However, I'm GRATEFUL for every lesson my relationships have taught me because I'm now better equipped to deal with rough patches when they arise.
Here are 7 REMINDERS of how to see the GOOD in every situation:
1 We all have a STRUGGLE!
- Everyone has struggles. We don't know exactly how another person is feeling or what kind of emotional battle they're fighting.
- Before you pass judgment, consider that everyone faces a battle that they have learned to hide behind a smile.
2. Overlook the CRITICS!
- No matter what you do or how well you do, there will always be those who are critical of you.
- Do not let naysayers stop you from becoming what God has destined for you to be!
- If you want to be a singer...then sing!
- If you want to build a business...then build it!
- If you want to have a family...then have it!
- I've learned that it's a lot easier to be CRITICAL than it is to be CORRECT!
- Spend more time with the people who SUPPORT you than those who DISCREDIT you!
3. DETOX!
- Holding on to resentment and grudges is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to grow ill. It's TOXIC to your spirit!
- Ease your BURDENS by letting go of resentment!
- If you feel them starting to stir back up, STOP and CONSIDER that there's nothing that can be gained by bringing yourself down over what you cannot control!
- Tell the GHOSTS of YESTERDAY that the haunted house is closed!
- Forget about getting even with someone who HURT you, instead get even with those who have HELPED you!
4. FORGIVE!
- When you've been hurt it's hard to be at peace. But you do it anyway because you know peace is the only battle worth waging! Peace is BEAUTIFUL! Peace is the manifestation of your LOVE and the best foot forward to a brighter FUTURE!
- Being peaceful isn't always easy. In fact, I think it's much harder than being ANGRY or VENGEFUL! It requires you to STAY CALM and LET GO of the pain!
- It requires you to FORGIVE & MOVE ON!
- You don't do it for the person that hurt you...you do it for you!
5. WORK for it!
- No matter if it's a FRIENDSHIP or an INTIMATE relationship, when someone loves you...you'll KNOW it! It's in the way they LOOK at you, SPEAK your name or EMBRACE you. You know your SOUL is safe in their care.
- To me, it's much more than any physical interaction...it's a SILENT connection that you can feel in your veins. You feel at HOME with them. But this doesn't happen overnight.
- Relationships require growth and often that comes SLOWLY. It's how two people TREAT each other, RESPECT each other and WORK together over a prolonged period of time...through the GOOD times and the BAD.
6. Embrace the IMPERFECTIONS!
- If you're still searching for perfection in others...please STOP! You're not going to find it. In fact, what you're going to find is more imperfections than Baskin Robbins has flavors. :)
- Realize that YOU are just as imperfect as the people who are in your life. The key to embracing imperfection is finding someone whose imperfections COMPLIMENT your own.
- It takes a lot of LIVING and LIFE EXPERIENCE to realize your own imperfections! Over time, you discover your greatest FLAWS and the QUIRKS that make you, YOU!
- Quite honestly, it's only after you learn those imperfect parts of your own self that you know what your looking for in others! Someone whose SCARS and FLAWS fit your own...someone who's IMPERFECT in the perfect way for you.
7. Have faith in the POSITIVES!
- Be careful not to continuously doubt the POSITIVES in others while ignoring your own NEGATIVES!
- There is purpose for everyone you will ever meet. Some will TEST you, some will TEACH you and some will bring out the very BEST in you!
All relationships require PATIENCE and WORK! Nothing is flawless. No matter...there will always be difficulties present, but you can still focus on the GOOD! Look for what IS working instead of what isn't!
What you FOCUS on GROWS!
Blessings!