Why did that happen?

You will encounter multiple events in your life that cause you to scratch your head and wonder, “Why did that happen?” You may apply for a job for which you are the perfect match and you don’t even make it to the first round of interviews. Your marriage of 25 years abruptly ends with a request for a divorce from your partner. Those sure fire investments go belly up. Those events were not what you had planned, yet you were now faced with their presence in your life. Now what? The first step is to acknowledge that they happened. Feel the emotions that surround the event. Are you feeling confused, angry, lost? Whatever you are feeling, the emotions are valid at that moment. Know that they will pass if you let them. Holding on to long-term grudges or resentments will not serve you. Remember that nothing happens by accident. You may not know why it happened for years. Eventually the event can be seen as what was needed for you to something greater. When I was sent a rejection letter for a position for which I was totally qualified, I was thoroughly confused. I learned later that the person who was hired had been groomed for that position. I burned the rejection letter as a ritual which allowed me to move forward to pursue the work I do now. I realized that they had done me a favor with that letter. I love what I do and would never go back to what I did in my earlier career. What has happened in your life that you questioned and how did it turn out to result in a positive change for you?