How Do You React When Things Don't Go Your Way?

How Do You React When Things Don't Go Your Way?

by Brian Gimelson

Sometimes life can be like driving a car down a country road. One moment you feel you're admiring the trees and the hills and the next a deer jumps out in front of you, and it's too late to stop. 

It's safe to say that over the last few years that I've had several gut punches, each one worse than the last. Unexpected things in life happen every day, some good, some bad, and when you're going through them it can be tough to see the forest through the trees.  Looking back on the adversities I've had to deal with, I feel that I've learned quite a bit.

1) The things you think are important to you, aren't as important as the things you didn't think you could lose. 

2) The people who you think would stand next to you, sometimes don't, and you will be surprised that some people are in your life that you may have underestimated. 

3) It's never as bad as you thought it was going to be at the beginning.

4) You're going to be okay.

I do come from a school of thought that everything happens for a reason, and that the universe sometimes has a much bigger plan than what's happening today. If you take the long view of things, no matter what happens to you, you really are going to be okay, it's just really tough to be objective when you're in the middle of it.

John Lennon was attributed as saying "Life happens, when you're busy doing other things," and nothing could be truer. Keep in mind that no matter what happens to you, the world will keep spinning, the sun will come up and go down, and you still have at least that day to enjoy it. 

That being said, it's easy to look back on and see that you're okay now, but while you're going through it, life can be very tough sometimes. Also, when things are bad, they sometimes will get worse before they get better. 

A business failure. The betrayal of a spouse. The death of a good friend. The illness of a family member. Cancer. A car accident. Death of a pet. Anyone can go through any and or all of these things, and many more things like these.

When you lose things that are important to you, you learn to cherish the things you have, the people who are in your life, the sunrise and sunset, a good meal, a song by a band you love, a smile. 

I aspire daily to be a better person. I'll never be perfect, but I am aware of things that I believe in, and love and despite being asked to compromise them, I never will. If you don't have your integrity, you have nothing left. Humility is important. Sometimes you have to overlook the fact that you're right in order to be successful in an endeavor. Know the difference and decide which battles are most important, you can lose a few, and still reach your end goals.

Just remember, even though gut punches are tough while they are happening, it's all going to be okay.

There are things in my life I want to keep on improving. There are accomplishments that are still unfulfilled. I do have regrets. Despite everything, I've never been happier than I am right now.