Ready for an “ah-ha” moment?!
“Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, addictive and compulsive behaviors, marital tensions, job difficulties, and physiological disorders exist to keep us aware of the state of our soul.” says Dr. John Townsend, in his powerful book Hiding from Love.
What a positive way to look at suffering. It’s a sign directing us to pay attention to ourselves and investigate what is happening internally.
I’ve always loved flying and spent a lot of time in planes. But at the height of my career in my mid 30s, I started getting panic attacks. As soon as the flight attendant announced we had to power down our devices, I would feel my heart beating. It was so loud and scared me so much, I thought I would get sick. I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack every time I had to put all distractions aside (power down my phone) and focus on myself. It was a major problem, because I was flying back and forth from Chicago to NYC weekly and cities in between. My heart was warning me that if I didn’t start paying attention to myself, something really bad was going to happen.
So I quit my job and moved to Mexico a few months later. I bought a flip phone for communication, but my time was spent surfing in the ocean, reading, writing, eating healthy, practicing yoga, and learning how to thrive without distractions, by reconnecting with my heart and soul.
Our emotional and mental states are our responsibility. We can try to hide from pain and suffering, but avoidance because of fear will always make it worse.
You can choose to use your suffering as a tool for healing. Pain can empower you for incredible growth. You just have to see your experiences through the eyes of Love instead of fear. And you may need a supporting guide to help you along.
Nothing is impossible when we are aligned with our soul.
If you’re tired of continuously hitting your head against the proverbial brick wall, if the pain of being stuck is too great, why not choose a different outcome. Use the signs to discover your Self, and start living a life filled with meaning, adventure and passion.