Most of us were taught to be goal oriented, whether it was a goal as big us landing a particular position on a team or earning a degree. Sometimes the goal of just getting out of bed in the morning can seem like a challenge.
When we were kids our parents, teachers and peers showed us goals we should strive for. When we failed to achieve a stated goal that others had for us, it could be especially painful for us. We may continue to carry shame and guilt for having let other people down.
Having lost a Democratic primary for Congress, I have empathy for those who take a big risk to run a race and lose. For six months before Election Day, I was totally convinced that I could win because so many people supported my candidacy. The strong encouragement I received from hundreds of supporters reinforced my belief that I was destined to serve in Congress.
When I lost the very close election, I had to accept the disappointment of my unexpected loss. I wanted to understand why I lost when so many believed I could win. I had no clue what I should do next. I had no Plan B. I had no other ambition or goal outside the realm of politics where I worked hard for better, more humane public policies.
A few days after my campaign for Congress ended, I climbed a mountain with my husband.
As I hiked in silence, I asked my soul to help me make sense of what had happened to me and to guide me into the unknown future. A deep, abiding sense of peace came over me. My intuition brought me a kind of knowing that I should have faith that I would be shown ways to use my passions and experience to take me on a new uncharted path for the next part of my life. I had a feeling I should just stay open to recognize and accept opportunities that would be made available to me.
It wasn’t long before new exciting opportunities were mine. I don’t need to share what these opportunities were. Let’s just say a wonderful new fulfilling chapter of my life began. I now realized I should feel grateful that I failed to reach the goal I had focused on intensely for six months. I appreciated all the love, support and encouragement I had received from others and I valued the lessons I learned while campaigning for votes from people in thirty-six Massachusetts cities and towns.
Everyone has had countless disappointments, failing to fulfill intentions and achieve certain goals. Beating ourselves up for our failures does us no good. Why not just appreciate whatever we learned from our efforts? Turn the page and open our awareness to see the endless new opportunities that our lives offer us day after day.
One of the best things about being retired is having the freedom to try new things. Getting out to meet people can be the way to discover opportunities to use our words and actions to make life better for ourselves and for someone else. Free time alone reading and reflecting gives us opportunities to learn all kinds of things we didn’t know. When we spend time meditating or contemplating, we have opportunities to gain insights and understanding about the purpose of our different experiences.
We all are given endless opportunities to feel and express appreciation for the people, places and situations we have been able to experience and learn from in this lifetime.
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- Our Opportunities Are Endless - April 29, 2024
