“Love & compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” ~ Dalai Lama

“I define vulnerability as uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. To be human is to be in vulnerability.” 

“Keep your face to the sunshine & you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller

When we build a life with someone, our sense of self often intertwines with theirs over time. Our routines, decisions, and even our dreams become shared. So when that relationship ends, whether through divorce or bereavement, it’s not just the person we lose. We can lose ourselves, too.

There are many ways in which we can lose our sense of self as life changes and I thought it may be useful to think about three of the major ones in separate blogs.

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – The Dalai Lama

This quote feels particularly relevant at the moment. We are living in times where negativity, sorrow and frustration seem to fill the air. It’s hard to ‘see the wood for the trees’ on some days when the news cycle is filled with division, fear, and uncertainty. Yet, have you ever noticed how, when you try to find something positive to say or do for someone else, it not only lifts them, but it also makes you feel lighter and brighter, even if only for a short while?

“Don’t expect anyone to understand your journey, especially if they have never walked your path.” – Azeem Dawah

I came across a quote recently that really made me smile: “It’s not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line.” ~Ashleigh Brilliant.

The Healing Power of Nature: Why Time Outdoors Can Nourish Your Spirit

Sometimes it feels as if we’re never going to see the end of a stormy period in our lives and the frustration, anxiety and loss can feel overwhelming but suddenly the sun will come out from behind the clouds; the situation will ease; something will change in our reaction and life will feel brighter and the burdens and worries will feel lighter.

Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful ~ Joshua J Marine