Picture this…
You find yourself walking to the store for some odds and ends. You woke up after the best hour of a morning thus far in life. You feel on top of life. Exiting your front door your face is met with sunlight and a breeze carrying the sweet scent of gardenias that are grown by your neighbor. It’s a moment of bliss. The sunlight kisses your forehead like a loving mother. The deep breath sends you into a state of rejuvenation and you have gratitude to your neighbor for their garden. As you leave you wave to your neighbor brimming with bubbling joy. As you make your way to the store you pass a school where some teenagers are acting a fool. You being on the other side of the fence is as if they are a caged animal at the zoo. Lost in interesting thought you…… A twig catches your foot and you fall face first to the floor.
What do you do?
Those teens are laughing; you have a headache and errands to complete.
You have three choices:
1 Sympathy Reaction: Why me?!
Feel bad for yourself. Possibly seeking that someone reaches out to help.
2 Aggressive Reaction: “F@ck You!”
Lashing out on the twig and teenagers because they just happened to have witnessed your embarrassment.
3 Controlled Reaction: “Oops!”
Owning what happened and knowing these things happen. Next time you will pay more attention or it just is what it is.
“I was so weak I was set into a moment of fuck so I reset my mind.” -David Goggins
It is so easy to fall into pity and anger. These reactions are due to some past habit-building. When life deals you a surprise your reaction is a choice. I choose to own it because then I have control of the situation. I may even laugh at myself.
During times of uncertainty it can be easy to justify taking it easy by allowing reactionary thought to rule. The uncertain times are the best time for consistency. The consistency will ground you and keep your head on track.
Go back to my example…
Which reaction will be the most effective?
Which reaction serves you the most?
How will you feel after?
Mr. Sods 