I recently found myself in a difficult situation - one that literally hijacked my thoughts, emotions, and sense of well being. It was driving me crazy (!). Fortunately, a dear friend sat me down and asked an insightful question about my conundrum: what would bring you peace? So simple, but so revolutionary. Her question cut straight through my stories about the events that had transpired to the heart of the issue, and the solution became much clearer through this new frame.
But I'll tell you one thing...
The lack of peace I experienced was the most unsettling part of the whole ordeal. Harboring resentment, judgment, and anger is DRAINING; that was the real birthplace of my inner turmoil - not the situation itself. Sure, we are destined to find ourselves in a number of situations that make us want to read someone the riot act or run the other way as fast as humanly possible, but ultimately we must decide how to move forward without making ourselves collateral damage in the process. And it's no easy task!
Speaking of "easy," Rachel Cole makes a great distinction between ease, or inner peace, and the easy path forward:
it's easy to keep doing what we're doing. It’s easy not to ruffle feathers. But it’s ease that we’re given when we’re deeply fed. It’s ease that we feel when we stop resisting what’s calling us.
As we contemplate what would would bring us peace in a given situation, we'll most likely find that the answer lies in an interruption of our go-to coping mechanisms and/or a difficult conversation. But it's those very daring acts that will restore ease to our lives. And that, my friends, is worth everything!
p.s. Trish, thanks for sharing your wisdom.