Unimaginable Value

"I had it all, so much so that not many people could ever understand how great it was!"

• Terry Gurule
  

Unimaginable Value

I sat in Terry's kitchen talking with him about his situation. I could tell he was dealing with much more than he was comfortable with. Perhaps the most difficult thing for him was his belief that others were depending on him and his ability to continue to care for them. "I don't want to have to tell my brother and his family that they need to leave their home." He said in a pleading voice.

Terry owns more than one home and his brother, along with his family, is living in one of them. Terry lives in the other one; the one we were sitting in. Unfortunately, he owes more money on both of them than they are worth in today's struggling real estate market. And, his business has collapsed. Now he is participating in a "forced-learning life situation."

I say forced-learning because he didn't willingly put himself in a situation like this. He's being forced to discover things about himself, and the world, that he never thought he'd have to face. It's a process most of us have to go through at one point or another in our lives. It's uncomfortable and difficult.

I know a little about this process because I've had to cope with it on several occasions. And, as a result, I know that I'd never willingly face this challenge. So, I suspect that you'd never willingly face this challenge either! But there is one aspect that I have learned to embrace.

I've learned that there are valuable lessons available to learn for those who would become willing students of life. Just because you're being forced to learn doesn't mean you can't hold close to the lessons being offered. If you will embrace such lessons you'll find you can move through the challenges presented more quickly and with considerably less pain.

I have observed that those who take the different route of fighting the lessons generally take a much longer time to move through their schooling. In fact, there are some that never graduate from the school but languish in self pity and pain for the remainder of their so-called-life. I don't want you to live like that so here are some steps I've found to be helpful when you find yourself in a forced-learning life situation. It's the same advice I offered to Terry two nights ago:

Surround yourself with at least one person who has been through what you're currently facing. Such a person will be able to talk with you about the lessons they learned. They may not be the same lessons, but they'll be similar enough that you'll be able to gain new insights.

Second, break down the issues you're facing into pieces and tackle them one at a time. This will enable you to more readily see your progress and will consistently increase your hope and while restoring your faith in yourself.

Third, realize that millions of other people have faced and conquered exactly what you're dealing with. Knowing this will enable you to see the end from the beginning. You'll know that if "they can do it," you can do it too!

Finally, look around and concentrate on the good things in your life. Even though these things may seem small at present it will teach you that the smallest good far outweighs the worst thing that can happen and you'll soon come to realize that even the smallest amount of good has a value greater than you ever imagined!