Just Behind the Door

In an interview recently, the talented singer, Melissa Etheridge said, “Life is just a journey you never get it done.” If this is so than learning to enjoy the ride through the changes and challenging life transitions that can disrupt your comfort zone is the path.

Life is simply a series of changes. There is really no such thing as staying ‘status quo.’ These changes may be welcomed or thrust upon us dramatically. They can cause us to feel anxious, fragile or at least a bit uncertain. We wonder, will I be able to get through this one?

The ” what ifs” creep into our thinking. We begin to perseverate on everything that may go wrong. Just remember the rule, 99% of what we worry about never happens. In my book, Just Behind the Door, my son has told me repeatedly, “Mom, everything is as it should be.” Even when talking about his death he repeated that phrase. I finally get it. It took a long time.

Transitions in life give us an opportunity to truly think about who we are, what we want our lives to be about and what legacy we choose to leave this world. The ultimate question seems to be, did I make the world a little better off by being in it? Did I bring joy into the world?

There are people who traverse through life changes more easily than others. They seem to possess specific traits: confidence and a belief in tomorrow, the ability to analyze the past to discover the golden nugget – the life lesson learned – and they listen and follow their inner intuitive voice. As R. Bach said, ” A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction…It feels an impulsion…this is the place to go now.”

We can look at life transitions in one of two ways; as a gift or as a burden. I choose the gift perspective. Why? Life transitions are all about learning our lessons – in other words- the reason we are here. They expand our ability to see, feel and function at a higher level. As we get through one challenge after another in life, we begin to fear less and gain greater self confidence. We are able to accept the world and the people in it with less judgment and more grace. We remember, we have never walked a mile in their shoes.

When you reflect back on your life, can you see how the moments that were the most difficult, the life transitions that were most severe, taught you invaluable lessons? Having lived through them, you now have a deeper knowing about truth, life and the Universe.

Melissa Etheridge is right – life is about the journey- both the challenging, gut wrenching times as well as the exciting and rewarding ones. Each step of the way, each life transition, teaches us that we will survive, we are resilient and that we can make the world a better place.

Make the next few days the best ever!