“The hardest truth about happiness is that it’s a choice.” –Shane Parrish1 You can focus on what you don’t like about a situation, or you can choose to pay attention to the aspects that you do like. You can long for what you don’t have or be glad for what you do. You can resist what you’re experiencing or accept it with grace. You can focus on scarcity and feel… Read More »Happiness is a Choice
I’m in a crowded Trader Joe’s parking lot, trying to find a parking space. Other cars are slowly schooling around. Shoppers with bags and carts are crossing the pavement. It’s the kind of situation that could trigger impatience. But, instead, my brain generates a better interpretation: We all have to share the space. My mind expresses this thought calmly, with a positive tone, and I feel good. Peaceful. The truth… Read More »Sharing the Space
Anxiety is caused by worrying about the future. Worrying can be helpful if it encourages us to make wise preparations. But, too often, anxiety spirals out of control, and we fixate on catastrophes that probably won’t occur. This goes hand-in-hand with a desire to both know and control what’s going to happen. Both are impossible. We can’t know what’s going to happen, and we can’t control what’s going to happen.… Read More »We Need to Embrace Uncertainty
There’s a common saying, often attributed to Winston Churchill,* that goes like this: “If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” Let’s unpack that piece of wisdom because there’s more to it than you might think. Imagine a person walking through a desert, trying to get from one side to the other. It’s painfully hot. They’re thirsty and exhausted. Stopping won’t do them any good. The only way to get out… Read More »If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going