As one door closes another door opens. As a child, I never thought about that. My life had been mapped out for me from the minute I was born. I was expected to marry and have a family. University wasn't an option, nor was a profession.

My Writing

Initially being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 46 changed all of that. Creating a website and writing a book would only ever have been a pipe dream as a child.

Opening New Doors

But opening new doors means we should close the old doors first and that takes courage. Just think how much better you’re going to feel once you’ve closed the old door.  But me mindful of your intent. When you are open to change things happen, and circumstances can change. Not something we always consciously think about, but it’s there.

Keeping an Open Mind

Our job is to keep an open mind, and not to close the mind. I could never have foreseen what I was to achieve. My thoughts remained open.  I didn’t aim at all, but doors do open when it’s the right time, when we’re mentally prepared and when the universe knows it's time.

Working with the Universe

The universe knows us more than we think about or understand. The road ahead isn't always clear. But we should continue to have hope, recognise the signs and work with the universe. The sign came for me, when mum mentioned, my birth was a difficult birth and we weren't having a conversation about my birth.

Signs and Messages

Signs just don't come from the universe. It can be something that's said that makes you think, that you resonate with. In my case, her words and recognising her message, set me up for change.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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2 comments on “Opening New Doors”

  1. I grew up in a world where we didn't seem to have many doors open to us, so it made life seem hardly worth living, most of the time.

    My parents were always miserable and I never quite understood why. I've had to battle everything I was brainwashed into believing as a child.

    My fear of the unknown, has kept me from doing the work that I have always wanted to do, so my main priority has to be finding a way to overcome those fears.

    My struggles destroyed my mind for a very long time, but I'm hoping and praying that I have healed enough to get on with my mission.

    1. Thanks Randy. Yes, you've started to open new doors now and that's important. As children we're governed by our parents hoping they'll do right by us.

      That's not always the case, but as adults we must make ourselves aware and also make it our mission to change certain aspects of our lives.

      It doesn't matter how long it takes, it's not a race. It's just important we change and don't leave ourselves stuck.

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