Saying No to An Opening

I am so caught up in my “journey” that I sometimes think that every Opening that appears must be walked through. In my past, some Openings have worked, and some haven’t. Looking back, I don‘t think I needed to say yes to all of them.

Not Every Opening Is Right

Life is full of opportunities. Part of the challenge in life is to understand the choices we make when we say yes to Openings. To do this, we have to have a good sense of what we want our life to be and align our choices accordingly. Knowing our goals and dreams can help us make choices that are right for us.

Saying no to an Opening does not mean the Opening itself is bad. It means that we have decided it is not right for us at the time that it appears. Choosing which Openings to walk through allows us to chart our path, as each Opening takes us in a unique direction. In choosing an Opening, we are choosing our direction for the near (or far) future.

Openings come in many varieties. They teach us and help us to move forward. When we see them as such, we have a better sense of their role in our lives. We can choose Openings with our own well-being in mind and see them as contributing to the adventure of our lives and to our growth. With that mind set, we can choose the Openings that are right for us and pass by those that are not.

Evaluating An Opening

When an Opening appears before us, best to evaluate it with an open mind as well as an appreciation of the positive role of Openings in our journeys. Does it appear that the Opening will take us somewhere that we want to go? Can it have a positive impact on our life? Are we up for the challenges it may present? Are we seeing the Opening in its true form or are we deluding ourselves?

An Opening should never be chosen out of fear. Doing so refutes its purpose and sends us on a path that results in a dead end or worse. Fear seriously compromises our choices. An apt explanation of fear is false evidence appearing real. Fear distorts our judgement. Fear is no place from which to choose an Opening.

Here are some questions to ask when evaluating whether an Opening is a worthwhile one.

·       Where can the Opening lead us?
·       Do we need to explore any red flags that we see?
·       Will the Opening move us forward in a direction that we want to go?
·       What is the nature of the Opening and how may it impact our lives?

When An Opening is Not Right

What are some reasons that an Opening may not be right for us? The Opening limits us in significant ways. It does not feel right, and we understand why. The Opening will move us in a direction that we genuinely do not want to go. The Opening will distract us from our true path. We do not have (and cannot get) what we need to make the Opening work for us.

When an Opening is not right, we are back to discernment again. If we decide not to enter an Opening, what led us to that decision? Are we comfortable with our conclusions regarding the Opening? Can we own and take responsibility for our choice not to walk through the Opening? Can we take some steps in a new direction to keep ourselves moving and not get stuck?

When an Opening is not right, best to acknowledge that and accept that we have chosen not to walk through it. This gives us closure. From there, we can start moving on and can be ready when another Opening appears. In saying no, we have exercised our judgement and chosen our direction. There is nothing wrong with saying no to an Opening.