I’ve always been an optimist, full of hope and never giving up. Even at times when I’ve felt really low and experienced the bad times that we all go through at times, I’ve never lost my sense of hope and belief that things would get better.
I think these attitudes can be useful in life. For me, it’s not so much about what happens to oneself, but how one deals with it that’s important. The true value of life is to be found in all of its experiences, the positive ones and the not so positive. And often, the greatest learning can be found in the painful, disappointing experiences we all encounter … this is sometimes where the colour can be found. Although sometimes we have to look closely to find it.
It’s important not to get lost in the grey days and get stuck in a thought pattern that this is all there is. Conversely though, it’s also important to recognise the greyness & not just brush it away to one side. For me, it’s useful to recognise and accept the feelings I’m experiencing and to explore them in relation to the situation. Also, to take an honest look at that situation and ask yourself what role you’ve played in creating it. This can be really difficult to do, because often, the situations we find ourselves in are of our own making and it can be a painful acceptance to recognise and admit to this. But once you can do this and have accepted responsibility for your role in creating it, it’s only a small step to take to realise that you can also play a role in moving away from it.
It seems to me that personal responsibility is key to this. We can choose to wallow and stay standing in negative or painful experiences, or, we can choose to take a good look at ourselves and our surroundings, learn our lessons and apply them to creating a happier, more colour-filled life.
Sometimes though, we do find ourselves in painful, frustrating, sad or difficult circumstances not of our own making. And in these cases, all we can do is accept them for what they are, allow ourselves to fully experience our feelings, and look for the little bits of colour that can always be found on those grey days if we just take the time to see them …
**Photos taken on 04.03.11 at Cullercoats
...mmm, your thougt is so timely when we now have those misty ambivalent days, mood as well as weather, between waiting for spring. I have just been noticing the bright gold of new buds and shoots blinking in the dull fuzz of hedges. Perhaps its essence of mindfulness, to be open to being found and lit by all this new potential, to grow with it! Love the images too, inspiring.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Philo ... you're right. I hadn't consciously thought of the connection with Spring & new beginnings ... a lovely time of year, just bursting with potential!
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