Stranger still is how the very core issues we avoid return, sometimes with different faces, but still, we are brought full circle to them, again and again. Regardless of how we may try to skip over or sidestep what we need to face, we humbly discover that no other threshold is possible until we use our courage to open the door before us. Perhaps the oldest working truth of self-discovery is that the only way out is through. That we are returned repeatedly to the same circumstance is not always a sign of avoidance, but can mean our work around a certain issue is not done.
In his book, Mark Nepo emphasizes the recurring nature of our core issues, which often resurface in different forms. No matter how hard we try to avoid or circumvent these challenges, we ultimately find that we cannot progress until we confront them with courage. This process of facing our problems is essential to personal growth and self-discovery.
Nepo suggests that these repetitive encounters with similar circumstances should not be seen solely as a failure to move on but rather as an indication that we still have work to do in addressing specific aspects of our lives. The journey through these issues is a vital part of our evolution, reinforcing the idea that true resolution can only be achieved by fully engaging with our challenges.
