Integrate Series #7: Live in Contradiction

One of the concepts we explored together is the idea of living in contradiction.  As we talked about, many of us have grown up believing that life should be easy and everything should work out. We should be happy. People shouldn’t hurt us. We shouldn’t get sick or face a divorce, death, or any other significant loss in our lives. 

This kind of thinking is part of being human, but finding true resilience and joy means acknowledging and accepting the contradictions in life. It’s ok to love someone and feel frustrated simultaneously. It’s ok to recognize our difficult emotions of anger, sadness, and fear, while also recognizing our resilience and finding moments to lean into joy or gratitude. 

We talked a lot about how people can’t give us what they don’t have. Perhaps this has been a theme you have grappled with throughout your integration back into daily life? 

Perhaps some of the relationships around you feel like they are changing. Maybe you’re grappling with broader life questions around your health or your future. Potentially, you’re questioning whether you have experienced the kind of growth you expected when you signed up for A Fresh Chapter. 

Whatever you are feeling today is absolutely normal. There is room for all of the highs and lows – all of the messiness that goes hand-in-hand with being human. 

But, here’s a thought: if you find yourself feeling like life is not turning out the way you wanted it to, can you practice flipping your current circumstance on its head? 

What do you have right now that other people might wish for? It could be a loving family, health stability, freedom to travel, financial security, etc. How might you channel your privilege in a positive way? What are you uniquely able to do because of your circumstances? How can you acknowledge the challenges in your life, while also making a choice to inch forward in a positive direction?