“Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response to what happens. And response is something we can choose.”
By Maureen Killoran
Part of me really disposes the first part of this quote. I think it’s a party of the child in me that wants to blame the world for my ills and poor choices. I could easily indulge in rants and complaints about situations that borough me crap-storms, but I then see the second part of this quote: “And response is something we can choose.”
I think I often use this as a mantra or mind-break to disrupt bad thinking. I can choose to wallow in self-pity or I can consider whatever just happened and learn from it. I can also choose to let that learning grow or change over time and other experiences add perspective to it.
I can honestly say I don’t remember the last time I felt good about blaming anyone, including myself about some crappy situation I found myself in. Again, if it feels crappy, it’s probably not the good thing I need, but it could still lead me there, if I choose to let it.
