LIFE'S GOODNESS

 

CULTIVATING GROWTH MINDSET

A Handsome happy young man finding goodness in life / Photo Courtesy / Stefan Sterfancik

Are You the Audience?

There is goodness in life, where only a few people feel or see that goodness. The deeper things of life have their audience. That audience is small. It is small for a reason. Not everyone is always ready. Not everyone understands complex experiences that occur in life every day. Many people are educated in modern life. However, not many people have wisdom. Wisdom is a gift. And gifts in their nature are not always meant for everyone. You must earn them. They are only given to specific people who deserve them. So don’t take it personal. When you learn that you do not have wisdom. Instead, of getting upset. Try and earn it. Because the deeper precious moments of life will always be preserved for the few. The few who can handle the weight. The few who have found clarity. The few who are conscious.

People who have removed all filters. The ones who have separated chaff from grain. And have the capacity to handle the truth with care. People who can be accountable. Those that are responsible. The few that do not twist realities to fit their narratives. The few that have walked out of their echo-chambers. And are ready to face life as it is. When you get to this point. It means that you are ready to learn. And it only happens after you have eliminated so many things. Such as, stereotypes, your own prejudices, and ignorance. That you are able to see goodness in almost anything. There is goodness even in the storm. Majority would not agree. But that is the truth. In fact, finding joy in your precarious moments is one of the paradoxes of life. Don’t strain so much to understand the paradox. Take the joy. And be grateful.

So don’t be afraid. Don’t shrink. You are not alive because of them. You are alive because of the goodness in life. If you are in a phase where not many great things are happening. And some people are telling things that don’t make sense. Don’t shrink because they berated you. Don’t lose hope because no one no longer believes in you. Hang on life’s goodness. Look forward. Your destination is more important than what is happening at your departure.

It’s Not About the Fruit

A transformational leader showing life's goodness / Photo / Tiger Lily

Focus on arrival. That is important. Because if you keep looking around. You will see so many things that are not functioning. You will see a lot of people. Some who will tell you that it is over. Many that will try to convince you to abandon the mission because it does not look fruitful. However, that is not the point. It is not about the fruitfulness of the journey.

Life’s goodness is about seeing beyond what is not working. That is where goodness begins. When you go past your limitations. And still hope that something good will come out of this darkness. And when you hope. It also does not mean that you are ignoring the hardness in the situation. When you hope. You accept the reality as it is. You see the hardness. You see the complications. You come to terms with how difficult a situation might look. But still dare to challenge all those impossible realities. And declare that you will arrive. You will get whatever you need out of life. No matter the challenges or difficulties. When you hope. It means you are telling the difficult circumstance(s) that you deserve better. And you are willing to do the hard work until you get what you need. This means that the difficulties and discomforts you might be experiencing will not silence you.

You are willing to fight for a better future. And that means, you start trusting. And use your lowest moment to learn new things. You cling to some goodness that you still find in your life. And keep moving. And trust me. Making this type of decision during uncomfortable times is not obvious. There are only two things that come out during challenging times. The ugly side of someone who is going through a rough time. Or the resilient side of that person. The ugly side complaints a lot. It curses. It blames others. It resents. And really mourn the misfortune. This type of individual does not find time to reflect. The person does not open up him/herself to understand. Why he/she is experiencing the hardship. Overall, this individual does not learn anything new. Instead, he/she might experience capitulation.

Find Answers

A happy family enjoying good life / Photo / Kampus Production

The ugly side might lead an individual to lose meaning in life. The person might end up depressed. Because he/she ends up with a lot of questions with no answers. And since the person has spent so much time complaining. He/she might not have enough energy to look for answers. That is how the ugly side can land someone into depression. However, the resilient side fights. It refuses to settle and hope against hope. Even when there is nothing to hope for. The resilient side will believe that there is a greater good out of this mess. And it will focus on finding that good. The resilient person will be motivated during his/her worst days. This individual will learn new things. Things that would even lead him/her to a whole new discovery. A discovery that will end in knowledge. A resilient person will seek meaning. He/she would not just focus on the pain.

The individual will seek the meaning of that pain. This means the resilient side will lead someone to reflect on the whole moment. And this is when some people will see the mistakes that they made, which contributed to the circumstance. This group of people will celebrate the lesson. And use the knowledge to come up again. That is where goodness lies. When you get to the edge. And everything looks impossible. But you still remember that you can still rise. That you can still win even when all odds are against you. And you believe that. And start practicing winning.  

When you face rough days or rough years. Believe in the goodness of life. Goodness sustains people. Goodness restores people. Life’s goodness pulls people out of deep pits. Only a small number of people will believe that. Only a small audience will be resilient. Don’t capitulate during your worst days. Instead, find an anchor. And stand on it. The storm might be rough. Rough to an extent that you feel like you might not make it. But even in this roughness. Believe that you can get out unharmed.