We often exaggerate the importance of certain events simply because they didn’t meet our expectations. This leads to disappointment—not because the events were bad, but because we expected too much. And when we hear bad news, we instinctively fear the worst.
We believe things should always go our way, and when they don’t, we see it as a personal failure. We’re constantly chasing the next thing—always planning, never present. In the process, we trade the richness of now for an imagined future.
Whatever is stressing you out, ask yourself what it really means. Did something just not go your way? Did you have a rough day? It happens. Tomorrow is a new opportunity. Your car broke down? Call the shop. Handle it. The not-so-good moments are just blips on the radar of life.
These moments may feel like they last forever, but often it’s because we hold on too tightly. We replay them over and over in our minds. But bad things happen to everyone. Let go. Don’t let them consume you. Life is a series of events—you get to decide how long you dwell in the good times and the bad.
As Ryan Holiday said:
“Stop torturing yourself. Be present. Focus primarily on what is in front of you. Resist the impulse to add judgement or speculation on top of what you are dealing with.”
Enjoy the moment as it is—not how you thought it would be. Sometimes we’re unlucky. That’s life. Move on, and focus on the present moment, because it’s the only thing that truly exists.
The past is behind you, and the future is only a possibility.
Take care.