Does Everything Really Happen For A Reason?

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”  Marilyn Monroe

“Everything happens for a reason.”  This phrase is often used as motivation to inspire us to keep moving forward in challenging times or to celebrate leaving behind a trying time.  There are times in our life where we can clearly look back at the simple ripple that sparked an ocean of change that has lead us to a more positive place—even the ripples that began from a negative encounter.

Maybe the unhealthy relationship you were in promoted you to move for the job in a new city where you met the love of your life.  Or maybe the patience you developed growing up with your sister with the excessive need for attention gave you the skillset to require for professional patience.

Sometimes we are clearly able to see how negative and frustrating circumstances created a chain of events that lead to a positive outcome, but sometimes the negativity doesn’t seem to be connected to anything more than more negativity.

How is there value in growing up with parents that have an abusive relationship?  How did growing up in a single parent home benefit you?  Wouldn’t you have a happier life if you didn’t feel like your parents favored your brother more than you?

We can’t change someone else, but we can change how we respond to the negative people in our lives and we can change the direction we take our lives.  If you are ready to let go and change the things you can the book “Branches From the Same Tree WhetherBroken or Reaching” is the perfect place to start.