It’s all in how you choose to look at it….
I often find myself in situations where I’m frustrated or impatient with something little and insignificant. It isn’t the big things that bug me, it’s the little day in and day out hassles. Having to stop at every red light when you’re already running late. Waiting in a long line at the grocery store to have them open five new registers JUST when you get to the front of the line and it doesn’t benefit you to change lanes.
Washing your car and driving carefully to keep it clean, only to have someone speed past you and splash dirt and slush all over. These certainly aren’t life or death matters, but they sure do get my pulse racing sometimes!
As I was pondering some of these “precious moments” the other day, I realized that it isn’t the event that’s the problem, it’s my interpretation of it. The problem is often with my perspective. A few days ago as I was driving to pick up my children from school, I was cut off in traffic – and I mean REALLY cut off – which left me fighting the impulse to express my frustration in not so helpful ways. However, as I sat there with my heart racing, I looked around and realized there was a child crossing the street in an unmarked area. Had I not been cut off by another vehicle and forced to stop, my line of sight would have been compromised and I could have easily hit that child. My perspective changed.
Suddenly, my feelings of frustration and anger were replaced by feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving. The situation didn’t change, but my perspective did. Too often, I think we forget to look at things from another perspective. Maybe waiting at that stoplight is keeping you from a potential accident a few blocks ahead. Maybe having to wait in line at the store is an opportunity to say hello to the people around you and brighten someone’s day. Maybe…there is always a different perspective to the little things that bug us, if we choose to look for it.
Ponder on this quote as you go about your week and try to find a new perspective on the little things in your life…
“When you look at a field of dandelions, you can either see a thousand weeds or a thousand wishes. The choice is yours.” ~ Author Unknown
Pre-Licensed Counselor, NCC, CCTP