A Setback Or A Setup?
Setbacks, those wonderful times in life that just feel like nothing is going the way you want. When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year? The times when anything that could go wrong does. Everyone hates those times, another setback, another obstacle. Why can’t anything go right?! Ah, but what if it is? What if those setbacks aren’t setbacks at all? What if it’s one giant setup? A setup meant to propel you forward and land you right where you’re meant to be?
What’s the difference and how do you tell? You change your mindset. Change how you perceive your challenges and just like that your “setbacks” become your setups. It would be so nice if we could complete this life and learn all our lessons whilst dancing in a field of flowers surrounded by fluffy puppies and all the chocolate, but that’s not how lessons work. This human brain is far to stubborn to learn without reaction. Why do you think pain exists? Why do we have sour and bitter taste buds instead of all sweet? It’s how we learn. Don’t touch that, it hurts. Dont eat that, it’s gross. Same concept for our lessons, those moments in life when we have to change our reactions and actions to avoid an unsavory effect. We become who we are meant to be by discovering who we don’t want to be. We discover who we don’t want to be, by how bad it feels to be that person. Karma, setbacks, obstacles, closed doors, and endings are all just our setups.
Sometimes we discover our path on our own, with some ease and understanding. Sometimes the universe will have to slap us right upside the head to make our path clear. When we feel like everything has fallen apart and the rug has been pulled right out from under our feet, we have two choices. Complain, blame, and sulk because nothing goes our way, or you can put your shoulders back, head up, and strap in because you’re about to be going somewhere! Unfortunately sometimes the only way to move forward is through. Sure going around seems easier, cuts out time and mess, but around teaches us nothing. Around can become a crutch. So if you’re standing in the midst of rubble, if you’re entire life seems to be at your feet torn, burning, and unrecognizable, start walking. Your destiny is just beyond the destruction.
There are no failures in this life, no mistakes, no coincidences. Just lessons and growth. We see lessons as failures when we choose not learn. We see new beginnings as endings when we choose not to grow, we see our directional signs as coincidences when we choose to control the narrative. We choose. That’s the key here, choice. What do you choose?
Whether you’re the victim of circumstances beyond your control or in a hot mess of a storm of your own making, you’re here for a reason. The goal isn’t to undo where you are, the goal is to grow from where you are. Take these “setbacks” and make them your setups! Choose to see what you can learn and not what you’ve lost. Understand why you’ve stumbled and let go of the failure. Be thankful for where you’ve been and where you get to go and let go of holding on to places that you’ve grown out of.
It’s all choice. I encourage you to choose you. Choose to believe that you’re worth every amazing thing you can possibly have in this life. Choose to accept every tough and uncomfortable lesson that comes your way as your setups. Know why you’re hurting and know that there is no joy without suffering. You must know one to appreciate the other. No matter where you are, no matter how much of a mess you think you’re in, don’t be discouraged. Stand up straight and choose to be happy, you’re about to be shot forward. Enjoy the setup, I for one can’t wait to see your shine.