HOW TO AVOID GETTING BITTER

I think this is something everyone tries to avoid in their lifetime. I think it’s one of the hardest challenges of all. 

Our lives are filled with so much; perhaps it feels like we are balancing on a pin. The brain is so easily wired to negativity, and I contemplate how negativity would have served our survival when we were hunters and gathers. 

The power of thinking your reality into existence is proven to work in many cases, so why is our default to the negative? When faced with survival, you would think thinking positively to get through the hard phase would be more beneficial. Our fight of flight responses can be triggered so easily, something as simple as a text message or upcoming stressful situation can trigger a negative anxiety filled reaction. It’s painful enough when you are aware of it within yourself, and then it's even more painful when you unleash these emotions onto others. 

And it’s always the small things, 

I just broke my sunglasses. At first, I lost them, which triggered my fight-or-flight response and sense of urgency to find them. Once I saw them smashed and run over, I was annoyed at myself and then mourning the sunglasses.

My mind began to race, and I kicked into ‘solving mode’ about purchasing a new pair when I was on the train. However, I then realised I didn’t need to repurchase the same pair. I could appreciate my time with these sunglasses and use their demise as a lesson.

My sunglasses got smashed because I was too tired and flustered to pay attention to my belongings, resulting in me losing them in transit. If I had taken better care of myself, I would have taken better care of my sunglasses.

I now have another pair of sunglasses, and I’m grateful for my previous pair. Maybe gratitude is the answer to avoid getting bitter.