Trusting the Process
It’s always easier for an outsider looking in to remind me to trust the process or for me to look at your situation and remind you to trust the process and yet, when I’m in it, in the center of my own life, I’m often unable to remember to do this for myself.
What does it actually mean to trust the process? I’ve found the following four things to be true regarding this topic in general and surrender in particular.
First, I get to accept that I really don’t know what the hell is coming next with the exception of my breath and possibly the next second of life or next indicated thing. For example, the last week has challenged me personally in more ways than one. And yet, I was able to persevere and trust the process because a lot was out of my hands.
Second, I can utilize the wisdom of the serenity prayer: God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. So what does this mean? It means that I have a part of some of my life, that part of my life that is ME. Sounds simple, but it’s oftentimes “complicated”. I can only control myself in my car, not the other car that’s chugging along or the one who is flying by at dangerously high speeds, only mine. Just like the fact, I can no more control my toddler nephews or the people who are like human sandpaper to me (people I may not see eye to eye with for any number of reasons) and that friends is a humbling fact.
Third, I have an opportunity to be surprised by what Divine brings across my path. Whether it’s a person or people or beautiful sunlight or glancing at the number 11:11 on the clock. Whatever comes my way, I’m in for a treat!
Finally, this all means I get to surrender. Surrender to the process to knowing I don’t know what is coming my way and I get an opportunity to do this with an expectant heart.
This friends is the beauty of life. Oftentimes if I had been asked to make a list some almost 10 years ago about what I would want my life to be 10 years from then, I would have shortchanged myself. So while I make this a difficult thing at times, I’ve learned and continue to learn how important it is for my sanity and serenity to just go with the flow and trust the process.