October 25: Day 117

STONE FOUR CONTINUED
 
Discern: It is my responsibility to discern what works for me and what does not, always remembering that what may not resonate with me today may resonate at another time.

Instruction: Be open to the results.

Sometimes we try things and think, Well, that didn’t go so well. We might be prone to give up at that point and try something else. There is nothing wrong with that, but, sometimes, if we would just give it a few more tries, we might be surprised. We understand that trying to put a square peg in a round hole can be a waste of effort, but not everything is as black and white as that analogy. If our initial results felt disastrous, we might wait a long time before giving it another attempt, but leaving the door open to the possibility that we might try again helps us to keep an open mind about life. Perhaps a date went horribly wrong even though you thought that individual could be your true love. Perhaps it was the Universe nudging you to say, “This one is not for you,” or, perhaps, you both came with unrealistic expectations. Maybe a second attempt might play out more favorably. Much of life is about taking a chance and sticking our necks out. We don’t want to come across as foolish or be made fun of, so our attempts at times can be tenuous. For others who care less about what people think, their forward approach might be off-putting to some. Sometimes, we can lose a relationship because we are not comfortable with the initial impression a person makes.

Our illustrations can also be applied to the spiritual/religious realm. Some people are attracted to flamboyant personalities. When someone with a quieter, perhaps even meager, personality comes along, they might not think much of who they are or what they have to say, but sometimes those who speak the softest can have deep spiritual insights. As we learn to accept and embrace different personalities, we can discover that each has something to offer us. Some might challenge us and test the limits of our patience, but patience grows as it is stretched. When we find things that work for us, that is a wonderful feeling and a help to us on our spiritual journey, but discounting something as meaningless without ever giving it a second or third chance might cause us to miss out on a grand experience.

As we suggested on Day 116, our assignment is to consider things we might have wanted to do or experience but gave up on after a few attempts. Using our abilities to discern, we look at experiences that draw us to them and “give them a go.” Allow this assignment to include the physical, mental, and spiritual aspect of your life.