Flattening Out The Creases

If life is a sheet- there are way too many creases!

By Alfiya Laxmidhar

Therefore, I propose that we get that iron out and start flattening out the creases.

Creases in life are those little peaks that trip us up, repeatedly. They will keep tripping us up if we let them. Yet, if we are sharp and aware enough, we can begin to flatten those peaks out by making a mental shift.

In my humble opinion, I don't think changing the behavior is enough. The mind is way too strong and clever, that we will end up self-sabotaging the changed behavior and go back to our old ways.

Therefore, some true introspection and courage are necessary to go deep within our minds and see what exactly is tripping us up. It takes a bit of grit to willingly see what we have the tendency to avoid, perhaps as a survival mechanism. The flight or fight mode. However, that thing that we don't want to see is a form of denial. Do you know what denial looks like in your life? More creases! It seems like a vicious cycle. Yet, on the brighter side, the flattening out of one crease can have a ripple effect to smooth out more and more creases which, in turn, is a healing cycle.

Ironing in life requires consistency and dedication because my friends, that head of ours is pretty determined to have its own way and seems to enjoy misery a little too much if that is what we have been feeding ourselves for the majority of our life.

The negative thoughts which translates into unwelcomed feelings, may be the only mechanism we have allowed for our mind. Yet, there is a another way to turn around the sorrows into satisfaction and the grief into gratitude. If we have been stuck in this emotional stagnancy for too long, we may even think there is nothing wrong with thinking and feeling a certain way, even if it isn't helping anyone. However, I would be disinclined to trend this way in life as not only is this a death sentence but the ones we are hurting the most when we only focus on the negative are the ones we love the most. It is a hard pill to swallow but if we cannot change our ways of being and behaving for ourselves, then at least we could try to start smoothing out our lives for the sake of others.

It is easier to think about other's welfare rather than our own (well that is true if you are on a path of altruism) which I believe all potential writers are. Therefore, if there are obvious creases in your life, I would recommend to give priority to smoothing this out as opposed to waiting for it to take care of itself. Life is too short to wait. Life is waiting for action and attempt to right wrongs or to quit judging others for being who they are in that moment.

As life moves on and travels on its own timeline, we have no choice but to keep enjoying the ride as much as we can. Therefore, I think it is important that we try to ensure the ride is smooth as possible.

Whether a relationship needs mending, an apology needs to be offered, self-forgiveness needs to be implemented, the truth needs to be told, something needs to be returned or giving the time to listen to others, we all have a responsibility for what happens in our own life. It is time we start to get that iron out and start the hard work of smoothing out the creases to improve the quality of our lives and others.