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Anna's avatar

I appreciate the line — ‘Shift your perspective from one of abandonment to alignment’ because often we experience a sense of loss over past friendships or connections. Even if the loss may be real, we’re usually still connected to the past through memories, good or bad. Abandonment often means renouncing what we once thought was valuable. In this case, we have consciously chosen to walk away from something that might have once held value or meaning. In my case, I decided to ‘abandon’ my teaching career because it was no longer aligned with my interests or priorities at the time. These kinds of choices are often existential because we’re faced with determining what does indeed align with our sense of self. That, as you suggested, usually requires time. James Hollis emphasizes that making choices in life should focus on whether a decision enlarges or diminishes your sense of self. I like that distinction. Do I see myself ‘enlarging’ (or growing) as a person, or do I see myself feeling diminished (or more minor) when I choose to engage in a new activity or person?

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Grace Grossmann's avatar

Your reflections and reminders are so REAL Derek!

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