Years ago, whenever I was talking with a friend or colleague about a difficult decision they had to make or a difficult situation they were faced with, I would do my best to console them and encourage them to remain hopeful. I would usually say,
>> “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” <<
which would typically help them realize that the worst thing they could think of - really wasn’t that bad.
Eventually, they would breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they could handle the worst. And I would feel as though I had helped them gain some perspective and calmed their nerves as well - a job well done as a friend/colleague.
I realized a few years back that this may not be the best way to help someone feel better, or for that matter to feel hopeful. After all, I was guiding them to think the worst, “take it to the grave” so to speak and imagine what that might be like. Yikes!
Even though it worked in a sense, it guided them down a dark path where they would have to think of and describe something they could tolerate and ultimately settle with. And frankly, who wants to get into that mindset?
With all that I’ve learned over my years of self-discovery and what I’ve learned about how powerful we all are manifesting our realities, I’ve found there’s a better way to go about dealing with the difficult things in life. One of my core values is Optimism, and living my life in alignment with this value has helped me look at tough decisions and situations in a new light. It’s also helped me gain more faith in general.
Let me explain how this works… When the proverbial shit hits the fan - it’s super easy to go down the poop-shoot of despair. I’ve been there many times, and I do allow myself to wallow in it for a bit, just to get out the big emotions because I know stuffing them isn’t the answer either.
After I swear, or cry or both - I begin to pull myself back together and remind myself: "Things are not happening to me…Things are happening FOR me, even if I can’t see how right now’’
Next, I ask myself, “What’s the best thing that can happen?”
This question is so wonderfully powerful! It opens me up to consider all the best possibilities. My mind starts to paint a picture of an outcome that is positive, that brings me joy and makes me smile and in no time, I’m feeling good again as I focus on what I would love to happen. And you know what? I’m playing my part in creating that future that I’m dreaming about. I’ve raised my energy, raised my vibration and I’ve sent that message out to the Universe. This is basically how the manifestation process works, and I love how doing this turns something difficult, into something beautiful.
This shift in perspective has also made all the difference in how confident I feel about myself and dealing with hard times. I know I have a way through the dark days, a path I can follow when life gets crazy. I have faith in me and I have faith in the Universe that is guiding me. I believe the Universe has big plans for me and I intend to do my part by paying attention to where I’m focusing my thoughts and energy.
>> “Faith is the acceptance of your power as a direct force in creation.” - Gregg Braden <<
So, the next time you’re faced with a difficult time, a difficult decision or a difficult situation, consider asking yourself “What’s the best case scenario?” and let your mind wander into all the goodness and possibility that can be in store for you. And while you’re at it, I recommend adding, “This or something better” so you can leave room for wonderful surprises that are even better than what you could’ve imagined.