7 Reasons Why It's Okay to Be Broken ...

Any time we experience a major bump in the road, we tend to veer off from our current path. To me, this is one of my favorite reasons why it's ok to be broken. Each crack we get sets us down a different road. Maybe your husband left, but that eventually led to you finding the real man of your dreams. Maybe you were fired from your job, which forced to try something new. It often takes a break to send us down the right path.

Think of yourself as a lump of clay ready to be sculpted into something beautiful. Sculptors rarely get it right the first time. With each break you experience, you're changed just a little. You might notice yourself becoming stronger and wiser. The people we usually admire became who they are because they're broken. Take the pain and turn it into a tool to re-sculpt yourself.

School is great for teaching us useful skills, but every time we get broken we learn more about how to live. For instance, remember your first real regret? What did it teach you? I learned to never let an opportunity pass me by. You will get hurt, but let the cracks and pieces serve as valuable lessons for you to continue to grow and become a better person.

Wouldn't it be great if there was an aspirin we could take to get rid of all our emotional pain? I know there have been times I would've gladly taken that pill. Sadly, we don't have that yet. People who've been broken and bounced back are better able to handle emotional pain later on. Instead of getting weaker, every little crack makes you stronger. Yes, it will still hurt, but not as much and not for as long.

We might lean on friends and family when we feel broken, but in the end, what we do next is up to us. It's daunting to feel like you're alone. But when you're ready, you have to make all the choices. You have to take control of your own life. No one else can do it for you. That extra little push forces you to take charge and start living life for you and how you want.

I know at first the causes of your cracks overshadow everything else. When you can take a step back and really look at things, you start to see what's most important in your life. Was failing a class or breaking up with your partner really the end of the world? No. You start to see that continuing to live, change and grow are what's important. You start to rearrange your focus and stop letting each bump and bruise prevent you from truly living.

Sometimes we get so focused on being perfect that the smallest mistake completely shatters us. It's not until you look in the mirror that you realize you're still ok. So what if you discovered you're not perfect? No one is. The most beautiful people are broken. With every break, a little more of you is shown to the world. Think of the cracks as your inner beauty coming to the surface.

No one wants to think of themselves as broken, but I say it's something you should embrace. Be proud of yourself for being able to stand tall after everything you've been through. It's ok to be broken because it helps make you who you are. What has being broken taught you?