Hope and Validation

Our first month of living a life lesson was rounded up last night as we held our monthly meeting to discuss, dissect and digest!  It seems that "life's not fair, but it's still good" had many different meanings and applications for us all as we lived through our daily ups and downs.

We shared it with our husbands, children and friends; used it many a time or some hardly at all.  But there were 2 themes that emerged from it all, Hope and Validation. 

It is food for thought to think of optimism as a distraction for the soul.  But last night a discussion emerged that aroused just that concept.  When facing a situation, particularly a emotional or stressful one, can we in fact push down our true feelings by telling ourselves it could be worse and carrying on?  

Upon reflection of my own month I found it indeed to be true that on occasion, using the philosophy encouraged me more to move onward and upward rather than to dwell on my sorry state - the jury is still out on whether this is indeed a good or a bad thing!  But one thing that we were all sure about is the importance of owning and recognising our feelings before we move forward with gratitude once more.  Validation is to 'demonstrate or support the value or truth of something'.  When we validate our feelings, we are acknowledging our own truths, or someone else's.  To be truly heard, supported and feel that what we have said or are feeling is real is so very important to the health of our relationships, and our soul.  Pausing to sense, feel and acknowledge what is really happening within us in that moment of life that just isn't fair becomes just as important as then letting it go and realising that we are surrounded by so much more.

Hope, on the other hand, is what helps us to see past the unfair and towards the good, it is what makes 'anything possible'.  So many times when faced with stress and sometimes unrelenting bad luck, this life lesson's helped many of us see past the fog of the moment and pause to realise that life is indeed full of many blessings - no matter how tough things seemed to be there was always something to be grateful for, even if it was just the smile of our child or the roof over our head that night as we slept.

So our lessons learned this month?  Indeed that Hope and Validation are food for the soul; and we must be mindful not to distract ourselves with so much that we leave our souls hungry. 

This month ahead..."When in doubt, just take the next small step" 

Join in below and let us know how you are living the lesson this month!