Detour Ahead

                                                                                        

I’ve looked at this sign so many times in my life. Until recently I never thought much about it. The confusion I felt every time I came upon this sign was compounded by the thought “ not again”! How many more times would I have to have to alter my course and why? The why, was always the biggest question in my mind. Being an empath made those changes even more difficult to endure. I like things comforable and uneventful. I’m a smooth water kind of girl who will go the distance to avoid conflict or confrontation! Why? Because being an empath means you feel not only your own inner consciencouseness but also absorb all that is around you. It can be terrifying at times, and when that detour sign comes up once again and my life silently says “time to alter your course Diane, you have something new to learn” I panic!

I’ve always been the kind of person that looks for the positive in any situation. To coin a phrase, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Part of making lemonade for me, is looking inward to reflect on the lessons being learned and apply them to my life, to learn and grow. It hasn’t always been an easy task though, as that inner voice creeps in. Struggling with self-esteem and the difficulty I have in trying to feel like I belong, can hinder that lemonade outcome. To top things off, when I make a mistake it can send me on an emotional ride and during that ride all I hear is the negatives that were placed on me during my life from people who tried to keep me down and controlled. Unseen scars on the outside can really play tricks on you on the inside. As a result I knew I needed to refine my thoughts. 

While enjoying some time away recently, I finally realized that I can let go of all that was with relational things with extended family, work issues and bullies in the workplace, and most of all that Negative Nelly voice inside my head that says you are not worth anything. I am taking one more detour so that I can fully embrace what I know is true and to thumb my nose at all the negative that was and fully embrace all the positive in my life. So many times, I concentrated on the negative that I didn’t even see the impactful influences that were there, helping me on my path. 

Self-care and self-acceptance are the new detours I am on. While I know I will always be a work in progress, it doesn’t mean I can’t live in the moment, right where I’m at and fully accept all the good I bring to the world. In the end, I’ve had amazing people come into my life that truly love and accept me, flaws and all.For me, it means I will not allow others to continue diverting and detouring me on my one true path in life but instead look for the helpers that light the way. 

The next time you see a detour sign, take a moment to think about all the things you might see along the way. Instead of grumbling like I used to do, use it to learn and grow and become all that you wish to be! Take that moment and be thankful for all of the lessons you learned along the way and rejoice in where that path has brought you.