Practicing Not Getting Upset Over Every Little Thing
Has this ever happened to you?
I'm hungry. (Check). I decide what I want to eat & mentally compare it to what's in the refrigerator. (Check). Put the food to warm up in the oven. (Check). Come back after awhile only to discover I forgot to turn the oven ON! (Uncheck).
In the interest of full disclosure, yes, I did get mad. And yes, I likely said a few words that I should not have. But then, afterwards, I thought to myself "Is this really THAT serious?"
So, I calmed myself down and realized a few things. Not everything requires us to get upset. Some things really are not that big a deal even if they are mildly annoying.
I mean, for example, if I live to be 80 or 90 years old, will I care that my spaghetti lunch on November 30, 2016 was not heated up and ready at the time I wanted? In fact, next year or even next week will it matter that I forgot to turn the oven on today to warm my food up?
I used to be that person who fretted and worried myself about almost every little thing that came into my mind. However, I'm learning more and more nowadays that not everything is worth stressing over.
Let's go back to my lunch that I ate a little later today than I expected due to an honest mistake. First of all, I'm unemployed for now so it's not like some supervisor is going to write me up or dock my pay for eating a slightly late lunch.
Secondly, there are people all over the world and even in my own city, state, and country who are starving or suffering in some other way. When you think of what they're going through, how the heck is my lunch being a few minutes late anywhere near as important?
My point is I'm a work-in-progress trying to diligently keep in mind that not everything that happens or doesn't happen requires me getting upset. Sure, some things SHOULD but not everything.
Being unemployed and constantly struggling to find work? Heck yes, I get upset about that and SHOULD. My husband's get-rich-quick schemes which so far have cost us a LOT of money? Yep, I sure do get upset about that stuff!
But minor stuff like a long line at the supermarket? I'm not wasting time fussing over that. A person on some internet discussion board disagreeing with me? Eh, not serious to me.
Sometimes I'm good at reminding myself to not stress over insignificant stuff but for the times I forget, I try to talk myself out of being upset or maybe I go for a walk.
How do you stay calm when simple (or even not-so-simple) circumstances try to ruin your mood?
I'm hungry. (Check). I decide what I want to eat & mentally compare it to what's in the refrigerator. (Check). Put the food to warm up in the oven. (Check). Come back after awhile only to discover I forgot to turn the oven ON! (Uncheck).
In the interest of full disclosure, yes, I did get mad. And yes, I likely said a few words that I should not have. But then, afterwards, I thought to myself "Is this really THAT serious?"
So, I calmed myself down and realized a few things. Not everything requires us to get upset. Some things really are not that big a deal even if they are mildly annoying.
I mean, for example, if I live to be 80 or 90 years old, will I care that my spaghetti lunch on November 30, 2016 was not heated up and ready at the time I wanted? In fact, next year or even next week will it matter that I forgot to turn the oven on today to warm my food up?
I used to be that person who fretted and worried myself about almost every little thing that came into my mind. However, I'm learning more and more nowadays that not everything is worth stressing over.
Let's go back to my lunch that I ate a little later today than I expected due to an honest mistake. First of all, I'm unemployed for now so it's not like some supervisor is going to write me up or dock my pay for eating a slightly late lunch.
Secondly, there are people all over the world and even in my own city, state, and country who are starving or suffering in some other way. When you think of what they're going through, how the heck is my lunch being a few minutes late anywhere near as important?
My point is I'm a work-in-progress trying to diligently keep in mind that not everything that happens or doesn't happen requires me getting upset. Sure, some things SHOULD but not everything.
Being unemployed and constantly struggling to find work? Heck yes, I get upset about that and SHOULD. My husband's get-rich-quick schemes which so far have cost us a LOT of money? Yep, I sure do get upset about that stuff!
But minor stuff like a long line at the supermarket? I'm not wasting time fussing over that. A person on some internet discussion board disagreeing with me? Eh, not serious to me.
Sometimes I'm good at reminding myself to not stress over insignificant stuff but for the times I forget, I try to talk myself out of being upset or maybe I go for a walk.
How do you stay calm when simple (or even not-so-simple) circumstances try to ruin your mood?
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