This story and all of it’s perspective completely changed my understanding of grief and the significance of my suffering and growth.
I’ve come to realize that grief and growth are a continuous experience.
I spent years in fervent denial of the effect the disappointments and losses of my life had on me because I thought that acknowledging them would render me a victim. Self commiseration and empathy felt uncomfortable and weak. I didn’t want to identify with the past because I feared it would become a shortcoming to my future success.
The problem with this approach is that without acceptance of my adversities or bereavement when my life hasn’t gone the way I’d planned, I’m liable to hold the past responsible for what I choose now.
Our pasts will continue to integrate into our present because our prior experiences shape our perspectives and influence our choices based on what we know today.
Without cognizant acceptance of past hardships and who we became as a result of these challenges, we don’t release and move forward. We repeat the same patterns, perpetuating our grievances rather than reaching for something better and fully embracing our freedom and responsibility of choice.
This book helped me realize that an acceptance of the entire self (the good and the bad) is absolutely essential to unmitigated freedom. Without recognizing the malevolent parts of ourselves, we risk being unsettled in inauthenticity.
Additionally, the honest concession that we’re made of both light and darkness, grants us the freedom and opportunity to have truly intimate relationships not only with ourselves but our friends, family and lovers. An intimacy consistent with both deep connection and deep understanding of one another.
This book inspired me to “plant seeds in difficult soil”. To stop denying the experiences of my life and instead to acknowledge them as painful but also transformative. They’ve made me stronger and more compassionate. My resiliency and relentless curiosity to know more led to an attitude of responsibility for my own happiness.
I learned how to thrive.
xo,
Jen
MSMAMACHIC 