Note to Self: You Are Exactly Where You Are Supposed to Be
The pandemic has led to a dramatic upset in the human ecosystem. Our focus turned to the small, simple pleasures that soothed and gave us meaning. The pandemic caused us to take a closer look at where we are in relation to our accomplishments and goals. As pandemic life recedes, it is important that we have a way of reassuring ourselves that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, even when it might not feel like the most favorable chapter in our lives. As we reflect upon the past 18 months, the successes, challenges and failures, at some point we come to the conclusion that sometimes we are exactly where we are meant to be.
Though our stories are unique, being good to ourselves offers a necessary reprieve from whatever horrors cause us to believe that we have fallen off course. Grab a journal and pen, enjoy a cup of herbal tea and take steps to work through your fears by considering the following:
Allow yourself to feel
Researchers found that unleashing your emotions, be it through writing, body language or talking with others could actually have some real health benefits. It’s okay to shed a tear, feed into the joy that nostalgia brings, laugh, cry and even get excited - you’re regaining a healthy range of emotional expression.
Break out of your comfort zone
To go from where you are to where you want to be, you must do things you’ve never done before. Let’s face it — we rarely find adventure in our own backyards. Almost everything we need to achieve our goals requires new skills, habits, knowledge and experiences. Get uncomfortable because the path to growth is paved with discomfort.
Life falling apart, it’s actually falling in place
When life seems to go wrong, we feel like it’s the end of the world - we can’t see beyond what’s in front of us. It is only once we look back after we’ve survived the storm that we realize the broken pieces actually create the beautiful picture that is our destiny. The best way to know whether or not we are on the right path is by how well the universe responds to our efforts.
Everything we go through teaches us how to survive - shows us what we are made of
So cut yourself some slack. Show yourself a little grace. You are growing, changing, learning, becoming and succeeding. Trust the process and more importantly trust yourself. The bottom line: you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
Crystal Walker is the chief communicator and creative strategist for CrystaRene Consulting and a regular contributor at Hope magazine. Crystal is a published writer, event planner, voice-over talent, graphic designer, educator, communications coach, and former radio personality.
