Be wary of handing your choices over to others. How many times have we said, “They” make me so angry? Or “They” made me lose it?
“They” may have provided the stimulus. However, we provide the response. There is a space between stimulus and response and in that space lies choice and in that choice lies our freedom and peace of mind. That space may be infinitesimally small now, but discipline, desire, and maturity can enlarge it and free us. We operate so often on autopilot, instinctively reacting to this and that without truly taking the time to observe whether our responses are serving us, advancing us in life.
If anyone, anywhere would have reacted differently to the same event, then that choice is open to you. I sometimes say to myself, “Billions and billions of people on this planet, at least one of them would be reacting with equanimity right now. I think I’m going to channel that person for a while.”
Life hands us many challenges, challenges daunting enough even when we bring forth our best selves. Life is too wonderful, there is too much to enjoy, to give away even the tiniest modicum of happiness.
Don’t give away your happiness. Exercise choice. Create new paradigms. Journal. Read inspirational literature. Hang out with eagles who call out and support your best self. Rewire your buttons. Expand that space between stimulus and response. Choose happiness. You deserve it!
Closing quotes:
“Stress is not an event but rather a chosen response to an event. Consider choosing differently.”
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Viktor E. Frankl (Frankl was Nazi concentration camp survivor and author of “Man’s Search for Meaning.” if ever a human being had cause to blame his inner state on his outer state, it would be Frankl.)