Easier said than done. In the midst of today’s issues and obstacles, we find ourselves trying to power over aspects of life that just do not give any slack. We have a problem with accepting life and reality for what it is, and we beat ourselves up when the cookie does not crumble as we wish. The truth is, you can only control what you can control. You can try to micromanage, fix every problem, and not settle with what is truly happening, but you will never be at peace with yourself. Here are a few common situations that we dwell on even though they are out of our control:
1. Running late
Once you are on the road heading to your destination, you will get there when you get there. There is no reason to drive like a maniac and cringe every time you hit a red light. You will move on from your tardiness, from the error you have made that is oh-so-common. Every human being runs late every once in a while. Stressing out will not change your estimated time of arrival.
2. An injury or illness
As a human being, you will not always be completely healthy. This seems so obvious, and yet when we get sick or become injured, we dread on how we feel or try to fight it, prolonging the effect. Allow your body to do as it needs, allow yourself healing, and allow yourself time. There is no need to put any extra stress on your body in order to pretend you are okay. If anything, you will make yourself feel even worse. The sooner you accept how you feel, the sooner you will allow yourself relax into the healing process.
3. Going to class
There are just some days when you dread dragging yourself to lecture. Whether you hardly slept due to studying or all of your friends happen to be catching coffee during your mid-morning class, you have to put your college-kid-undies on and make your way to your studies. You are in college for a reason. You are choosing to give yourself the future you would like, and every step along the way will shape your life into what you want it. When it comes to going to class, you have got to suck it up and make your education what you want it to be.
4. Small annoyances
Whether your hair band snaps while you’re trying to corral your hair into a pony or you step in gum while wearing your new favorite tennis shoes, learn to roll with the punches. There are micro-problems that invade our life frequently, but that is what keeps you on your toes. A great sign of maturity is not giving into the little evils in your day. You choose how little problems affect you, and if you take the small sweats with a grain of salt, your bad days will be much more infrequent.
Acceptance is a skill that takes practice, but when you are patient with yourself and use every obstacle in your life to help you become stronger, your happiness will thrive. It sounds so simple, but using this habit of mindfulness will make all of the difference in your mental health and your happiness in general.
Like the great Hannah Montana once said, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.”
