Thank you for Ruining My Day

 I gave a presentation a few years ago on seeing the positive in every situation.  I asked the audience to think of the absolute worst thing that had ever happened to them that was at least a few years ago (not fresh).  It ranged from bankruptcy, to divorce, to losing a loved one, to illness – you name it.  These are all very horrible things.  Then, I asked them to recap what happened after; what lessons they learned & what came out of it.  Every single person admitted that they got stronger, they learned something, or they ultimately became better people because of the thing that happened.  Every single thing that has happened to you is a part of your story and you’re exactly on the path you are supposed to be on.  When things go “wrong,” it’s simply because it wasn’t a part of YOUR plan.  When you “fail,” you simply didn’t get the outcome that you wanted. 

               Failure is an interesting thing.  When we fail, the result typically isn’t what we had intended and that can feel terrible.  But what if you looked at it differently?  Think about a college course.  You sign up to take a college course and you’re promised that at the end of the semester, you will have the most solid (insert skill) skill that you’re looking for.   You will be prepared, have experience, and be able to handle so much more because of this course.  You will be considered an expert in the arena.  Would you pay $10,000 for this course? 

               Now think about a business that you just started.  You gave it your all, put in the work, hired, fired, innovated, pivoted, stayed consistent – and it still wasn’t something the market wanted.  Let’s say you lost $10,000.  Did you really lose?  What if you looked at it as a college course that you gained huge knowledge surrounding innovation, leadership, tough decisions, and came out stronger, with thicker skin, and with a huge lesson that you will have with you forever.  The end result is the same (you having more knowledge and experience, and ten thousand less dollars) – but you get to choose how you see it. 

               Often times when we are in the middle of a difficult situation, it can be very difficult to see the lesson.  Personally it wasn’t easy at first for me, but after years of practice and diligent reminders to myself that there is a lesson within everything, I’ve learned to take in every challenging situation and be grateful for the lesson that will come.  You can do this too – next time something happens that isn’t as planned (your flight is delayed, you are stuck in crazy traffic, you don’t get the job you’re dying to have, you break your arm) – be grateful for it.  I have had so  many situations happen that at the time to me were devastating & completely something I never would have planned or asked for.  The result though (sometimes years later), only could have happened if I had been taken out of those prior situations.  I know myself well enough that I never would have chosen to remove myself, so clearly, I was removed (sometimes kicking and screaming), for my own good.  It ALWAYS works out for good.  It sometimes takes a while to see it, but when you look backwards, the lesson is always there. 

               So, next time your day is ruined, say Thank You.