Lesson 36, reason 486 is the most important lesson for me personally. It's "do it, and then do it again."
Now, this may not seem earth-shattering, but it absolutely is. The lessons you learn have to be applied again and again and again. You don't get to be patient, compassionate and loving just once; you have to be patient, compassionate and loving again and again. You don't get to be proactive just so that you can say you were proactive, and then go back to being reactive. You have to restrain yourself again and again. You also have to confront your issues on a regular basis; for it to work, therapy can't be a once-in-a-while occurrence. And ditto the need to savor special moments, slow down and commit to living the good life. All of these are things that you have to do and then do again (and again).
This includes when you don't feel like it -- when you feel like you've paid your dues and it's time for your break to come. In fact, I'd argue that it's most important to do these things in the moments when you want to throw in the towel because you feel you have nothing left to give. It's then that the lessons matter. It's then that your character shines through. It's then that you reap the benefits.
At least that's what I've been telling myself over the last few weeks: "I know that you already did this, want to give up and feel utterly exhausted. Do it again."
-Me
Now, this may not seem earth-shattering, but it absolutely is. The lessons you learn have to be applied again and again and again. You don't get to be patient, compassionate and loving just once; you have to be patient, compassionate and loving again and again. You don't get to be proactive just so that you can say you were proactive, and then go back to being reactive. You have to restrain yourself again and again. You also have to confront your issues on a regular basis; for it to work, therapy can't be a once-in-a-while occurrence. And ditto the need to savor special moments, slow down and commit to living the good life. All of these are things that you have to do and then do again (and again).
This includes when you don't feel like it -- when you feel like you've paid your dues and it's time for your break to come. In fact, I'd argue that it's most important to do these things in the moments when you want to throw in the towel because you feel you have nothing left to give. It's then that the lessons matter. It's then that your character shines through. It's then that you reap the benefits.
At least that's what I've been telling myself over the last few weeks: "I know that you already did this, want to give up and feel utterly exhausted. Do it again."
-Me
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