Diamond Hunting 💎
Review Practice #2 : Diamonds in the Dustheap
After laying a foundation of calm and appreciation with our first exercise, this next task continues in the theme of shifting our focus away from the flaws and towards the fabulous.
For this exercise, cast your mind back over the previous year to see if you can - with the benefit of hindsight - identify any blessings in disguise.
All of us have challenges to deal with, some would argue they're what makes life interesting, meaningful or worthwhile.
The last couple of years have certainly brought some unprecedented circumstances to navigate.
And yet, the fact that the entire globe has been united in common challenges has led to many positive ripple effects - nations working in unity, humankind finding new levels to support and protect each other.
Though it may have been an unusually challenging few years in many ways, there were undeniable gems to be found; higher levels of compassion, creativity, service, innovation, devotion, basic human kindness and moments of grace - these have been visible at every turn.
So, now it's your turn to unearth the diamonds from your personal experience of the year.
What are the gems?
What gifts arose from the challenges?
As you look back, what were the trials that made you stronger, wiser, kinder or more creative?
Again, make an initial list of your personal diamonds, those precious assets formed under pressure, the results of another half-year of lessons in The School of Life.
But remember that just posing this question will spark even more realisations of how any trials have served you in some way, so keep adding to your list as you discover more helpful gems.
“Regularly take an inventory
of your strengths and achievements.”
Janine Leccia (LVMH)
BONUS POINTS:
If you'd like to go for the Advanced Level of this practice - see if you can say Thank You to the challenges, appreciating the gifts they brought you.
You might find that this will not only help you enjoy more inner peace and calm, but also that old problems lose some of their charge, they may even begin to fall away naturally.
There's a spiritual teaching that we will keep being presented with our challenges until we learn the lessons they bring.
The closing of a year is the perfect time to bring old patterns to a healthy and helpful resolution - clearing the way for a fresh new energy to fuel you through the next phase of the year.