Grow through what you go through

As we move together through this human experience, it is near impossible to go unscathed. It’s a matter of mere statistics and, at some point, we are destined to face adversity. We are a culmination of those experiences. The good, the bad and the heinous. Yet, through it all, nothing goes wasted.

We are malleable and so they shape us. We are thinkers and so they teach us… something. They do not define us. There is no predetermination for who we will become, for there is free will.

If we let them, those past experiences can become negative and inflexible templates. They can adversely affect how we see ourselves, others and the world in which we live. By infiltrating our thoughts, feelings and belief systems, they can ultimately become destructive patterns of behavior.

The past can drive the future if we let it. Rear view mirrors were made small for a reason for, if we spend too much time looking back, we’re sure to crash. We need to understand our past so that we can learn from it, but to let it consume us is unproductive.

All we have is now. If we desire different outcomes, we can choose more wisely, we can be more purposeful and we can act more swiftly. Be not afraid of change, be more afraid of not changing.

Like the transformation of the lotus flower we can rise from the muck. Out of the dark and into the light. We can find a way to break free and become something new. A magnificent new version of ourselves. We can become even stronger and more vibrant than before.

Lotus flowers are synonymous with survival. They symbolize courage and healing and illustrate the journey toward awakening and new beginnings. Your wound is your genius. We can empower others by sharing our experiences and our stories of hope and resilience. Whatever your struggles, you should know that there is hope for a better tomorrow.

The deeper the mud, the more beautiful the lotus blooms—