Choose a Better Life

For almost a year I have had my sights set on a specific event.  I had researched it, planned for it and committed to seeing it come to fruition.  As much as I told myself my future was not tied to this event, I had put all my emotional eggs “in one basket” because I was confident of the outcome.  I had no doubt that this event would take place and not only change my life, but also the lives of several people close to me.

But, not long ago I was informed the event had fallen through, Due to circumstances beyond my control the event was cancelled and there was nothing I could do to change it.  When I heard the news I was crushed.  All the time I spent wading through the details and preparing felt wasted.  To say I was disappointed is an understatement.

However, I knew that disappointment was not the end of the story.  Yes, a door had been closed, but that did not mean that every door had been closed.  So I gave myself a little time. I mourned the dream that had been lost, shared my feelings with two very dear friends, journaled, prayed and decided it was time to refocus.

As I share in my seminars, we may not be able to control what happens to us, but we can always control how we respond to what happens to us.  In this case, I was not going to allow someone else’s decision to leave a cloud of negativity over my life.  I was not going to wallow in the “Why did this happen?” or “Now, I’ll never achieve my dream.”  Instead, I was going to take control of my response and turn this major disappointment into something positive.

So I listed all the other ways I could still achieve my dream.  I had to get a little creative and think outside the box, but I was amazed at all the possibilities that still existed.  Then I listed the good that could come from the cancellation of this event.  As I did this I began to see how much stronger I will become and how beneficial this cancellation will be not only for myself, but also for several people I care about.  And I continue to see new blessings daily.

Choose a Better Life ™ by accepting disappointments not as the end of the story, but as the beginning of a new chapter … a new way of thinking.  Allow yourself the time to mourn the disappointment, but then choose to take control of your response.  Choose to look for the good and be open to new possibilities.  Not only will you blow away the clouds of negativity, but you may also be surprised by the blessings that replace them.