Let it go. If someone or something is making you mad…let it go.
This may be the most difficult, simple thing we can do for ourselves. To do otherwise…to stay angry and pouting…to hang on to the hurt or inconvenience…does nothing but cause more anger and hurt. It’s a vicious cycle that burns the clock on our already short lives. I should know…I do it all the time.
But I’ve noticed something…
I realized yet again that perspective is an awesome tool when we need help “getting over it.” It changes everything. In this case I’m talking about the realization that even though I think I’m a pretty smart cookie…I am NOT the high-water mark upon which all YOUR decisions and actions are based. (Sorry Kardashians…neither are you. Oh…same with the Jersey Shore bunch.)
The more I remember that we all have expectations…the easier it is for me to stay calm when mine aren’t met. I still get mad…but I am getting better at getting over it and moving on. I am one person…just as you are one person…and we all have big and little hopes that sometimes don’t materialize. Suck it up and remember that. We all have expectations. Sometimes yours aren’t the same as mine, and vice versa.
It’s about perspective…always about perspective.
On that note…I’ve come to the following conclusions that help me get off my high-horse and shorten my pity parties. Maybe they’ll do the same for you:
- The people we love behave the way we want sometimes…and sometimes they don’t. It’s as simple as that. Ask yourself just how bad their offence was. I’ll bet it’s smaller than your reaction. Ponder that the next time you’re wrapped up in your situation.
- Sometimes people we don’t know do things that offend us…and once in awhile they surprise us with their kindness. It seems like we hang on to the offences longer than the good turns. Have you ever been rude or thoughtless or ignorant because you were wrapped up in yourself and your issues? Let’s forgive those strangers for their missteps as quickly as we forgive ourselves. (Because we do the same damn things.) Let them off the hook. It’s a waste of your time to do otherwise.
- When you stop and think about it most of our plans work out…but of course there are times when they don’t. Think about that for a few minutes and you’ll see that it’s true. Do you wake up, get to work on time after a zip through the Starbucks drive-thru, and get home basically when you planned? Is your cell phone plan still working out for you? What about dinner plans? Those seem to work out pretty well don’t they? For some reason we pay much more attention the times when things don’t go in our favour. I’m telling you life is a lot better when we notice how often they do.
Letting go of life’s hurts and inconveniences is much easier when you look at them from a higher elevation. Perspective is an awesome way to calm yourself down and accept the fact that sometimes sh*t happens. Accept it all…both good and bad…and then let them go.
Next post: 3 Ways To De-Funk Yourself.
