Get onto your computer every morning to review the news, and your energy will be gone by 8:30 a.m. Every horrible event and natural disaster is right there for you, ready to take your power away.
Here’s the deal – there’s a lot more good going on than bad. There are small favors being done and actions being taken on a minute-by-minute basis. Does it make up for the horrors of war? No. Does it stop the latest natural disaster? Doubtful.
Accepting the Things We Cannot Change
We have to save our energy for the controllables, so that we can positively impact our tiny piece of the world.
But so much of our strength is zapped by the fear of events that we might never experience. For example:
- How many of us deal with natural disasters on a daily basis? Or have dealt with a natural disaster in our lifetime?
- How many of us have been in a war zone? Ever?
If we snap at a friend or co-worker because we’re depressed over the war in Syria, how has this improved life for anyone concerned? Can you help the war in Syria? If so, do it. If not, let it go.
The butterfly theory says that a butterfly flapping his wings in one country can cause a tornado in another. Research shows that times of great emotional turmoil are always accompanied by horrible weather. Maybe we turn that around by helping others, smiling more, criticizing each other less.
I know it sounds all Mary Poppins-ish, but it’s true. Our planet survives based on balance, and so does our emotional well-being. And don’t diss on Mary Poppins. Look how grouchy that family was before she showed up. They wouldn’t even take their medicine. 🙂
To Change the Things We Can
Whether you help a colleague at work or take time with your kids or share a positive story on Facebook, it makes a difference.
Below is a link to a wonderful story about a woman whose van was stolen (it gets better). She left her cell phone in the van, so she sent the person who stole it a message explaining her family situation and asking him to return it.
You have to read it.
Now, Change the World
Hopefully, you haven’t stolen anyone’s van, but there’s always a way to make someone’s life better.
Yesterday, I snapped at a restaurant host for no good reason. He handled it with gritted teeth. I asked to speak to his manager, and from his refusal to look at me I’m pretty sure he thought I was going to give the manager a negative report. Instead, I walked up to the manager and said, “I was rude to your host, and he handled it professionally. I just wanted to let you know that he did a good job.”
I don’t know that creating a negative situation and then trying to fix it counts, but at least I tried.
If you have a positive story about helping someone, or a situation where your day was changed by someone else’s action, please share it in the comments below.
Then let’s all power up by changing the things we can.