We are taught to hold on tightly to our important possessions, to guard and protect them from others who may wish to take them from us. We even insure them against possible loss as if by doing so we can keep their value with us always. And we do the same thing with the people who are important to us.

As if by holding them close we can stop them from slipping away.

But in a world which is constantly evolving, where seasons come and go and where birth and death are a natural part of life, the one thing we can rely on is that things will change. It is our response to that change which determines our happiness.

Depending on your family or model of the world, the absence of something, or someone, is seen as a loss to be mourned. But what if we looked at their presence as a gift to be thankful for?

What if instead of being sad when someone leaves our life, we decide to be grateful for the new possibilities which are coming our way?

Have you ever held a butterfly in your hand? Such a delicate creature that we cradle it ever so gently. If we were to hold tightly we would destroy the life of this beauty who has chosen to sit with us for one moment. So after a second of wonder and with a smile on our face, we open our hand to let it fly away. We don’t where it goes or for how long it will live but we are thankful for the one moment of perfection.

Life is as fragile as the wings of that beautiful butterfly and things will change. Holding tight to how things were will keep you stuck. The times I have been stuck are the most painful times in my life. However, I have learned that the minute you take a deep breath, raise your eyes from the ground and look ahead with a steady gaze; the moment you decide to look for the possibilities rather than focus on the loss, is the moment your reality starts to alter.

You have a choice to make.

Hold tight to the way things were and you will feel pain or embrace the possibilities which come with change and you will feel joy.

Your power lies in your decision – this is where your freedom lives.