This is a continuation from:
Grateful For The Struggle (part 1)
(Week 4, Post 3 of the Active Rain Challenge)
In part one I discussed some of the challenges in my life and business I was grateful for, because of what they made of me (and revealed about me). Having gone through many challenges successfully also provided perspective and confidence; I did it before, I can do it again. It's allowed me to remain empathetic to how scared people can get for similar obstacles, but remain strong in my own abilities to overcome; here's what I mean:
When many of you and I went through a once in a lifetime national market crash, we no longer succumb to worry about rates that go up occasionally. When the (2022) 6% rates that used to be (2020) 3% rates cause panic; empathy towards those this affects is essential, but, to not panic and to provide facts for informed decisions, is what it means to be a professional: surviving a national market crash, as a REALTOR, makes you strong and pales in comparison most other market events. We're not grateful for The Great Depreciation of '07-'12, but we can be grateful for what it made of us, what we learned, how we pivoted into distress property expertise and helped homeowners that needed a competent professional.
Because I've had my hands 80% amputated in an industrial accident in (1989),
I did not panic at a world-wide pandemic in (2020); I've already experienced my own personal pandemic, that for me - was much, much, worse physically, mentally and logistically. I did not down-play the pandemic, but I absolutely did not allow it to own me; in fact it made me more independent and grow into a better person, it made my marriage stronger and it allowed me to improve my relationships with my friends and clients too. It could have shrunk me back, but instead it inspired me to persevere.
You may have dealt with your own "personal pandemic" and feel similar; because when you've been through a hurricane, you no longer fear the rain. We can be grateful for how experience lends to our wisdom and competence that can face down any challenge. If we have strength of character, we can be grateful for the opportunity to grow and help others that need us along the way.
Gratitude expressed erases negativity, it's impossible to be angry when we're grateful. Gratitude expressed is the secret ingredient for affecting change in yourself and others. If you have a grateful heart, your brain's reticular activator will filter and reveal amazing changes in your own attitude as well as those you surround yourself with. A gratitude journal is a great start. Incorporating gratitude in your daily affirmations is powerful. We all go through storms, but it's the only way to test the "seaworthiness" of our vessel (our minds) and stay on course.
Photo 1 by Ron Lach : https://www.pexels.com
Photo 2 by Andres Ayrton: https://www.pexels.com
Photo 3 by Johannes Plenio: https://www.pexels.com
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