Hi there First name / friend,

 

Thanks for sticking with me on our journey through April’s theme: turning pain into purpose. I realise this has been a challenging series for some readers, and I appreciate the journey we’re all on. 

 

So, let’s take the next step as we pull back the curtains on Hindsight Windows.

 

 

As I wrote last week, the key skill here is recognising what you’ve learned from the experience.

 

 

 

Recognising a Hindsight Window takes self-reflection, and finding purpose in pain isn’t a skill developed overnight. 

 

In fact, it can feel confronting—especially for those still lost in the wilderness of immense emotional pain.

 

 

 

 

If quieting the mind for reflection is something you struggle with, I’ve created a 6 Minute Moments short hypnosis experience on Creating Space for Reflection. I offer it to you for free in the hope it offers some support on your journey.

 

 

 

Once we create a safe space for reflection, it’s like pulling back the curtains in a darkened room. The pain no longer blinds us—we gain distance, perspective, and insight. We can finally acknowledge our journey and see how life events have shaped us.

 

 

To give this context, I want to share a personal experience.

 

A number of years ago, I went through an extremely rough patch with a family member. It was painful, and it deeply affected my family dynamic. At the time, I was consumed by how misunderstood I felt. I’ll be honest—it took me far longer than I’d like to admit to recognise any benefit from the experience.

 

But once I stopped focusing on my pain and instead worked on improving my communication style and adjusting my expectations—both of myself and others—things began to shift.

 

When I was finally able to pull back the curtain on the hindsight window, I could see my growth. I had become a better communicator, a more understanding family member, and a more self-aware person. That shift—recognising my growth—gave my pain a purpose.

 

And while I would have preferred almost any other catalyst for growth, I wonder—would it have been as impactful? Would I even be writing this newsletter if not for that difficult experience?

 

 

I hope you’ll join me next week for the final instalment in this series: Turning Purpose into Passion.

 

To hear a truly inspirational talk on Hindsight Windows by Eric Edmeades, follow this link:
 

 

If you missed any of the previous emails and want to catch up, you can find the archive here:
 

 

 

Wishing you a bright week ahead.

 

 

x Marisa