As I continue my healing journey.....

...I realize there are at least two very important ingredients to the process - willingness and openness. Not only do I have to be willing to heal and move forward, I have to be open to the hows that it might take to get where I want to go.

There are reasons for every experience in our lives. When something apparently negative happens to us, it's easy to go to the "what did I do wrong" place. I prefer to go to the "what's this about" place. Not only is it a healthier stance to have, it's a more valid one.

It's also true that we might never understand why we have certain experiences we do. Life can be deep and mysterious and sometimes we're called to simply accept what's happening, do our best, and see where the experience takes us. I believe it's also important to extend this same courtesy to other people.

We need to stop judging others, thinking we know what's going on for them or that we know what they should or shouldn't do. As a person who mentors others, I have found this to be critical. I have to be able to enter the relationship without any preconceived notions of what the person should or should not be doing, thinking, or saying. To do anything less is a disservice to them, their life experiences, and their abilities.

I now extend the same courtesy to myself and invite you to do the same. Let go of any preconceived ideas of how you should handle whatever challenges you're facing. Let answers emerge rather than imposing them on yourself or the situation. Not only is this more effective, it makes life a lot more fun and interesting!