“Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities.”
- Roy T. Bennett
We have all heard the clichés about finding silver linings and making lemonade when life hands us lemons. I even have a handful of other posts on the topic. It bears repeating. Our ability to show resilience, courage and faith in the face of adversity can help us live a better quality of life. It's something we should always be aware of, especially during those times when it seems to be raining lemons. Our power lies in our response. We each get to choose our next move.
What I have learned is a delayed response is the best response. We usually don't overreact after the fact. When we allow our emotions to settle down, we avoid letting them get the best of us and doing or saying something we may end up wanting to undo or take back. Practicing mindfulness has been a huge help for me. I am able to take a step back and assess the situation. So instead of making some knee-jerk reaction that may not serve me well, I think about the consequences of my actions and form a much better response. I tap into my positive mental attitude.
Photo by Ritz John Cao Ortega on Pexels
I will ask myself, "What can I learn from this?" or "What good can come of this." There isn't always a clear answer. Sometimes there is no answer at all. However, by asking myself these questions, I refrain from wanting to find someone to blame or label myself the victim. The self-pity parties end before they even get started. There are times where we are wronged and justice may need to be served. I'm not implying we should allow people to take advantage of us or not stand up for ourselves. I'm referring to those times where life throws us a curveball and we go down swinging. It's on us to dust ourselves off and be ready for the next at bat.
When we learn to look at situations from a different perspective, we have the ability to find alternate solutions to whatever it is we are dealing with. Even by reframing our thinking we can flatten any molehills we encounter instead of turning them into mountains. We can create better outcomes with clearer thinking, after the retaliatory emotions subside. We can aim to improve our quality of life instead of wallowing in a mental place we don't want to be in. Which attitude are we going to utilize when things don't go our way? Again, our power lies in our response. It's up to us to choose wisely.
More Wellness!
tiny buddha: Tiny Wisdom: Seeing the Good in the Bad
Very Well Mind: What Is Cognitive Reframing?
Healthline: How to Become the Boss of Your Emotions
