How Did You Get Here (The Start of a New Beginning)

If you are dissatisfied with where you are in life, do not be discouraged. The key to getting where you want to be is a three-step process. First, reflect on your past. Second, recognize the positive attributes you have received from your past. Third, use those positive attributes to start your new path.

Reflection

It is hard to revisit the past when it is filled with disappointments, failures and hurtful situations but you must. As painful as it maybe, you must return and view those times. Doing so will assist you in accepting the state that you are in now. If you live in denial, you will never be able to move forward. Face the facts and understand that healing will come from this trip down memory lane. As an exercise, write down three moments in your life that have been a disappointment, failure or hurtful situation.

Recognition

Once you have accepted where you are at right now, it is time to recognize your gains. You know what your losses are but have you considered what you gained from those negative experiences in your life. Everything happens for a reason. Regardless of how unconnected things may appear, everything happens for a reason. When you understand that principle, you are then able to look at past situations of pain and see what you gained from them. You received a positive gift from whatever has happened to you in the past. Perhaps it was confidence, self-esteem, or courage. Look at the three situations you previously wrote down. For each one, list the positives that you have since gained from going through those situations.

Rebirth

This is the stage where you are challenged far more than the first two. It is now time for change. You have the positive tools from your past failures. Now start to make the change in your life that you want to see. You have overcome difficult times in your life so therefore you are able to change. The difference now is that you are spearheading the change and not reacting to the change. By experiencing failures and disappointments, you have the resiliency to move forward. I know that because you are still here. As bad as the situation was, you did not let it defeat you. It may have discouraged you, made you question your faith, maybe even you lost hope. Yet you are still here so you are a survivor. Take those gifts that you have received and use them to guide you on your path to success.
Everything happens for a reason. The only person that knows that reason is you because of what you have gained from that experience.

Use what you have gained to achieve your goals. Realize that you are more equipped to achieve success than what you may have thought. Do not be afraid because you have already experience fear and overcame it.

You have the ability. Your past has shown you that now.