06.10.22 - Find the Silver Lining
“It’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it - not shattered by the present or frightened of the future.”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (4.49a)
We can all agree that the last two years have been filled with chaos, hysteria, and uncertainty. We have undergone extreme amounts of change and transformations, with no end in sight. The pending domestic conflicts, foreign tensions, and health crises have us all on the edge of our seats. There has been a shared collective agony as well as the battle between individual obstacles. The question is: who are you going to be on the other side?
For a lot of people, the last two years have crippled their self-worth and self-esteem. The increasing rate of advances and challenges has a lot of people in a confusing whirlwind. We have all thought: Are we ever going back to normal? It is harder to be on board with change when the past is so comfortable.
The silver lining here is that we can all be grateful after the last 2 years of open time and space. Some had the time to nurture their families without fearing a loss of income. Others had time to pursue their creative interests and passions, and there were few that did nothing but mope. The specifics of what you did during this time are not as important as your overall growth as an individual. Did you start your journey of betterment? Or did you use the time for bingeing media and getting more addicted to your digital devices?
The following quote really drives home how much we choose our reality.
“Perception is more important than reality. If someone perceives something to be true, it is more important than if it is in fact true.”
- Ivanka Trump
Whatever judgment you decide to place on an external event is going to shape the truth that is externally confirmed. The perspective you choose to govern your mentality is going to govern how you perceive external events and respond to them. In short, whatever you think, becomes the reality you experience.
Did your reality get handed to you like a deck of cards or did you turn the tables and become an unbeatable dealer? Were you reactive to the changes around you or did you use the time to seek inner peace and stillness? Finding the silver lining involves asking yourself the right questions. Examples include: How can I learn from this? Or, How can I use this situation to make me a better person? This type of reflection allows you to step out of your emotional judgments and shift your perspective to one that is empowering.
People have been affected globally in different ways over the last few years. Know that you are not alone in your pain, confusion, agony, or uncertainty. We are all feeling these emotions individually, watching the state of the world and wondering “what’s next?” Amidst the chaos, we can choose to develop deeper relationships with ourselves and others, connect with new and unique people, and help ourselves through service to others. You can surrender to the hysteria and fear of uncertainty, or you can do your part to usher in a compassionate society.
“So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all; to endure and prevail is great good fortune.”
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (4.49)
