Bring On The Finest Moments Of Life: Moments That Bring Pure, Ecstatic Joy
Posted: Tuesday, November 08, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
We all want it; we all crave it. I am talking about those “finest” moments in life; the moments that produce the deepest and sweetest joy in the whole universe.
I am not talking about winning the lottery or getting a job promotion or even realizing a dream that has finally come true.
Ironically, what I am speaking of are moments of feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled because “ it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
M. Scott Peck quotes ( American psychiatrist and Author , 1936 - 2005 )
As much as we do not welcome discouragement, deep disappointment, hurt and even grieving, our spirit welcomes the challenge of growth and the willingness to empty ourselves from our own ego.
There was once a little girl who seemed to be shipped back and forth between her parents. When she was seven, her father took her to St. Louis to live with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. When she was eight, the boyfriend molested her. When her mother found out, she had the boyfriend arrested. He was found guilty, but for some reason, he did not go to prison. Instead, he was released on probation and ultimately murdered by an angry mob. This moment did something to the little girl. She felt so guilty over his death that she responded by not talking (for five years). This awful time in her life resulted in her writing poetry and now she is famous for authoring poems and books. Her name is Maya Angelou. (This story paraphrased from http://readtolearn.org/skillpacks/pdf/MayaAngelou.pdf )
This is only one example of goodness, joy and fulfillment that resulted because of a lonely, sad, awful moment; a moment that was so intense, it caused a child to become mute. Would she have known that she could write soul-wrenching poetry if not for this “finest moment?”
Are you right now experiencing pain, discouragement, lack of direction and/or feeling unfulfilled? Perhaps this is one of the “finest moments” in your life that will bring your life to fruition and guide you to be the person you were meant to be.
Once in a while, I like to binge on chocolate. At the time, it seems like a good idea. For a brief moment, I feel happy and the sweetness of the chocolate brings my taste buds to life, but after the deed is done, I realize that I could never consume a steady diet of chocolate. It is too sweet. The sweetness and over-indulgence makes me almost ill. If sweet things and chocolate were a steady diet, I would never discover foods that are good for me and taste wonderful because they are not so sweet. It’s the same in life. Would a diet of just “good things” prod us into ever discovering who we really are?”
I am challenging myself to welcome those defining moments “ of feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled because “ it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
Khalil Gibran said, “ When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ”
(Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/joy.html#ixzz1dOlIehn2 )
I am not talking about winning the lottery or getting a job promotion or even realizing a dream that has finally come true.
Ironically, what I am speaking of are moments of feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled because “ it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
M. Scott Peck quotes ( American psychiatrist and Author , 1936 - 2005 )
As much as we do not welcome discouragement, deep disappointment, hurt and even grieving, our spirit welcomes the challenge of growth and the willingness to empty ourselves from our own ego.
There was once a little girl who seemed to be shipped back and forth between her parents. When she was seven, her father took her to St. Louis to live with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. When she was eight, the boyfriend molested her. When her mother found out, she had the boyfriend arrested. He was found guilty, but for some reason, he did not go to prison. Instead, he was released on probation and ultimately murdered by an angry mob. This moment did something to the little girl. She felt so guilty over his death that she responded by not talking (for five years). This awful time in her life resulted in her writing poetry and now she is famous for authoring poems and books. Her name is Maya Angelou. (This story paraphrased from http://readtolearn.org/skillpacks/pdf/MayaAngelou.pdf )
This is only one example of goodness, joy and fulfillment that resulted because of a lonely, sad, awful moment; a moment that was so intense, it caused a child to become mute. Would she have known that she could write soul-wrenching poetry if not for this “finest moment?”
Are you right now experiencing pain, discouragement, lack of direction and/or feeling unfulfilled? Perhaps this is one of the “finest moments” in your life that will bring your life to fruition and guide you to be the person you were meant to be.
Once in a while, I like to binge on chocolate. At the time, it seems like a good idea. For a brief moment, I feel happy and the sweetness of the chocolate brings my taste buds to life, but after the deed is done, I realize that I could never consume a steady diet of chocolate. It is too sweet. The sweetness and over-indulgence makes me almost ill. If sweet things and chocolate were a steady diet, I would never discover foods that are good for me and taste wonderful because they are not so sweet. It’s the same in life. Would a diet of just “good things” prod us into ever discovering who we really are?”
I am challenging myself to welcome those defining moments “ of feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy or unfulfilled because “ it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.”
Khalil Gibran said, “ When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. ”
(Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/joy.html#ixzz1dOlIehn2 )
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)This is beautiful, Fran, so wise. I'd admire Maya Angelou, but I didn't know what her story was. It's incredible to me how people survive experiences like that, let alone triumph in their lives. Very inspiring.
And speaking for myself, it's true that when I started facing challenges and letting myself feel, instead of running, I started to feel more alive than I ever had before. Also, I have exactly the same experience with chocolate!
Wise and true words, Fran. Thanks for the reminder to embrace all that life brings to us each day.Thanks, Jean. This is what I tell myself when things aren't going the way I planned.
Excellent. It's like positive and negative, and evil vs good, without one the other cannot exist, nor would we know what it was.Yes, That's the whole thing in a nut shell. I just have to keep reminding myself of that. Thanks, Elle.
So true Fran. If we all had everything we ever wanted, there'd be nothing left to aspire to or hope for. Great article.Exactly. It is so good to hear from you. I hope your book is selling like hotcakes!
Very well said! It reminds me of a phrase my pastor used to use: Pruning hurts, but the blossoms that follow make it all worth while! Blessings to you! TI like your pastors "flowery" way of saying what we know is true. Thanks so much, Teresa
Life has defining moments and they make us what we become. Great job of telling as usual Fran.So true - those defining moments - I can look back and see a few that really stuck with me. Thanks Heidi.
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