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Cul-De-Sac, Sacked!
Often, we find ourselves digging deeper pits while standing in them, or perhaps pushing against the wall at the end of the cul-de-sac, eventually trapping ourselves while time whooshes past us.
If life is a maze, learn to find a way despite the thorny hedges. Otherwise, you’re likely to end up at a dead-end again.
When in doubt, go back to the basics – simplify. But how? The rule of thumb is movement! Whether it’s writing things down, tackling the simplest task, or the most challenging one, just move in a way that suits you best. Drag, crawl, limp, walk, or run – strive to be a better ‘YOU’ than yesterday.
Always remember two things go hand in hand whether you’re boiling milk or summiting a mountain – pray and forgive.
Prayer carves the way, equips you for any terrain, and instils hope.
Forgive – Forgive ourselves, as the next moment is a new one. Put a stop-loss so we don’t crumble under the weight of our thoughts or acts of anger.
Know that feeling sad, angry, or frustrated is okay, but wisdom and peace lie in enduring and accepting all the beautiful feelings and emotions. Once we are familiar with what we are going through, we know better. We could potentially tread our way through. Often focus more on having halal chicken than on combating the prohibited urge of anger.
Life isn’t a relative physics problem hence, ‘everything else’ can’t be constant to prove our life’s formula.
Life is exquisite, uniquely created for each of us. It comes in shapes and shades of being flexible, flowy, flurry, and heavy, so what do we do?
We Learn-Adapt-Experience-Repeat.
We go helter-skelter when our spirit levels are disrupted, we tilt and trip and lose our balance. Tangled with the ball of yarn like a kitten, we approach the wool from the wrong side instead of investing time to grasp the cause from the tip.
In my experience, there are three things to conquer.
1) Realign
I keep going off track a million times a day, but perseverance is a new skill I’m trying to learn. Realignment involves constantly checking in with ourselves, assessing our priorities and recalibrate our actions accordingly.
Conquer: Set small, achievable goals to create a sense of progress. Celebrate these small victories to keep yourself motivated and focused.
2) Stuck in the Past
I tend to cling to the great things I’ve achieved in the past and hold on to them as if I escaped a lion in a dense jungle and summited a mountain etc. We mention these (mostly facts) in the past tense, followed by, ‘Now I don’t do such great things’ or ‘Now I’m planning to.’
Conquer: In such a trap, don’t talk about your plans. Start showing the results to yourself first. Being true to yourself is key to achievement.
3) Consuming Anger Without an Expiry Date
Anger is a natural emotion, but holding onto it can be detrimental. When we let anger fester, it affects our mental and physical health and can damage our relationships. Learning to manage and eventually let go of anger is crucial for personal growth and peace.
Conquer: When we stop re-reading the last chapter of our life, we leave room to write a new one – Tamara Levitt.
From the past, remember the lesson, and move forward with the new YOU!
Being Poetic
In the maze of life, we often stray,
Digging pits deeper each passing day.
Trapped by walls we cannot see,
Time rushes by, unyielding, free.
When in doubt, simplify your way,
Move forward, come what may.
Drag, crawl, limp, or run,
Seek the light of a rising sun.
Pray and forgive, hand in hand,
Navigate life, understand.
Prayer paves the path, brings hope,
Forgiveness helps us all to cope.
Life’s not a constant, rigid rule,
It flows, adapts, a flexible tool.
We learn, adapt, experience, repeat,
Balance is found in each heartbeat.
Realign, recalibrate, stay true,
Set small goals, achieve anew.
Past glories don’t define today,
Show results, let actions sway.
Let go of anger, free your mind,
New chapters, fresh paths to find.
Forget the past, learn and move,
Life's rhythm, in its groove.
In every cul-de-sac, find your way,
Towards a brighter, clearer day.
With perseverance, hope, and grace,
Life’s journey, a beautiful embrace.
Let’s have Heart to Heart!
How do you navigate through life's challenges and find your way when faced with obstacles or dead-ends? Share your strategies and experiences!
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This is great Kiran! I really love the poem too! You're such a talented writer ✍️! Xxx