Not Broken

TRANSITION STRATEGY

Finding What Was Lost

If you can change a thought, you can change the entire scope of your future to unlimited possibilities

Some loss is forever, sort of. I suggest you take the time to analyze what components of a prior activity brought you joy. Then keep a sharp lookout for any occurrence that creates those same feelings. As an example, I danced ballet for many years and it was a great personal joy. That exact activity is gone forever, it is true. But the feelings it gave me are not. I had the insight that long road trips gave me the same feelings as ballet. They were feelings that identified me: Satisfaction in my level of self-discipline, satisfaction in my level of endurance and satisfaction in my ability to skillfully move among the other performers. I felt like the real me.

We can experience feelings that identify us by just paying attention to how activities make us feel. In your new thoughts, try to look at the underside of an activity you loved. Why did you love it? What feelings did it give you? Which of your characteristics did it highlight? Which of your attributes did it make you feel proud of? What feelings identify you to yourself?

This insight created a vivid sense of reality for me. I learned that joy is not superficial. It was not just the movement of ballet that I loved. Joy comes from a deep inner level of our being. We experience joy when the attributes we believe identify us are acknowledged and highlighted.

You have not lost your feelings. Try to pay attention to your feelings and allow yourself to feel joy.

Please don’t forget that mental activities work the same way as the physical. Pay attention to the feelings your mental activities bring so you can expand those feelings into new ideas. Try to appreciate every level of yourself; every feeling, every mental activity that identifies you to yourself. Our deepest levels are our most meaningful ones.