Each life event, from the most influential to everyday routines, will affect you. Often you may plan activities that are monumental in nature and delight in the excitement and joy that comes with these events. However, what happens when situations transpire that do not make sense?

Your life is like a jigsaw puzzle. When you look at the puzzle box, you see what the end result will look like. There will be puzzle pieces you immediately know where they will be placed based on shape, size, and color. Conversely, some pieces are confusing and are often put aside because you have no idea where it is supposed to go in the puzzle. This is similar to real life. There will be life situations that easily make sense: the birth of a child, marriage, new home, new job, and many other wonderful events. However, what about events that blindside you? Those events make no sense as to why or how they even happened? How do they fit in with your life?

When you isolate an incident and focus on all that has happened, you are right, it will not make sense. But it is important to remind yourself that, just like that jigsaw puzzle, the event is part of the bigger picture. It does not mean that catastrophe and misfortune will always plague you. Rather, it does mean that all situations are interconnected. If you focus on a coin and bring it to your eye, that is all you will see. Just like in this situation, if you solely focus on the event itself, it will not make sense to you. You then become stuck and not able to transition to the next level of your life.

Sometimes you have to create a file in your mind that is simply named, “I don’t understand it,” and leave the event there. Overly focusing on the event itself stops your ability to be proactive, and you drown in fear and paralysis. Reminding yourself that you don’t have to figure out the “why” of the event helps you focus on a plan of action.

Many situations in your life will be painful, but when you stop and reflect on the person you are today, I’m sure you are proud of the person you have become. Of course, you would not want to relive those events, but they were all linked together – just like the jigsaw puzzle, to create a beautiful picture, your life. Those events were used to shape your personality and teach you valuable life lessons.

Life is fluid. Events happen all the time, and there is no reason to be stuck on one event because it will change.

Remember, in the jigsaw puzzle of life, some of the pieces have vibrant colors, while others are dark and drab. You cannot always be on the mountaintop. Still, you must traverse the valleys to ascend to the next level of personal development.

Being blindsided is a part of this transition. It is not placed in your life to destroy you but put in your life to promote you.