What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

Intentionally revisiting difficult chapters can be, well… difficult. This question is a rearview mirror on your bad decisions and regrets- those things in which you had a choice.

I throw out this journal prompt* this week not to bring you down- quite the opposite. By taking a few minutes to reflect, you stand to gain perspective on whatever you’re going through right now.

Looking back on tough times and the lessons you took away helps remind you of 1) how far you’ve come and 2) that you’re stronger and more resilient than you think.

For all of my overachievers, I’d encourage you not to go nuts with this exercise. Just pick one. Once you have one of these “hard way” moments in your mind, you can look for some patterns. What assumptions did you make? Where were you doing more hoping than working? What happened in your head and heart when you realized things weren’t going to work out as planned? What happened externally? How did your friends, family, coworkers, etc. react?

Now pick a current challenge you’re facing. What applies? Are there any life lessons you might use now?

I hope you’re having a great (in however you define it) summer. Let me know how things are going!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
- C. S. Lewis