The landscape of our life is full of mountains and valleys. We mature with every step we take along our journey and become wiser and stronger for it. We’re constantly improving and growing. When we stop doing that, our purpose here is complete.
When facing the valleys of life, it can be very seductive to just settle in and have a pity party. Many times people cave into the temptation and stay in that frame of mind for a while. They lie down and cry and keep crying until they’ve cried it out. For some, this can take years or even an entire lifetime.
I’ve found that while the mountains and valleys of life may shape us, they don’t have to personify us. Just because you’re in the valley, it doesn’t mean you have to set your focus there. Set your eyes on the mountaintop and just keep going. In fact, many times the greatest and cruelest milestones in life happen simultaneously. Some of the most poignant moments in my own life have come during times of strife and chaos. I think about the turmoil of my life several years ago when I was going through a divorce and my life, as I’d known it, was drastically changing. There were things happening with my children that were almost unbearable. Many times I wanted to just fall into the pit of self-pity, bitterness and despair. To be perfectly honest, the lure was incredibly strong and I did go there a time or two. I just didn’t stay there. I had a business to run and I quickly realized that nobody was going to do it for me. I had to press on. Failure wasn’t an option. When I look back at that time now, I realize that it was also a time of countless blessings. Amazing and beautiful changes were taking place. I’m now a much stronger and confident woman because of the strength it took to climb out of those valleys.
If we allow ourselves the luxury of getting stuck in a pity party, it takes our focus away from the amazing blessings we are receiving. Yes, there should be a time for grieving, but we can’t allow ourselves to settle there. If we do, we’ll never realize the blessings and changes that can take place. You can only see clearly into the valley once you have made your way out. Take a quick look back to adjust your perspective and then press on. You’ll see that from the mountaintop, the valley looks very small.
We get to choose where we set our eyes. What we continually focus on becomes magnified in our lives. Is it on the valley or the mountaintop? If we focus on the love, grace, mercy and blessings in life, we began to see them more clearly and the chaos and drama tends to diminish. It takes an effort to look for the good. Pain will fight to be recognized. But once you’re able to focus your eyes clearly on all that is right and good, your memories of the chaos will fade. Choose to remember the precious moments and stop dwelling on the bad. Look for what’s on that mountaintop and stop looking down into the valley. What your eyes are focused on is where your path will lead. Learn to appreciate and enjoy the journey. Feel joy with each step you are blessed with taking.
Time will keep passing. Your life will continue to go on. What are you doing with it? If you’re lying in the pit of despair, life will pass you by. Pick yourself up and start taking steps in the right direction. Recognize your blessings and be thankful.
“There are times when you can’t really see or even feel how sweet life can be. Hopefully its mountains will be higher than its valleys are deep. I know things that are broken can be fixed. Take the punch if you have to, hit the canvas and then get up again. Life is worth it.” ~ Queen Latifah
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