Perspective
Am I having the time of my life or does it suck? Are my relationships doomed or full of potential? Am I excited by tonight’s plans or dreading them? I can answer any of these questions either way, and the answer would be valid. I have a choice, to go negative or positive, regardless of the specific details of my life, my relationships or my plans for the evening. Happiness is dependent solely upon perspective.
We get to choose how we tell our stories – whether they are comedies or dramas, the lessons learned are bad or good, or others agree with our narration or not.
I’m not saying life isn’t full of pain, obstacles and challenges. It is. But I can perceive the pain as a reminder of its antithesis, the obstacles as gifts and the challenges as fun.
Or I can doggy-paddle in the muck, stuck with a dread-filled story.
Doggy-paddling is exhausting. I’d much rather float. Wouldn’t you?
nat @ book, line, and sinker
/ May 18, 2009sometimes we can all use a little perspective…it sounds like things have been rough for you. love yourself. remember the good times. time’s passage tends to soften the rough edges of painful times. thinking of you.
nat @ book, line, and sinker’s last blog post..Talk Me Down: I’m on the Twitter Fence.
emmajames
/ May 19, 2009Nat: Thanks so much. I’m not a big fan of pain. When all it takes is a shift in perspective to alleviate it, I’m game. Too bad some things are just to big to soften quickly.
molly
/ May 25, 2009I completely agree that it’s all about perspective. And while I think it’s still important to go through the feelings, it’s how you learn from them that make the difference.
molly’s last blog post..slacker sunday: sand