The past doesnโt exist except as a memory, a mental story, and though past events arenโt changeable, your stories about them are. You can act now to transform the way you tell the story of your past, ultimately making it a stalwart protector of your future.
Martha BeckHere is the crux of the matter, the distilled essence, the only thing you need to remember: When considering whether to say yes or no, you must choose the response that feels like freedom. Period.
Martha BeckLearning to let go of expectations is a ticket to peace. It allows us to ride over every crisisโsmall or large, brother-in-law or end-of-quarter office lockdownโlike a beach ball on water. The next time a problem arises in your life, take a deep breath, let out a sigh, and replace the thought Oh no! with the thought Okay.
Martha BeckIt isnโt necessary to know exactly how your ideal life will look; you only have to know what feels better and what feels worseโฆBegin making choices based on what makes you feel freer and happier, rather than on how you think an ideal life should look. Itโs the process of feeling our way toward happiness, not the realization of the Platonic ideal, that creates our best lives.
Martha Beck