Have you ever noticed that no matter what problems come your way, you nearly always find a resolution that is good enough? No matter how big your troubles may seem, they come and go? Life goes on.
Problems are a part of life. Whether it’s what to have for dinner, or how to keep from losing money on some deal, or how to get out of the way of that truck barreling down the road straight at you, we all struggle to find solutions to things that are not the way we want. Sometimes they are enormous, other times they are simple, but always they are there if we go looking for them. In any given moment, it’s possible to find hundreds of things that are not perfect… just look around and you’ll find examples.
And yet, amidst all those troubles, there are more important things to find as well. Sure, the temperature is too hot or your in-box is stacked a little too high or traffic isn’t moving fast enough… but does it really matter? In the grand scheme of a lifetime, is it really that big a deal? Does it warrant all the negative emotions it brings up or the energy invested to try to change it? Or can you use that energy and focus to find the good things around you, to experience something wonderful?
Some people seem to attract big issues. You probably know a few people like that… no matter where they go, there is a crisis to be averted, a dilemma to be solved, or a situation to be rectified. It seems every moment with them is stressed and panicky. They will say that no matter how hard they work, there are always more problems to solve. I say that they are in the habit of seeing problems, and that until they break that habit they will never realize just how much joy they are missing.
I love the quote: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. And remember: it’s all small stuff.”
Yeah, it is all small stuff. It may seem important at the moment but given a week or a month it will disappear as just another passing phase or even be forgotten entirely. Just because it seems like a big deal now doesn’t mean it will feel that way tomorrow. Don’t treat it like the end of the world or turn it into more than it needs to be.
Don’t forget: it’s all small stuff. Whatever problems you have will be resolved, or go away, or open a new path for you to learn and grow from.
Sometimes the issue on your plate really is a big deal, maybe even a matter of life and death. Even then, can you be OK with it? Can you see the silver lining? Can you find happiness even while you are deep in the problem? Can you learn from what’s going on so that next time it won’t be an issue? Can you feel the humor of the situation and chalk it up as a story to tell?
The things that matter most in life aren’t problems. Every instant is there to be appreciated and enjoyed… keep that in mind when you’re getting stressed or overwhelmed. Take a step back to enjoy the moment, no matter what the moment is.
If it isn’t right… oh well. It’s small stuff. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy the moment.
Other news
- That’s ‘pacifier’ to us Americans: Dummy use link to ear infections
- Too much of a sad thing…: Elderly suicides surge in Japan
- … perhaps this is part of the the cause? Overtime Work Tied to Anxiety, Depression
Quote for the week
The trouble with so many of us is that we underestimate the power of simplicity. We have a tendency it seems to over complicate our lives and forget what’s important and what’s not. We tend to mistake movement for achievement. We tend to focus on activities instead of results. And as the pace of life continues to race along in the outside world, we forget that we have the power to control our lives regardless of what’s going on outside. – Robert Stuberg
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
