Taming Trouble

Four easy ways to handle the little problems in life…

Life doesn't always go as planned. Stuff happens, and things can soon build into the proverbial mountains from molehills if we let them. Here are some pointers for keeping buoyant in the face of adversity.

1. Gather Perspective

When problems occur, be specific about them. Speak with someone you know can help you be calm and objective, or take a few minutes to write your thoughts in a journal; anything to get them outside your head for some objective review can really help.

2. Put Negative Events in Quarantine

Keep them separate and don't let them spread. Negative events can be highly contagious! They have the ability to turn everything around them negative too, given half the chance. Don't let them. Put them in isolation and make sure they stay there.

3. Play with Time

Will it matter in a week, a month, or a year? If not, let it go, why wait to feel better about it. If you can do it then, why not do it now?

4. Don't Let it Get Personal

Whenever you can don't let it be about you. If two drivers honk their horns at you on the way to work, it doesn't necessarily mean you are a bad driver, and it certainly doesn't have to be a bad omen for your day – unless you let it. Keep in mind all your smooth and honk free journeys and let them balance things out for you.

Recent research shows that stress and anxiety can have very unwelcome effects on our health and well being, by applying the above strategies we can keep day to day troubles contained and learn to cope with them with some levity and humour.

The Dangers of Drama
There's a Chinese proverb that says: "You can't prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair."

When we allow the little things to mushroom and unfold into a drama, we are inviting unnecessary stress and emotional suffering – for ourselves, and for those around us.

Keeping problems contained and in perspective saves us from getting stressed and helps us find solutions from a calm and clear point of view.

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