1999-2019: Celebrating 20 Years of Ripples
Ripples #1058: Holding On!
Sep 2, 2019
PEBBLE
I no longer scramble blindly through hardship. I no longer emerge from a bad time feeling relieved just to have survived. Instead of despairing, I try to find the lesson within the experience.
-Halle Berry, shared by Eric in California via PassItOn.com
https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-quotes/6522-Daily-Inspirational-Quote?
BOULDER
The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future.
―Jeffrey R. Holland,
shared by Marilyn in Arroyo Grande, CA
PONDER
I mentioned last week the combination of LETTING GO, HOLDING ON, and LOOKING FORWARD that has helped me in times of challenge and/or change. Last week we focused on letting go, and this week I wanted to remind us just how useful it can be to HOLD ON to the lessons and the strength that we usually gain when going through difficulty.
There’s no doubt that a full life includes all kinds of twists and turns and setbacks. Some of us deal with bigger and uglier challenges than others, and unfortunately we don’t get to choose whether or when stuff happens. We do, however, get to choose how we deal with hardship.
If you’ve made it through something, or even if you’re still struggling right now, it’s important to note that if you’re still breathing, you literally have a 100% survival rate when it comes to conquering challenges and changes. Once you get through the worst of it, you’ve almost certainly learned a few things about yourself and life that are worth holding on to. As a bonus: once you catch your breath and recover a bit, you’re likely a bit stronger than you were before.
HOLDING ON is about extracting and retaining the learnings and growings that are by-products of life’s inevitable challenges and changes. Some people are able to look back and say, “I’m glad that happened even though it was hard,” I think it is important to know that is not required…you can hold on to the learnings and growings and just throw away the rest of the yuckiness and be glad it is behind you.
Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy
