This year, I’ve had a revelation that has reshaped how I see my life and the world around me. It’s not that life stopped throwing challenges my way—it’s that I’ve stopped labeling those challenges as “bad.”
I used to see rejection as failure, delays as roadblocks, and setbacks as signs that I wasn’t enough. But now, I see them for what they really are: moments of protection, growth, and redirection. It’s not that bad things stopped happening—it’s that I’ve started seeing the purpose behind them.
Trusting the Process
I’ve come to trust that everything happens for a reason, even if I don’t understand it in the moment. When something doesn’t work out, I know it’s because something better is on the horizon. When the timing feels off, I trust it’s because I’m being given an opportunity to grow or prepare.
This shift hasn’t been easy. Letting go of control and trusting the process means leaning into uncertainty. But with time, I’ve realized that the discomfort of uncertainty pales in comparison to the peace that comes from surrendering to what’s meant for me.
Lessons in Disguise
Every failure I’ve experienced this year has taught me something I didn’t know I needed to learn. Some lessons were humbling, others empowering, but all of them were valuable. Instead of seeing these moments as the end of something, I now see them as the beginning of something new.
When relationships ended, I gained clarity about who I am and what I want. When opportunities slipped through my fingers, I discovered paths I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. Every door that closed was quietly making room for something better to come through.
A Mindset of Liberation
The most freeing part of this mindset is realizing that I’m not a victim of my circumstances. I’m an active participant in my own life, capable of finding meaning in every experience. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” I now ask, “What is this teaching me?”
This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending that pain doesn’t exist. Pain is real, and it’s valid. But even in pain, there is purpose. Even in loss, there is transformation. And even in the hardest moments, there is an opportunity to grow.
Choosing to See the Good
The truth is, nothing bad happens to me anymore because I’ve stopped seeing life as something that’s out to get me. Instead, I’ve started seeing life as something that’s working for me, even when it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
Every rejection is protection. Every delay is a chance to recalibrate. Every challenge is an opportunity to rise. This perspective isn’t about denying hardship—it’s about choosing to see the good that can come from it.
So, as I move forward, I carry this new perspective with me. Life will never be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. When we stop labeling things as “bad” and start looking for the meaning behind them, we free ourselves to live with more trust, peace, and hope.
And that, I’ve realized, is the kind of life worth living.
Stay Sunny,
Sherri Lee Sunshine