The Power of Choices

Have you ever contemplated the idea that instead of "right" or "wrong" choices in life, it's more about choosing different paths? Whether a path is taken, (or not taken), a choice is made, and that choice precludes any other potential choices. By labeling them "right" or "wrong," you perceive them as either working out or not working out. But life is usually not that simple.

It's All Relevant

With every choice, we may grieve the loss of all of the other choices we can no longer make, or where it landed us. Choice, even when it is beneficial, can be intertwined with grief.

If choices take us to a dark, emotionally hard place, that doesn't mean it was "wrong." Loss and pain are inevitable and woven into the fabric of life. Every choice we experience has the power to inform our current and future choices. It's all relevant, even if there is grief or it feels like time was wasted.

Honor

You may feel regrets for what you have gone through and if only's for what might have been. (And who hasn't ruminated on these? We are only human after all.) Be kind to yourself. Honor the grief that comes with lost identity, lost people, lost potentials from preconceived expectations. Don't disregard or deny any of it. If we don't allow ourselves to grieve and feel the emotions, especially our harsh self-judgements, we carry their weight. If we bring these to the surface and process them, it is possible to create more space and move forward with less burden.

Everything Counts

Every experience is relevant because it will always be with you and offers a chance to deepen your wisdom, at any age. Self awareness is a moving target. Who you are now is not who you were before. You are ever changing. You never fully know yourself - it's a life long adventure that is dictated by a plethora of circumstances - chosen as well as happenstance. So remember to call upon those hard lessons learned because every one is a gift of guidance. The best informant of your choices is ultimately you.