Life isn’t always rainbows, puppies and lollipops. Sometimes things go terribly wrong and we’re not quite sure how to handle them. Here are 5 life questions to ask yourself when things go wrong.
It is in the darkness that we will find the light we need.
Now I must clarify that for the purpose of this blog and message, I am not talking about tragedies or death of loved ones. This inspirational article is simply about all those annoying things that happen out of the blue.
So when things go wrong for me, these are some of the important questions in life that Iva stops asking before she gets angry and loses her temper because, let’s face it, don’t we all want to yell and cry and throw things? (or tantrums) when things fall apart?
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5 life questions you should ask yourself
Is this going to matter next week? Next month?
Like whatever shit just happened, will it still be horrible next week, or next month, or hell even tomorrow for that matter? Is it so bad that we will still be reeling in the days to come?
Of course, the loss of a job will probably still matter next week or month (as long as you haven’t found a replacement job yet), but always keep in mind that everything happens for a reason, even if it takes a long time sometimes. so that the reason is revealed.
Every situation, every thing is temporary. Even your problems. Remember it.
Is there anything I should learn from this?
Maybe there is a bigger lesson here for you. Maybe the Universe threw that curveball at you, right then and there for one of two reasons: a) to slow you down or b) to make you smarter. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Maybe you were headed in the wrong direction and the Universe said “hey Betty, not so fast” but you weren’t listening and then whoops!
Pay attention to the signs. They are everywhere and they don’t always appear as feathers or butterflies. I think of all the questions to ask about life, this might be the most important. Where is the lesson?
Can I do something about it now?
Am I fully capable of stepping up, confident enough in myself to rectify the current situation, or do I just keep freaking out and acting like a child throwing a tantrum? Am I strong enough to deal with this right now in a sensible way? Look, this one evokes more questions about life that you should ask yourself.
You should try it. When you take a step back and think “okay, I can do this”? and then you decide to handle it with confidence, it will prepare you for future chaotic events to occur. We can’t always act like 3-year-olds when things go wrong. Time to be an adult.
Can I put it away for now?
Now, by that I don’t mean sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened. When bad things happen, they happen for a reason and we have to deal with them. But sometimes taking a step back and not reacting right away is the best way to respond. Can you walk away from the situation and come back to look at it from a different angle that might also help you learn and grow as a person?
You know, don’t act in a hurry and be mature about it. Sometimes we have to step away, think about the whole thing, and then when we’re calm and even-tempered, we can approach it another way. When you ask some of these important life questions, it really helps you grow. This one of life’s questions is actually more important than you think.
How is this going to change my life?
How strong was the storm that hit? Was it devastating or manageable? If I take the lesson I learned and apply it, how will my life change from this situation? If I don’t take the lesson, then what? What is the worst that will come from this situation?
I know when I lost a great job from one of my clients 2 years ago, even though I panicked a bit and knew my income was taking a big hit, I also knew it was a good thing for me because it allowed me more time to work on my own personal business. A blessing in disguise, it was life-altering, and yes, it was a huge hole in my income, but I made it work.
These important life questions are just a small handful to ask when things go wrong, but ultimately, it’s how you handle and react to the situation that will make or break you. Just be cool, be cool.