Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. ~ Natalie Goldberg
When you’re in the middle of a true crisis, it makes you realize how extremely trivial most things are. We should all keep a close eye (and ear) on the things that make us sigh, roll our eyes, throw things, raise our voice, cry, and sulk.
The next time your feathers are ruffled, ask yourself the following questions:
- “Is this the worst thing that could possibly have happened to be today?”
- “If I saw someone else reacting to this situation the way I am, would I admire them or laugh at them?”
- “Is this going to affect the rest of my life, the rest of the week, the rest of my day, or simply the next hour?”
Putting things into perspective can wipe a scowl off of your face and replace it with an expression that says, “I can handle this!”
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
This is great advice, Joi. I love Natalie Goldberg’s work. It always brings you back to center. Synchronistically, I just started reading a magazine article by her about an hour ago.
Personally, when things tend to overwhelm, I hear my grandmother’s voice in my ear: This too shall pass…
Sending love. J
jan’s last blog post..Our First Pathway to Love
It’s so ironic that you mentioned your grandmother’s quote – it’s one that my mom would always say when things were tough. It’s one of the things that often runs through my mind during trying times.
I also think of the classic, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” AND my oldest daughter Emily’s interpretation of the quote, “What doesn’t kill you makes for a great story.” She pulled that one out on me when she broke her collarbone after a bike wreck. We’re sitting in the emergency room (me, my broken little girl, her wide-eyed sisters, and her dad who probably needed to be sedated) – and she looks at me through tears and shares that bit of wisdom.
She was right!
the worst you can do is let things just control you and defeat you. Instead of fighting back you waste time complaining
tom’s last blog post..Link Love – 10 valuable posts
I agree, it’s easy for everyday problems to seem huge when they’re really quite petty. The reality is that there are always other people who have it far worse than you. I think of those people who don’t have a roof over their heads or know where their next meal is coming from as that helps me put things into perspective.
Julian’s last blog post..This Post Will NOT Change Your Life
Julian,
I thought about that last night when my husband and I were eating out in Nashville. Two women in the booth behind us were giving the server and manager a hard time over ridiculously trivial details. It took all my reserve to keep from turning around and asking them if they knew how many millions of people in the world would LOVE to be sitting in a warm restaurant, eating a meal – even if the potato wasn’t as hot as they wanted it to be. As you pointed out, there’s a difference between real problems and petty ones.
So true, Tom. So true!