Making The Most of It

You took the trip planning to enjoy the beach and sunshine every day, but it was cloudy and rainy most of the time.  You planned to spend the day organizing and cleaning, but something broke so you spent the day repairing and cleaning up the mess.  Life does not turn out how you planned it.

You make plans but you cannot control the weather, other people or when something breaks.  How do you handle the disappointments and frustrations of life?  If you try to control everything and everyone, you soon discover that it is impossible.  The lack of control can create anger and resentment and lead to a life with no enjoyment.

When you blame yourself that life did not go as planned, you go deeper into the need to control.  You blame yourself for choosing the wrong dates for your trip or for not being more proactive in preventing break downs.  Or your anger goes outward and you take it out on family and believe that life never gives you a break.  Something always goes wrong becomes your motto for life.  You never get to relax and enjoy life.  You become mad at the world.

Life happens.  You cannot control the weather, but it does not need to ruin the trip.  Something breaks and you just clean up the mess.  It is changing an attitude and focus.  It is making the most of the situation.  For example, maybe you needed more rest, and the clouds and rain gave you more time to nap, reflect and pray.  Maybe it was learning how to make a repair and being proud of your accomplishment so that someday you can help someone else with it.

It is changing your plan for a different purpose.  Your plan involved getting your way – doing it your way.  Maybe it is looking at a greater purpose in the moments of life.  Disappointments and frustrations come when your focus is self-centered and rigid.  You refuse to deviate from your plan for a greater plan or purpose.

Break down the big purpose and plan and begin to look at what is in front of you.  How can you make the most of what you have, not what you wanted to have?  What can you do differently?  Be flexible.  Release the plan in your head that keeps you frustrated because it is not going to happen.  Let it go.  Go with the flow.  Look for the blessings in what you would have missed if your plan had worked. 

Make the most of your situation.  It is all you have.  It is what it is.  Find the good.  Release your expectations and go with the moment at hand.  Find something to be grateful for and name your blessings.  This may take a little effort especially if you feel like everything goes wrong for you.  Here is a suggestion on how to begin naming your blessings – start with the alphabet.  Name something you are grateful for using each letter of the alphabet.  By the time you name twenty-six grateful blessings, your attitude and outlook should change.  If not, repeat it until you have made the most of your situation by being grateful.

Elaine’s website – www.livinginthedifferent.com  blogs, books and more.

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different