Have you ever gotten a phone call or an email that changed the tone of your entire day? Sometimes tragedy strikes–a car accident, a diagnosis–and other times the issue is simply a matter that toys with your emotions or adds to an already frustrating amount of stress.
I’m not a grief counselor and I don’t know how to assist anyone through tragedy. I am, however, learning to master the everyday ridiculousness that is hurtled my way. When one such event occurs, I think it is perfectly okay to let your emotions riot. Designate a good 20 seconds of alone time to mentally rip the situation apart. Then I get over it. The key is to refocus as soon as possible.
For me, I refocus best with the help of outside sources. I call or text my sister (who is logical enough to help me see reason and funny enough to laugh with me when there is no reason to be seen) or find breathtaking pictures of nature’s wonders that remind me of how big and beautiful earth is and how small my problem is in comparison. If it’s really bad I search for cute cat videos on YouTube.
Refocusing just means putting your head back on, getting back to the neutral or happy state that you enjoyed before you got the bad remark or the phone call. It ultimately helps me to get back to work without revisiting the issue later.
Here are a few quotations that I like for refocusing from Daily Inspiration Quotes:
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.
– Vivian Greene
Life may not be the party we hoped for
but while we are here we might as well dance.
– Anonymous
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
– Confucius
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. –Matthew 6:28-34
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal
with the intent of throwing it at someone else;
you are the one who gets burned.
– The Buddha
To err is human, to forgive divine.
– Alexander Pope