Last Sunday night I had my weekly plan set in place and was prepared to push myself into high productivity mode. Monday morning started off as usual with a quick breakfast, vitamins and preparation for my morning workout routine at the gym. As I hopped in my daily driver and turned the key I was left with an engine failing to start and mild irritability building in my mind. No car meant no gym, ride sharing for work and productivity in terms of my to-do list drastically decreasing. From this point I knew if I couldn't fix the car my whole week would be shot and with this in mind I made the decision to face this issue head and hands on. Truthfully, I could have never achieved what I did last week without one key block I have implemented into my daily mindset, and that would be management of expectations.
If this situation would have occurred only one year ago it would have left me totally overwhelmed with self-pity, bitterness and zero motivation to attempt to find a solution. I would have dragged my sorry self back into my house asking "why me?" Instead of doing the latter, I weighed out my options. Tow it to a mechanic and light the cash in my wallet on fire or open the hood and figure it out myself. After self-education through the car manual, getting some advice from others and getting covered in grease I had my car running by the weekend along with the satisfaction of improving my car repair skills. This resolution came as result of my practiced ability of expectation management. Life will continue to put obstacles in your path unexpectedly throughout your entire existence so long as you are breathing, but luckily you are equipped with the most powerful and effective tool for the job: your mind. The hard fact that many people, along with myself, had to swallow is that you simply can not and will not always win. Not every attempt to get something accomplished will succeed the first time around and oddly enough, that is the glory of hardships.
Having your mind in the proper place is the first step to taking on all of life's problems both big and small. All too often, many folks are very comfortable in their daily routine, and when something out of the ordinary slams that routine to a halt it creates inner pandemonium. No matter the area of life these problems occur it is essential to step back and analyze. Even twenty minutes of critical thinking could be the difference of finding a simple solution, starting the process to a longer solution or stopping your emotions from getting the best of you. You can control that rush of dread and hopelessness with practice. Break the problem down into smaller steps and begin with process of elimination for solutions. Remind yourself that you have survived this far after all the problems you have faced prior in life, and whatever you are facing today will be handled in the exact way it was meant to be. Reward yourself after any issues you solve. Taking on problems in this manner allows you to learn new skills, trust yourself more and remain confident in your day to day life.
By no means am I a master of life. I still face challenges every day that test my patience, knowledge and abilities but I keep the promise of staying self-reliant and resilient. Now that I am a man with a family, it is more important than ever to remain in a state of being a work in progress. Instead of fearing what is going to hold me down next, I embrace challenges and hold on to the satisfactory feelings of being a better man than I was the day before. I hope this post has helped you or entertained you in any way. Follow me on my journey to self-improvement and apply anything you read here in your own life if you believe in making change for the better.
