Great and not-so-great literary figures — poets, playwrights, screen-writers, novelists, essayists, writers — can often have insightful things to say about moving on and letting go…
There is a little debate surrounding this one. Though it is not the same as the quote that “Time heals all wounds” is correct while others say that it is only the inner psychological and spiritual process that the heals the wound of being forced to move on. My take on it is that time will lessen the sting of wounds “for we change and are no longer the same persons.” And time will add layers of experience on top of pain so that it becomes obscured but the wound will continue to fester underneath. So if distraction and time are your way of dealing with grief that is ok but realize that eventually that pain or grief has to be skilfully dealt with in some way. Which leads us to the next quote:
So, be brave! Even though it is painful in the short-term, in the long run dealing with the pain of moving on and not avoiding it is far preferable. You’ll feel fresh and ready — like a field after a rainstorm — and you will be free and open to what is to come next. As Thoreau says:
This statement seems to agree with the previous one. The “thing” — the pain of unwanted change — doesn’t change, it is we who change through dealing with that pain “head-on”.
Mr. Frankl agrees! If, for instance, we’ve lost our job and our employer is very clear there will be no rehiring, or if, for instance, we’ve left a relationship and there is no going back what can we do but change? We are forced to change at least our outer circumstances if not our inner makeup as well.
So the change that has come upon us, even if it is the loss of a loved one, reminds us of the timeless truth that Abraham Lincoln mentions: “And this too, shall pass away.”
There is a little debate surrounding this one. Though it is not the same as the quote that “Time heals all wounds” is correct while others say that it is only the inner psychological and spiritual process that the heals the wound of being forced to move on. My take on it is that time will lessen the sting of wounds “for we change and are no longer the same persons.” And time will add layers of experience on top of pain so that it becomes obscured but the wound will continue to fester underneath. So if distraction and time are your way of dealing with grief that is ok but realize that eventually that pain or grief has to be skilfully dealt with in some way. Which leads us to the next quote:
