Make the Best of Every Situation

I have found that the difference between happy people and miserable people has little to do with what they have, or even how they were raised. It has much more to do with how they react and deal with events that happen around them. Happy people have the ability to make the best of every situation. There are several ways to do this:

Remove judgment—I remember hearing a story of a man with three young children on a train. The children were running around screaming and bothering other passengers. The father was doing nothing. After 10 minutes of the children’s antics, a passenger began to lecture the father on his lack of discipline. The father apologized and explained that his boys had just attended their mother’s funeral and were having a difficult time adapting to their new, motherless life. This story reminds us that we are so quick to judge others especially when they don’t adhere to “cultural norms.” Until you have walked in the shoes of those upon whom you are casting judgment, give them the benefit of the doubt. Over time it will make you a much more positive person.
Accept what is—In earlier blogs we have discussed the concept of playing the ball where it lies. If you can’t change the situation you are in, accept it and focus on moving forward. Dwelling on a bad situation only makes things worse.
See your best case scenario playing out. The worst case scenario rarely comes to fruition, so why not see the glass as half full? It helps to notice good things no matter how small they are and take incremental wins along the way.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. While people may initially show sympathy, over the long term, they stop wanting to be around you. The harsh reality is that outside a very small group of your closest family and friends, nobody else truly cares.

Every day you have a choice to make: How will you react to the events that take place in your life? The suggestion: maintain the discipline to make the best of every situation. Not only will you be more pleasant to be around, but you will also be a happier person.