“Sometimes, you have to be willing to open your heart to receive your blessings.”
-Lynn F. Austin
Blessings? Whenever I am feeling stressed, pressured, or the tensions of life seem to be closing in on me, I close-off from people and create distance – space so that I can breathe, think. Where are the blessings in that?
Stressors trigger this reaction in me. My former executive coach called it, “in the grip.” It is the subject in a book titled “In the Grip: Understanding Type, Stress, and the Inferior Function” by Naomi Quenk. Although as far back as I can remember, stress always triggered that response in me. It wasn’t until it was pointed out, that I truly realized how this “interior function” also closes me off to blessings.
Stress affects the mind, body, and spirit. While for me it feels safe to “close-off” or remove myself from the perceived “imminent danger,” doing so blocks my opportunity to receive. This reaction essentially blocks my blessings. Closing-off, creating distance takes me away, farther from the opportunity, lesson, benefit that will allow me to grow, prosper, and thrive. In the end, sometimes it is necessary to identify, understand, go through, and therefore mitigate the stress. Like I always say…Life happens for you [not to you] to live your purpose.
About
Lynn F Austin, MBA, is an author and speaker. Her messages reflect her courage and commitment against fear, doubt, and disbelief. Dedicated to serving causes impacting domestic violence and at-risk youth, she strives to inspire others to live their purpose.
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