Shit happens
Photography by Danielle Ann Rose @bydanielleannrose
My friend Ollie asked me to write a blog post called “shit happens,” so that’s exactly what I did
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Sometimes things happen for seemingly no reason and we can feel as though it’s cruel, unfair, or that it has potentially changed the direction of our lives without us having any say in it. When something like this happens it can be difficult to move past and come to terms with, but rather than dwelling on what’s happened and the things we can’t change, try looking for the good in the situation and trusting that it was supposed to happen for your highest good. I know that is easier said than done and it can sometimes feel like there is nothing good that could possibly come from it and that there is no real reason for any of it but if hindsight has taught me anything it’s that, the lessons and blessings always reveal themselves in the future and things become so much clearer once the heightened emotions have settled and life moves forward divinely
I remember so clearly this one day, years ago I was crying and asking the universe why something was happening to me and begging to understand the reason behind it, saying how could this painful situation possibly be for any good reason. Fast forward to now, I can see that if I wasn’t pushed in that way I wouldn’t have grown into the person I am now. Our most difficult days mold us into the people we were born to be and although it sucks that it felt so awful when it happened, I’m at peace with it now because I understand what it meant for me in the grand scheme of who I am and what I’m here to create in this lifetime
Shit happens, but it’s how we choose to respond to that shit that matters. It’s what we allow it to mean for us that determines our future and whether or not we let it keep us down or use it as fuel to motivate us to move forward
A few months ago I was in a car accident, I wasn’t hurt but my car was crushed and deemed a total loss. This was obviously very upsetting because I really loved my car but instead of being sad about it, I said “I’m trusting that this was meant to happen. What if this crash happening prevented me from being in a worse crash further down the road that could have potentially caused me physical harm, rather than just damage to my car.” This outlook allowed me to move forward without stressing too much about something that was completely out of my control, and rather than holding too much attachment for the loss of something I cared for, I was able to be excited about getting a new car instead
During this time I kept hearing the words - the universe really said “upgrade” because the car market is absolutely insane right now and brand new cars are cheaper than second-hand ones, caused by long wait times from manufacturers. So after everything that happened I upgraded to a brand-new car, which feels really exciting and honestly so perfect. At first, those words just made me laugh, but the phrase stayed in my mind for weeks and it actually really helped me during the days when I felt overwhelmed by the situation or out of my depth with car research. It continuously reminded me that it was out of my hands, it was supposed to happen, and that everything would work out for the better
Affirmations to help move through resistance and into trust
“Everything is happening for me and my highest good, in absolute divine timing”
“I am not what happens to me, I am what I choose to become”
When we stay open to what life has to offer, instead of holding on too tight to the way things were “supposed to be” we allow greater possibilities and opportunities to make their way to us. We are not defined by the things that happen to us in life, though how we choose to respond to those events can determine what comes next for us
Something I’ve learned the hard way is that we might think we know what’s right for us but the universe knows what’s better. We can make plans but that doesn’t mean that’s what’s actually going to happen
If life takes a turn and you get redirected, you are completely entitled to grieve the life you thought you were going to live and feel whatever you want to feel about that change of plans, but you cannot stay there. If you can learn to embrace the change, form new connections and create new experiences, you will realize that it’s better to make the most of what you do have rather than dwell on what’s been lost
Expressing your emotions about what’s happening is healthy and I encourage you to not shy away from them and to feel them fully because let me tell you the most beautiful and soul-refreshing breakthroughs come after the breakdowns. It is through the pain and facing the uncomfortable that you’ll find your peace and vibrancy again, there is no bypassing those deep emotions, but that’s where the growth is, that’s when awareness and realisations come though, that’s when everything starts to make sense and you can release what is no longer serving you and open up to what’s meant for you
Even if you don’t believe there is a reason something happened, or that nothing good could ever come from it, choose to give it a reason, give it a purpose that helps you to process it and move forward. Life can feel incredibly unfair and difficult at times, but if we aren’t actively trying to pursue a better experience for ourselves we can get stuck in a dark place unable to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Give yourself a light, or be the light yourself. Your future self deserves it and will thank you for never giving up
As the saying goes “when one door closes, another one opens.” Trust in the process that when something is being removed from your life it’s because it’s making space for something so much better
“Shit happens, so even better shit can happen” - Oliver Jackson 2022
