The other day, a reader’s comment on our post, “15 CoJ Posts That Made Me Cry,” made me think. The reader, Stem, expressed the difficulty of feeling inspired by our content and then struggling to maintain that inspiration at home. Stem perfectly captured the challenges of being a mom, including dealing with a preteen who can be surly but also wants moments of affection. Stem’s honesty resonated with me deeply.
I believe many of us can relate to Stem’s sentiments. Life is filled with tough moments, just as much as it is with bright ones. I shared this insight with Stem, and it seems to have struck a chord.
A quote by Hugh MacKay captures the complexity of life beautifully. He speaks of the pursuit of happiness and argues for the importance of experiencing sadness, disappointment, and failure as part of a whole and fulfilling life.
“I actually attack the concept of happiness…Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain they say, ‘Quick! Move on! Cheer up!’ I’d like just for a year to have a moratorium on the word ‘happiness’ and to replace it with the word ‘wholeness.’”
How do you feel about this perspective? What does “a whole life” mean to you? What advice has helped you through difficult times?
As for me, I find joy and humor in the everyday interactions with my children. Their candidness can be both hilarious and eye-opening. It’s all part of the journey of life.
How are you feeling lately? Let’s navigate this wild journey together, always striving for wholeness. xoxo
P.S. You are more beautiful than you think, and what’s the best advice your therapist ever told you?
(Photo by Lea Jones/Stocksy.)
