Lessons learned on the journey of life

Simone S Smart shares some of the lessons learned over the years that have helped in her quest to become all that God has called her to be

Have you ever reflected on those ordinary sayings that, when acted on, lead to extraordinary results? Growing up as a little girl, having my grandma come to stay with my parents and I for a significant period of time – and effectively being nurtured by two sagacious matriarchs – was such a blessing.

“Give the world the sunshine; tell Jesus the rest” was one of Grandma’s favourite sayings and, as a cheeky five-year-old, hanging on to the hem of her skirt at every turn, I regarded my gran as a bit of an enigma. Back then, I used to wonder who is this ‘Jesus’ character she’d refer to, but little did I know that the words – and many others I grew up with – were taking hold of my soul.

Living in an age of constant notifications, endless comparisons to carefully airbrushed images, and the pressure to keep up with today’s microwave-quick, societal demands, we need to know that it is OK to stop, breathe and compartmentalise; know when to offer that ray of sunshine to a friend in need; and know when to surrender those burdens at the altar to Jesus.

Giving light to the world does not deny difficulty; it offers a way of living through it. However, let me be clear, where those burdens are particularly heavy – for instance, relating to issues like addiction, childhood abuse, domestic violence or any similar emotionally or psychologically heavy problems – it is important, firstly, to recognise them for what they are and seek professional help. Know that there is no shame in the game when dealing with matters affecting your mental health and well-being, because attaining healing and wholesomeness is priceless. Never hide pain behind the smile, because what is not tackled today will certainly tackle your tomorrow.

And, on the topic of pain, if handled correctly, it is the very thing that can lead to your gain. Disappointment can teach resilience, and mistakes, when meditated on, can reveal wisdom and, in some cases, shine a light on the path ahead. “The history is in your mystery” – the words of my spiritual adviser and mentor, Bishop Dr Wayne Malcolm – ring true so loudly to anyone willing to hear.

Having traversed some valleys in life, including reversing stage 4 endometriosis symptoms, it was when my mindset went from “Woe is me” to “Wow is me” that the scales fell from my eyes and I could start to see how adversity can lead to advantage, trials lead to triumph, and pain lead to purpose.

Many years ago, I had a strong desire to start to self-actualise, realising one day that life, as we know it, isn’t it. There is a better way of living for God; there is a better way of loving, selflessly like Jesus did; and there is a better way to make a living – the Holy Spirit, purpose-led way.

Your history is not there to imprison you, but to impress upon you that sometimes life’s hardest lessons come to show us an alternative way to do life.

So, how can we elevate our thinking? I offer a three-fold premise for your consideration: de-layering, un-layering and re-layering – effectively removing those die-hard habits that no longer serve us, and rebuilding them with faith, wisdom and authenticity. Consider the butterfly that naturally undergoes metamorphosis in order to grow and develop; we humans are no different. It can be a painful process, though, and requires deep introspection and honesty with self, and then a willingness to actually take that next step.

This point requires underlining, because how many people do we know who would pontificate all day long, yet, when it comes to opening up their minds to an unconventional way of ‘doing life’ – like watching that thought leader on YouTube or taking that health check and booking the doctor’s appointment – all of a sudden, the prevaricating begins? If it becomes clear that something is not working out, and you are doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result, it may be time to try something, er, different!

I have learnt that life has been, and continues to be, my greatest teacher. It is only when I have been willing to open my mind to new possibilities that I have discovered who and whose I am, but, more importantly, I have discovered who I am becoming.

SIMONE S SMART
Radio presenter, story-selling strategist, public speaker, and author of Life Lessons Learned: The Journey from Girlhood to Womanhood. Available on Amazon.