“No matter how dark the present appears, I choose to live for the promise of the future and celebrate the opportunity to learn and grow in the process.”
Even in the most normal of times, life often presents us with difficult, challenging days. Several years ago, there were many days where my son’s addictive choices seemed to completely disrupt my life and destroy my joy. Every deceptive, addiction ridden action became a distraction. Finding a cure for his addiction, changing his behaviors, managing his choices became an obsession with me. Every failure to slay the dragon of his addiction increased my frustration and fed into my resolve to win this battle. With all that was expected of me in my life, tackling his struggles was almost too much to bear.
It only changed when I empowered myself to live and celebrate my life and those components of my life I was in control of.
Here are four realities when it comes to life’s issues:
1. No matter how bad it is, it can and will get better.
2. It can only get better if and when you decide it will.
3. Things will not get better on their own!
4. Only those issues you have control over can be changed!
It begins by changing how you look at your struggles. Examine who you are giving authority to in your life. Decide how you are going to take control of what you can control and learn to let go of what you can’t.
It took a while – eighteen months to be exact; but, I finally figured it out. Try as I may, I could not change the course of my son’s life. His choices are his and I have no authority or power to stop them.
In the face of adversity or defeat or this reality…
- You can continue fight this insane battle;
- You can curl up in the pain and frustration of your failure and surrender;
- You can get busy focusing on you, what you are in control of, and begin to change your life.
I chose to change my life. You can too!
Leverage your talents, skills, and energy focusing on managing your life and those issues under your control. Tune out the noise of the chaos around you. Trust and believe in your ability to work around your issues while obtaining powerful, inspiring lessons along the way.
When you effectively manage your issues, those external distractions have less authority in your life.
When this storm passes, and it will, you will be blessed and better prepared for the next one. Plus, you will be able to share the lessons of your experiences with those struggling in their life storms.
When you choose to live the promise of the future – your future – and avoid getting up in the uncontrollable chaos of your loved one’s life, you will find the peace and clarity you desire in your life. It begins once you let go of those issues beyond your control and zero in on those challenges you have the authority to take care of. Do this and your life will be changed. Peace!
********
Is your child addicted to drugs or alcohol? Do you feel trapped on an emotional rollercoaster? I can help. I’ve been there. I’ve experienced your pain, anguish and despair. That’s why I offer private Parent Coaching by phone ($55.00 per hour). I’ve developed a 7-step strategy that helps my clients regain their emotional balance, so they can move forward and reclaim a life that is spiraling out of control, yours. To learn more, contact me.
