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Finding the good in the bad
“Turn your obstacles into opportunities and your problems into possibilities.”
- Roy T. Bennett
We have all heard the clichés about finding silver linings and making lemonade when life hands us lemons. I even have a handful of other posts on the topic. It bears repeating. Our ability to show resilience, courage and faith in the face of adversity can help us live a better quality of life. It’s something we should always be aware of, especially during those times when it seems to be raining lemons. Our power lies in our response. We each get to choose our next move.
What I have learned is a delayed response is the best response. We usually don’t overreact after the fact. When we allow our emotions to settle down, we avoid letting them get the best of us and doing or saying something we may end up wanting to undo or take back. Practicing mindfulness has been a huge help for me. I am able to take a step back and assess the situation. So instead of making some knee-jerk reaction that may not serve me well, I think about the consequences of my actions and form a much better response. I tap into my positive mental attitude.
I will ask myself, “What can I learn from this?” or “What good can come of this.” There isn’t always a clear answer. Sometimes there is no answer at all. However, by asking myself these questions, I refrain…