Entry #33: Adversity Leads to Pain, Pain to Experience, Experience to Wisdom

Last month we explored that if you can change the way you see life’s adversities, you will grow profoundly as a person. I get asked, “How am I going to make it through this season in my life? When will I get a break? When will this end?” Here’s the answer! We are all called to a purpose. You need to go through difficulties because how can you find your purpose so that you gain experience unless you live through said pain? You can’t. If I had not lived through bullying, abuse, multiple mental health breakdowns and failed relationships, I would not have ANYTHING to offer you in this magazine. I had to be in a heart-broken state for years and make a decision that I was not going to give up, even though at times I wanted to. Some of my experiences were done to me, and some were a result of bad choices I made that were my own fault. Either way, I had to get well. 

Facing the pain is the first start. It took fifteen years of allowing God to heal me in many different ways. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change the past because once you experience your healing, the gift of wisdom that is birthed in you is life altering. If you don’t give up, you will then understand everything. 

As promised last month, let’s dive into the first pain that is something we all go through. Grief and loss comes in many forms. According to the Harvard Medical School’s website at health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/5-stages-of-grief-coping-with-the-loss-of-a-loved-one, the five stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Everyone will go through these stages in an order that is unique to each individual because we all cope with grief and loss differently. 

Remember this, your hardships allow you to gain experience and the wisdom to help other people. What a beautiful gift! Don’t you agree?

 

 

Stephanie Preston creates powerful, humorous videos on managing bipolar disorder symptoms. She is a Social Service Worker, Health Care Aide and suffers from severe bipolar depression herself. She is the proud wife of St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston, loves being a grandma and is Crossfit obsessed. Follow her at www.tiktok.com/@bipolaronthebrain and www.facebook.com/bipolaronthebrain.