Volume XXII, Number 22 (Issue 1078) May 27, 2024
Move Toward the Light
It was the Scottish poet Robert Burns who wrote, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft agley.” Translation: on any given day, some things do not go as planned. More to the point, stuff happens. In Burn’s poem, a mouse loses its home to the blade of a plow. Given the spate of storms that have been ravaging the continental U.S. of late, far too many people can relate to that mouse’s plight.
In the face of such loss, it can be nearly impossible to find a glimmer of hope, let alone be positive. However, if you watch some of the media coverage of these disasters you often hear survivors state that while they lost their home or business, many of their worldly possessions, or their livelihood, they and their family came through unscathed. A few go on to add that it is merely stuff that was lost. It can be replaced; and they are grateful they are safe and can/will rebuild.
As we know all too well, things go wrong. When they do, they can foil our plans. What is worse, when the day starts off on the wrong foot it is easy for things to seem like they are spiraling downward all day long. Yet we plan nonetheless. It is as if planning is in our DNA.
If you are like me, every time your plans are derailed it tends to frustrate you. I know I often struggle to go with the flow – especially when I have my day’s activities mapped out. Yet, the chaos that comes when our schedule falls victim to an unforeseen event or someone else’s agenda happens, it occurs with such regularity that we should not be surprised when it does. In fact, Chaos Theory argues there is so much out of our control that small, inconsequential, and unrelated events routinely affect our daily lives. Think butterfly effect.
The thing is it is how you and I react to those unexpected events that matters most. Glass half-full or glass half-empty, how do you respond to sudden change and disappointment? Whether you are looking to change your mindset or change an outcome, one of the keys to successful behavioral change is to find the bright spots and focus on them. In fact, focusing on the bright spots is one of the tools we teach to those looking to claim new leadership skills. Our habits run deep and that can and often does include some questionable soft skills. When someone decides they want to be a better leader, replacing old unhealthy habits with new, improved habits takes time. Furthermore, when we are under stress we default to the familiar. In other words, we backslide. It is in our nature. To overcome the negative feelings that such regression triggers, we have them focus on the successes. That is, the
bright spots. So, the next time you find things are not going the way you planned, rather than get frustrated, try identifying and focusing on the bright spots. They are there if you will look for them.
Note to self: physician heal thy self!
Soli Deo Gloria
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8-9
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210)260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
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Copyright 2024 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are always welcome.