The authors of our book write, “Probably the most important tool available for managing hyperstressful and distressful events is our thought process. How we think about matters affects the way we perceive the events we experience.”
Through the ups and downs of life, I have found this to be very true. Life throws challenges at us that are totally unexpected. Sometimes these challenges are life-changing. I’ve had a couple of these life-changing events that have caused nervous breakdowns, divorce, you-name-it, in other people. I have been asked many times how I cope so well. It’s all in the way I look at things, in other words, my thought processes and my attitude.
Of course I have my moments when I think, “why me, why our family?” when all I want to do is yell and scream and cry, but I know that doesn’t accomplish anything so I immediately go about finding out everything I can about the situation and all the possible things I might be able to do to improve the situation, and then I do all in my power to make the situation better for me and everyone else who is involved.
Hi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post because I definitely agree with your take on life. Like the book says, the way we view stress is the way it is going to impact us. If we always have the mindset that we can handle it, we will in fact handle it. I like to do my best to remember that I cannot control what happens in life, but I can control the way I think about it. The three solutions seem to branch all from one important aspect- positivity. If you can just see the good in everything, you won’t even notice the bad.
I agree and admire your outlook on life and the hardships that encompass it. I have realized while we gain life experiences it is how we take those challenges and apply it to our lives. Many people are positive, but those people who respond negatively are usually the violent aggressors. Your thoughts on family, “Why me, why our family?” has been thought in the heads of many minds. I know I definitely think this way occasionally when situations are rough. Right now my sister and I are taking care of my father while dealing with the nuances of trying to finish school, and make financial ends meets. Moreover, when the issues disappear and life in the family is going well, I soak in those moments and think how wonderful my family is. Good luck Lee!
ReplyDeleteHi Lee,
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% that our attitude has a lot, if not everything, to do with how we manage ourselves in times of stress. Moreover, I thought you chose a good quote from the text to represent this. Most difficult situations we experience in life are out of our control, which is why I too feel that maintaining a positive attitude during these trying times is not only beneficial to us, but everyone else as well. There is no doubt that one's attitude and thought process can not only help during the time of stress, but also with the healing process that we experience afterwards.
Through my many experiences of the highs and lows of life, I agree with the books and your view on the way we “perceive our events we experience”. For me, the way we react, or our attitude towards the situations life puts us through, can dictate how we perceive what the outcome of that situation can be. I won’t go into detail; but there was a time where I also would go through moments our obstacles growing up in Oakland, California where I thought “why me, why us?” But I have came to the realization that worrying about things I can’t change is only building a burden for me I can’t carry. So my attitude has always been everything that happens, whether good or bad, happens for a reason.
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