoking! Love you!♡
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