Day 32-Finding Gifts
Yesterday, we took a gentle step toward releasing the heavy weight of shame. Today, we continue that crucial work by looking for the profound gifts hidden within every past version of ourselves.
It’s completely human to look back and feel a pang of regret or to judge past phases harshly. We often forget that some lessons have to be learned multiple times. I know I have! Just when I thought I’d finally mastered setting boundaries, for example, a demanding new project pulled me right back into old habits of over-committing. The real gift wasn't perfection, though; it was the faster recognition and the ability to stop and choose a different path this time, treating myself with more compassion along the way.
Please stop judging that past self. Instead, see them as your fiercest, most persistent teacher. That person you judge is the one who kept going, who showed up, and who built the very foundation of your current strength. They truly did the best they could with the resources and wisdom they had at the time.
Through that entire messy journey, you developed formidable strengths and uncovered deep, inherent resilience. Every difficult choice and every complex lesson contributed to the undeniable wisdom that guides you now.
Your history is not a burden to hide; it is a testament to your tenacity. Hold your entire journey with deep kindness. You are whole and powerful, not despite your past, but because of it.
Word of the Day
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Romans 8:28 assures us, "in all things God works for the good of those who love him." This means even the difficult, painful, or seemingly unproductive periods of your past were not wasted. God can redeem and repurpose everything. Perhaps you learned about boundaries, about true friendship, about your own inner fortitude. Every experience, every challenge, has contributed to the powerful, insightful, and unique person you are today. Take a moment to name one strength or piece of wisdom you gained from a past experience. Discover the hidden treasures in every season of your life.
Journal Prompts
Reflect on a challenging period you've navigated. What specific strength—like resilience, adaptability, compassion, or a unique ability you discovered—did you develop or rely on during that time? How has that strength continued to serve you since?
Think about a moment when things didn't go as planned or you made a decision you later regretted. What valuable lesson or insight did you gain from that experience, even if it was difficult, and how has that learning impacted your life or perspective moving forward?
Consider a difficult past experience. How has your personal philosophy, worldview, or spiritual beliefs helped you find meaning, purpose, or a positive shift in perspective from that challenge? If you don't have a specific philosophy, what insights have you drawn from overcoming it?
