mental health

Some of the most difficult things we experience in life can’t be explained. We can try, but we end up where we started and we are still asking why. There are no answers to these questions. Perhaps one day, in hindsight, an insight happens and we catch a glimpse, for a moment, of why. It’s best to stop asking why and to start living. It’s not easy, but it’s a way through. 

What do you do when someone you trust tells you you can’t do it? You prove them wrong. 

Patience is the gift that gets us through the tough moments. Patience is the gift that keeps us focused on the goal. Patience is the gift that whispers in our ear, ‘hang on, tomorrow will be better than today.’

Are you one of the folks who can bounce back from any setback? If so, you have a wonderful gift. The ability to bounce back from setbacks, tragedies, and bad luck is central to regaining equilibrium and moving forward to a better tomorrow. It’s called resilience. We can’t buy it, but we can nurture it. Every time we face a minor setback and we get up and get going we’re strengthening our bounce back muscles. Be grateful for the setbacks, they’re making you stronger, more resilient. 

Two people look out their windows at the pouring rain. One person gets angry because he wanted to go golfing and the rain ruined his day. He takes his anger out on those around him. The other person looks at the rain, she wanted to go for a run. What did she do? She donned weather proof gear and headed out into the rain. Who had the better day? Why let little things upset you? Adjust and adapt, make the best of it.

When a mind is closed, the only way to unlock it is from the inside. A closed mind builds walls to prevent conflicting information from entering. Don’t waste your energy trying to open a closed mind’s door. Maybe, one day, they’ll have an awakening and open the door. Turn your attention and energy to those with open minds and you’ll find life much more pleasant.

Don’t let the hurts hold you down. You’ll heal and the hurts will turn to scars. Carry your scars with pride showing you are stronger, tougher and better than any hurt you’ve had. Move on, move ahead, good days are waiting.

This morning I made a trip to the supermarket to get coffee filters (I need my morning cup of coffee). As I was coming out of the supermarket, I saw a man in a pickup truck using his jumper cables to give a woman’s SUV a boost. We all need a boost like that from time to time. His kindness took the edge off her day. A small inconvenience for him turned into a big deal for this woman. Who can you give a boost to today?

I was inspired this morning when I read the story of Omar Hegazy. Omar is an Egyptian man who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. He had his bad moments after the loss, then he decided not to give up. Recently he set two Guinness Book of World Records for underwater swimming. Setbacks come with life. We can let the setbacks permanently disable us or we can use our setbacks to inspire us to greater things. That’s what Omar did. Never quit. Never give up. 

Viktor Frankl said that human beings have one freedom that can never be taken away and that is our ability to choose the attitude we take toward any situation. We can choose to make the best of a poor situation or we can choose to be trapped. It’s up to us. Our choices determine the type of life we will have.