“We are happy when people/things conform and unhappy when they don’t. People and events don’t disappoint us, our models of reality do. It is my model of reality that determines my happiness or disappointments.”
― Stefan Zweig, Chess Story
In life, we are so often disappointed and frustrated when things don’t go our way. And when things start spiraling out of control and going sideways, it’s so hard to see outside your situation. Sometimes circumstances can be so overwhelming that you just want to give up and throw in the towel. But it is at these moments, you have to stop, take a deep breath and try to look at your situation from an outside perspective. Then you can say, “Ok, so this is what I had hoped to happen, this is what actually happened, what can I learn from this not so great outcome, and what can I do to minimize any negative ramifications or how can I maneuver around this pothole.” In this way, you are shifting your perception of disappointment or failure and are equipping yourself with better tools to handle life’s pitfalls.