Handling the regret of missed opportunities.

This week we will look at how to handle the callings we haven't answered, how to let go of these so that they don't hold us back and how to move forward.

As I've been looking at the concept of "callings" closer through this series, I've had some realizations. For whatever reason I'm great at answering my bigger callings. I will take on large community projects, donate my time, teach, coach, mentor or contribute in other ways. Yet, what stops me short are the daily promptings. The prompting to offer a homeless person my left-overs, make that phone call to an old friend, or gift the last protein bar in my purse. The small ones, I find easier to argue with.  

Regardless, it is all ok to not be perfect, but it is important to be aware. 

My friend and mentor, Sandy Hogan, spoke to me about how to best handle missed opportunities when we do not listen to our calling and "wake up one day to realize the bus has left the station and I'm not on it." These are called regrets. The following is her advice on dealing with these regrets.

#1 - "There is a benefit to regret. You won't let it happen again. Disappointment helps the ego to understand the value of your gifts to life." In other words, you are disappointed because you care and value what passed. 

#2 - "The clearer you are, the more willing you will be to take the step." As we examine our disappointment, we become more clear what we value.

#3 - "Allow yourself to grieve dreams unfulfilled. Grieving and remorse may also act as a reset and adjust the calling in a more appropriate way that is in alignment with current resources. For example, I could have been a tightrope walker in my 20s. I'm now a tightrope walker between aging and saging in my 60s."

#4 - "Nature never wastes anything if you don't hear the doorbell the fist time, spirit will come around and next time ring it twice. Spirit doesn't give up. We do." 

#5 - "Examine your commitment levels."  Maybe you were not ready to commit yet. What might you need to say no to in the future, in order to say yes to something greater? 

#6 - "To relaunch your hope, answer what is immediate today. See your life as a gift today."

Reflecting on Sandy's wisdom reminds me of how powerful it is to place the mind in allegiance to the heart. Many people live in their head and then wonder why they worry. Well if the answers are in the heart, of course life would feel worrisome, we are looking in the wrong place for our answers. 

What is your heart calling you to do?

What will it take to follow it?

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