The last few times I’ve flown somewhere, things have not gone smoothly. Our seat assignments were changed. Flights have been delayed. Flights have been canceled. When these things occurred, I could have panicked or become angry. Instead, I decided to make the best of a bad situation.
Disappointments and frustrations happen to everyone
Life is full of situations that don’t happen the way we would wish. Sometimes these moments lead to frustration: A recipe doesn’t work like it should. We pick the longest checkout line. The computer freezes up.
Other times, these unwanted situations leave us disappointed. Someone else gets the job. A project flops. A friend’s unkind remarks hurt.
We don’t enjoy these moments.
However, we can’t go through life without them. Thus, our best option is to develop mindsets that help us get through them with the least amount of pain and stress.
The next time your life goes tilt, the principles below will help you make the best of a bad situation.
Making the best of things when life gets frustrating
Construction traffic, software glitches, rude customer service, … The list of potentially annoying situations is endless. These three mindset shifts help you cope without losing your cool.
Stop trying to control everything. The quicker you accept reality and admit you can’t control the outcome yourself, the easier it will be to make the best of it and move forward.
Practice the serenity prayer. One of the best strategies for coping with unforeseen problems is laid out in the simple “Serenity Prayer.”
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
We need supernatural help to let go of things we would like to control. We need wisdom to identify what those things are. So, ask God for his serenity despite the rotten situation, his wisdom to discern what we simply need to accept, and the faith to believe he will walk us through the mess.
Focus on what IS within your control. First and foremost, you control your attitude. Deciding to make the best of what has happened will go a long way towards reducing stress, grumpiness, and wasting energy shaking an angry fist at fate.
Next, figure out a positive next step you can take. Doing even a small thing helps you move past the frustration instead of fixating on it.
Making the best of a bad situation when life disappoints us
I know it’s hard to think positively when life gives us a raw deal. However, regaining perspective is one of the best ways to keep from getting stuck. These three mindset shifts will help:
View each No as a redirect from God rather than a dead end.
A no is often God’s way of leading us in a new (and better) direction.
I admit, I don’t like having my plans changed. Once I’ve set my mind on a goal, I want to keep pushing towards it until I succeed. Sometimes the only thing that will convince me to stop, reassess, and make an adjustment is a firm no.
It may be that you or I have I chosen a goal that isn’t q-u-i-t-e the direction God intended. Or perhaps the plan we’ve devised to reach that goal isn’t the best approach.
So, the next time you face a closed door or project failure, don’t throw in the towel. Instead, accept it as a redirect from God and find a way to pivot in a different direction.
View mistakes as learning opportunities, not failures
I know how difficult this is in our competitive, success-driven world. But it’s a superpower of people who are truly successful. They see every experience as a learning opportunity and a steppingstone toward growth.
When facing failure, it’s important to remind yourself that your worth isn’t based on what you achieve (or don’t achieve). You are not defined by your mistakes unless you allow them to keep you stuck. Instead, tell your inner critic that everyone is imperfect, get back on the horse, and keep working hard and learning new things.
Remember that a No doesn’t always mean forever.
Disappointments are, well … disappointing. When a door is closed or a hope is crushed, we often feel like our plans have crashed and burned FOREVER. But that isn’t necessarily so.
Often, a door won’t remain closed forever.
Perhaps the timing isn’t right. Perhaps you aren’t quite ready yet.
God may give you another opportunity to accomplish your dream. Have patience and keep doing all you can to make progress.
Are you ready?
Annoying and disappointing situations are inevitable, but they don’t have to get the best of you. You have the power to move past them with a positive attitude and firm grip on your faith.
Which of these mindset shifts will help you overcome the bad situations in your life this week?
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