Hello Thrivers:
"I'm thankful for my struggle because without it I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength” - Alex Elle
Those of us who have lived long enough are fortunate to have experienced challenges. Yes, you read that right. If you’ve experienced challenges, you’re one of the lucky ones because with each challenge - life has presented you with opportunities for transformation and growth.
I don’t want to romanticize challenges. While we’re in the midst of a challenging time, the uncertainty, doubt, pain, and suffering can be unbearable. And yet, the fact that we are alive means there’s still a possibility that we can come out on ‘the other side’ of those challenges. What we do as we make our way through the challenge and onto the other side is what makes all the difference.
While it’s impossible to avoid challenges in life, challenges can serve as catalysts for growing, changing, and thriving - if you seize the opportunity.
With today’s practice – below – I invite you to examine your challenges and discover your strength.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - Chinese proverb
We know from research that living a good life is a skill. As with any other skill, you get better with practice. That’s why every week, we share with you, a set of practices that you can engage with, to improve your health and well-being so you can thrive.
It’s most helpful to think of these practices as mini experiments in new ways of thinking and being. You can do one, all of them, or something in between. Try to enjoy each practice, or at least lean into what it has to reveal to you. The hardest and most important part of the process will likely be making time and space for it in your day, week, or month.
Although it may be challenging to make time for your practice – just do it – knowing that it's okay to feel whatever feelings come up. Remember, you are in control. You have the power to adapt or change a practice, stop, or start your journey at any time.
As you embark on this journey of rebuilding your health and well-being, make time. Stay focused. Take each practice moment by moment. As you take the first step and then the next, and the next, you’ll see your health and well-being transform day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year until you’re living and thriving just as you were meant to be.
❇️ Practice
Today, I invite you to reflect on these three questions:
1. What / who challenged you last year?
2. What did you learn from these challenges?
3. In what ways were you stronger than you thought you could ever be?
If you don't already have one, now's the time to invest in a great journal. I get all of my paper journals here. If you prefer to go paperless, try this great journaling app which I've been using happily for many years.
If you enjoyed this practice and want to go deeper, make sure to join us for IntentionHaus™, a year-in-review, reflection, and intention-setting retreat we host at the beginning of each year.
Team TLIG
