Unwanted Rain

[salixj]

If there is one time when rain is (almost?) universally unwanted it is having a parade, figuratively or literally.

You know what I mean by figurative. Someone does something they are proud of and then along comes someone else who proceeds to pour water on the joy; well that was okay but - oh that cruel but - is followed by all the things that could have made whatever it was better or all the things one did not good enough or how the rain cloud did it better somewhere along the line.

And the band is sopping wet. 

Sometimes we are a victim of the rain cloud, sometimes we are the rain cloud, either to ourselves or someone else.

I know, the last one is hard to admit. But as humans we are subject to emotions good and bad, thoughts uplifting and terrifying.

Our journals are where we can write it all down (and rip it all up if we don't want to retain the information).

So think of the rain clouds in your life.

Who has rained on your parade?

When have you rained on your own parade?

And why have you rained on someone else's parade?

And the most important question: how an you grow from all the above?

Some questions to ponder:

• Why do I let another person's evaluation of my actions harm me? 
• Is what they say true? 
• Can I use their negativity to become better at what I am trying to do?
• Why can I not see my growth as positive without immediately criticizing myself? Why can't I just enjoy the moment?
• What is it about someone else's success that has me upset? What am I missing in my life that I am not getting?
• How can I curb my negative feelings and change them to something else if I am criticized by someone else?
• When I criticize myself or someone else?
• How can I let go of my anger at someone for what they said about me?
• How can I let go of my anger at myself for having jealous feelings toward someone else?

Some parts of this exercise may be more difficult than others. Remember to approach yourself with love. Almost everyone acts in a negative manner sometimes, and it is okay to acknowledge these mistakes, to learn from them and to forgive ourselves. That is how we grow.