“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment.” – Eckhart Tolle
Whenever I’m working through a difficult time in life it’s easy to get discouraged and wonder “why me?” At times like these, I often find myself wishing things had worked out differently or that I could go back in time and make better decisions.
But the reality of my situation is, I am where I am. Whatever has happened up to this point in my life has prepared me for this moment and this exact challenge. Not only can I not go back and make things work out differently, but I shouldn’t want to.
The experiences that I’ve gone through, good and bad, have made me who I am today. Getting teased in elementary school helped me develop a thicker skin and a stronger sense of self-confidence. Being part of a relationship that fell apart in my mid twenties has prepared me for the amazing relationship I’m currently in. Working in four demanding sales jobs over the past seven years has taught me patience, perseverance and humility.
And today, at age 29, I sit here with more uncertainty around my career than ever before. Do I continue down the sales path — the only full-time profession I’ve ever known? Do I take a full-time leap into coaching where my passion lies but financial insecurity awaits? Or do I try something completely different?
I have to admit that my 25 year old self thought that I would’ve had this all figured out by now. Back then I pictured myself living prosperously in a steady career. But as I’ve found out, life had other plans.
So at this very moment I can either dwell on the fact that I didn’t figure out my shit sooner or I can accept where I am and understand that I’m here now for a reason.
I choose acceptance.
You too can make a choice. You can either choose denial or acceptance. If you deny your present situation you will undoubtedly find yourself in a state of discontent. Accept your present situation (no matter how awful it may seem) and you will start to see that you’re experiencing it for a reason.
Don’t believe me? Look back at all the challenging experiences you’ve gone through in your life. In retrospect, how did they impact you? How did you grow from them?
The collection of experiences in your life have brought you precisely to where you are today and into this present moment.
It’s this moment that you must accept.
It’s in this moment that you must live.
