The Story I Started Telling Myself

By 5 a.m., I was exhausted.

Not just tired. That worn down, everything is more annoying than it should be kind of tired.

The dog had been sick. I had barely slept. Then I split my toenail.

And almost immediately, I could feel myself building the story.

Of course this happened. What a terrible morning. Today is going to be one of those days.

That is the part I have learned to pay attention to.

I could not control the dog being sick. I could not change the fact that I barely slept, and the toenail was already split.

But I did have some control over what happened next.

There is a question Gay Hendricks taught me that I come back to when I catch myself going down that road:

What wonderful thing is coming into my life right now?

I will admit, that can sound a little strange when you have just split your toenail at 5 a.m.

But I do not think the point is to pretend everything is wonderful.

The point is to interrupt the story.

Because once I decide I am having a terrible day, my brain gets pretty good at finding more evidence to prove me right.

The frustrating email becomes more frustrating.

The small problem becomes a bigger problem.

And suddenly a bad five minutes has turned into a bad five hours.

That reminds me of another trick I use when I need some perspective.

I picture myself at 80, looking back at my life today.

The business.

My family.

The problems I am trying to solve.

All the things that feel stressful, busy, and occasionally overwhelming right now.

I have a feeling 80 year old me would look at this version of my life, exhaustion, problems, split toenail and all, and think:

I would take that day again.

It does not mean the annoying stuff is not annoying.

It just puts it back into perspective.

A client will cancel.

A deal will fall apart.

You will get a frustrating email.

Bad stuff is going to happen.

Just pay attention to the story you start telling yourself about what it means.

Because a bad moment does not need to decide what kind of day you are going to have.

The next time you catch yourself spiraling, interrupt the story.

Ask, “What wonderful thing is coming into my life right now?”

Or ask what 80 year old you would think about the problem you are dealing with today.

You might not change what happened.

But you can change what happens next.