A Day That Should Not Have Happened©

We have all had them. You had pre-planned the day perfectly.  You would accomplish so much.  You got up early, showered and went to the kitchen to start the day with fruit. Admirable, but the oranges had bad spots and both bananas were brown. When dressing you could not find your favorite tie or blouse. You bumped the car door when opening it and spilled coffee.  Someone was rude enough to have their car breakdown on the highway causing traffic to crawl and you arrived at work fifteen minutes late rather than twenty minutes early as you had planned.  You had planned one hour of solitude to draft a project proposal, closing the door to your office.  Five minutes into the proposal an immediate “urgent” meeting was announced.  Getting back to your office at 11:30am, you worked through lunch on the proposal only to find that the prospect signed with a competitor.  A colleague came by and shared disappointment in a decision you had made last week – citing your lack of compassion for your fellow workers, etc.

Your reaction – bury your head – it’s not all worth it.  Why bother – hey maybe the doomsday people are correct – so no more meticulous planning, watching out for your neighbor, and eating a painfully healthful diet. Forget the evening exercise program. And get angry with a few people along the way.

An alternative you can choose – one that will liberate you and elevate you above the turmoil – is mapped below.  The result – self-peace.

To handle change of plans, lack of progress and disappointment.

1. Change the venue.  Find a quiet place, another office, or ideally somewhere outdoors – go for a walk – be alone with yourself.
2. Acknowledge your feelings by feeling your feelings. Self-judgment and anger at the world, is delaying you from living in the now. How to accept the now? Breathe, center yourself. Then feel your anger, feel your annoyance. Focus on your feelings, not the situation. Do not think, feel.
3. Own your feelings. Accept your part in the arousal of these feelings, without judgment – they are yours – they are providing you with information.
4. Capture enlightenment. What insights and discoveries can you take from the “bad day”, “unexpected”, or “bitter disappointment”? See beyond the immediate. The enlightenment will assist you in your renewal and transformation process.
5. Focus on your life journey.  You have purposefully chosen a destination. Remember why. Reflect how your enlightenment will assist you on your travels.
6. Set a goal, action step, relevant to your journey and do it.
7. Remember you have the ability to make choices about how you treat yourself. You are not a victim, you are a victor.
8. Reward yourself.  Make the reward one which will enhance your being.  A worthwhile book, a reservation at the Museum of Fine Arts, a call to a friend, a massage.  Invest in yourself.

And thus – you will know why this day happened.

Write down one “wonder of wisdom” you have gleaned from your day today.

“We are as small as our self- recriminations or as large as our evolving self-revelations.” – (CMC)

Enjoy the moment, live your moment.