I LOVE this definition. For the past two years or so, I have embarked on this journey to change my life for the better but have often stumbled and fallen off the path. But, this definition reminded me that metanoia is a journey. Journeys have missteps and mistakes but that doesn't mean the journey is abandoned...it just means you get your compass back out and get back on track.
I have been striving towards developing more compassion in my life but have found that it is difficult at times. Sometimes I am in a rush and I speed around the car in front of me blaming them for making me late instead of having patience. Many times when people ask me a question at work that I have answered countless of times I become frustrated (i.e. what's a short stack? what kind of eggs are runny in the middle but the whites are cooked?). There are so many times in my everyday life when I have the opportunity to show patience, compassion, and love towards other human beings but I mess it up. I often become discouraged and think that I am an awful person. But this morning, I was reminded that this crazy adventure called life and any changes we try to make to it is ultimately a journey. I am bound to stumble many more times but as long as I get back up and continue to try, there is still progress.
I hope this applies to someone else as well and this reminder helps you to realize that this life must be taken one step at a time. Sometimes those steps feel huge but in the end they are still just one step. Life can seem overwhelming when we look at the giant mountain we have to climb but when you look just to the next foothold it is totally doable.
