What to Do when Given a Second Chance in Life

A Guide to Living

"Life is pain." Scott Peck's book The Road Less Traveled starts off with that sentence. He point's this out in his book to help us see that the sooner we accept life is pain, the better off we will be. Many of us have had set backs in our lives. We may have suffered bankruptcy, divorce, and death of a loved one, abuse, substance abuse, or illness. It's important to realize that each of us is an individual, but our experiences are not unique. Others have suffered our same struggles. We all have had obstacles, and overcame them. Some pain takes much longer to heal. We can get better with perseverance and time. When offered a second chance in life, some key ingredients will help us grab that chance, and make the most out of it.

Support from our family and friends or joining a support group can help. Some can find help within their church if they belong to one. Sharing our experiences, pains and joys helps problems to weigh lighter on our shoulders. Talk therapy helps as long as we talk about the pain. Having the proper perspective is paramount. Interacting and observing others will show us how other people have coped with their issues and can show us how we can do it. The inspiration of others working through the same struggles is immeasurable. This is especially true if abuse or substance abuse has been the setback. Counseling with a trained professional can be helpful for support also.

Having a journal, or diary, gets the feelings out, and helps get through the pain. This puts the issues on paper, and gives us the ability to put life in perspective. If feelings aren't addressed they can run our lives. Journaling keeps us in check.