Invisible forks in the road of life…

What happened to the road of life I’ve been traveling on?

As we travel on the road of life we do encounter numerous events that shake the foundation of our being. It can certainly feel like we’ve been smacked in the face. Here we are traveling along and ‘bam’ a “we sure didn’t see that one coming now did we” event happens.

Instantly the road of life changes.

We want to keep on the same road we were on, but that path has really vanished. Or its’ changed so drastically we end up lost. We can’t seem to find our way.

We’ve come to a fork in the road of life that isn’t really a fork at all.

We don’t really have a choice. The road we were traveling on is gone. We can’t stop time. Can’t go back. We can’t change what is. Can’t change what’s happened. If we try to, we get stuck and end up filled with suffering and misery.

We can become resentful and bitter. A part of us can feel like we’ve stopped living. Depression sets in.

Now what?

The choice we do have is to become willing rather than willful. Willingness is about opening ourselves to what is or what has happened rather than to wish it were different and regret how the road of life has changed so dramatically. When we practice willingness, we stop adding to our pain.

Live and learn

Life provides opportunities for me to glance back and see just how I’ve held on to a road of life in the past that had actually vanished. In truth my want for that particular road held me back from living fully in ways I didn’t realize until I saw that invisible fork in my life road clearly.

And, when I’ve looked back to that time of my life I see that my want for that path created pain in the present moment. I added suffering wishing for my road of life to have been different in the past.

Seems obvious to me now but for a very long time I didn’t see my longing for something no longer there clearly. By doing so, I have begun to open myself to accept what happened and feel lighter as a result.

Road of life wisdom.

I do know I would not be right here right now if that life road I was on hadn’t twisted and turned as it has. Everything unfolds as it does. It just does.

Where are the “invisible” forks on your road of life?

If you find yourself stuck wishing for a past road that can no longer be traveled upon consider practicing willingness.

You can learn more and ways to practice with willingness from this wonderful resource on the DBT Self Help website:
Willingness & Half-Smile

If you need some assistance exploring those ‘invisible’ forks on your road do reach out for professional help. Especially do so if depression is preventing you from living life fully!

Do Contact Me to begin Depression Therapy today!

JD’s Midlife Tools For Living Practices, Holland, MI
Offering Heartfelt care, Compassion and Coping Tools!