"Everything happens for a reason", is the saying that almost everyone says to comfort a loved one when something doesn't go their way. Although it may be annoying, you may be devastated beyond belief, emotional, and/or a complete train wreck or that's just me. I have a little bit of a drama problem, if you couldn't tell with my strong,exaggerated adjectives. Back to the point, you're devastated to say the least and the last thing you want to hear is your best friend saying you didn't get what you wanted, but there is a reason why the didn't happen. You may feel as if you deserved it, there is no reason why you shouldn't get it. You probably did deserve it. There were many opportunities that I didn't get that felt that I deserved them. But, later, with time you will understand that there was a reason. Let's say you didn't get a job you wanted. Yes, right after the rejection, you may feel completely mortified and as if life cannot go on, but later that rejection probably made you a stronger and a harder working individual. The reason may not be materialistic, but mental and the reason may take years to come into effect.
Yogi philosophy agrees with, "everything happens for a reason" . In yoga, one must refrain from attachment. Let's say you broke your foot (based on a true story). With me I was devastated, partly because the reason I fractured my foot was entirely my fault. Who tries to do a quadruple pirouette on uneven floors, without jazz shoes, at 1:00 am, after not taking dance for six years. I mean you have to be a complete idiot or me, either or. I am incredibly active and I love being active. Physical activity brings calmness to my life. My time to workout and do yoga is probably the only time in my day that's not full of stress. Now with my foot broken, and me being confined to an ugly, bulky air caste, I thought there is no positive reason this happened to me, it's just cruel, but I was wrong. I became too attached to my routine. My routine was rigid. With my broken foot I learned how to still exercise and create endorphin/ serotonin while wearing an air caste (FYI my exercise routines were not approved by a doctor, if you broke your fifth metatarsal and want try what I am going to tell you, please I beg of you, ask your doctor).I learned to ride the exercise bike in my basement with an air caste on. I did individual yoga poses/ asanas and modified them to my air caste. Most importantly, this injury helped me become more independent. I am the most dependent person you could ever imagine. I have to be around people 24/7, no exaggeration. I can't practice yoga alone in my house nor can I bicycle all by myself. I have to go to a yoga class or spin class, where I'm surrounded by others. This injury forced me to do these activities alone. After I recovered, yes I returned to yoga class and hardly ever practice on my own, but at least I know I can.
"Everything happens for a Reason", may sound annoying during a time of anguish, but it shouldn't. This saying should be reassuring. Next time, you hear this saying after something doesn't go your way, don't get irritated, think in a year this horrible disaster will work in my favor and go to a yoga class. That always makes everyone feel better.