Trauma or Triumph? CHOOSE Your Filter.

When we hear the word filter, majority of us assume we are discussing the newest Snapchat filter that turns all our faces into adorable owls or something. Cute, but today I am addressing a slightly different kind of filter. Not so much the outer one we can apply, but the inner one…we can also choose to apply.

Life does not exist without balance. Which means, to be alive wouldn’t be a thing without some natural contrast along the way. Any living creature frolicking about this planet is going to have its fair share of both positive and negative experiences. The Laws of the Universe are inevitable. This may sound terrifying, but in fact, it’s good news. All subjects, topics, and categories of life are perfectly balanced. We can take any subject and easily list the Pros and the Cons. There is “good” and “bad” available to us at all times. So which do we wish to stock up on? Certainly, I do not recommend ignoring the negative experiences, turning a blind eye, living in denial, or repressing our own feelings. Sh*t happens. We would be foolish to pretend it doesn’t. But we would also be foolish to allow ourselves to get stuck there. Acknowledge the “bad” and then CHOOSE what comes next.

“HOW WILL I CHOOSE TO SEE THIS?” A question I ask myself with each new hurtle.

Do you remember the movie, “Apollo 13” from 1995? During the big climatic finale, as the crew attempts to bring everyone home safely, a gentleman brashly states, “This could be the worst disaster NASA has ever experienced.” To which is replied with, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.” That is a quote I have been hearing echoing in my head for the past 3-days. It is all about the power of perspective and our perspective comes from choice. Every day we get to stand in the face of difficulties, hardships, traumas, tragedies, and challenges, while deciding how we will choose to see beyond their surface appearance. When faced with contrast there is always something we can pull from it. Yup, I said always. I used an absolute. That’s how brave I feel in this blog today. It is up to us to decide the lesson, the growth, and the reason. Saying, “what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger” feels vague and understandably annoying. So, let’s get more specific.

I have zero secrets in my life, as I believe secrets are the fast lane to a shame spiral. No thank you. I am an “ask me anything” kind of person and I wouldn’t want to be any other way. As a child, I too was 1 in 4. Meaning, I was a “victim” of sexual abuse. Here is why I put victim in quotes. Because I am a victim of nothing. Being molested could OBVIOUSLY be seen as a tragic trauma. No doubt. All true. Or….it is ALSO the catalyst that taught me unconditional forgiveness, compassion, and empathy. As a small child, because of this hardship, I discovered my gift of insight. With the help of a professional child psychologist, by 8-years old, I was learning how to locate an emotion, identify it, and verbalize it. Long before emojis were emojis, I was staring at a poster of 25+ cartoon facial expressions, being invited to point out the one that resonated with me in that moment. I also learned how to observe my abusers objectively and with compassion, often wondering… “What happened to them? How and why did they fall so far out of alignment of who they truly are?” My heart didn’t break for me, it broke for them.

Nobody sails through life without contrast. But not everybody remembers just how powerful they are. YOU. You are so powerful. You can transmute ANYTHING. No matter how rough, tough, sad, or hopeless a situation can often feel, you are never not connected to Spirit. You are never not being guided by those loved ones that now reside on the side of the non-physical. You are never without your own inner power. You are never without the power of perspective. YOU GET TO CHOOSE. Every moment or every day.

We choose filters for our photos. We can also choose the filters in which we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. Heaven and Hell are right here, right now, unfolding before us. By choosing our perspectives, our thoughts, and the filters in which we see through, we are choosing whether we are vibing in our own personal Heaven or suffering through our own personal Hell. We are never not in control of our minds.

Stay powerful my friends. Keep transmuting! Find the silver lining, no matter how difficult that task may feel. YOU GOT THIS.