Daily Gratitude: We are so used to how we react to things that we don’t even realize how robotic our reactions are.

Let’s look at things as if they have Two handles – some might say two sides of the same picture but I like the image of a knapsack with two straps, or even a wheelbarrow with two handles. Whatever image you choose is just that, an image.

What’s important though is that you recognize that you have a choice.

You can always choose a different thought that will lead you to a better outcome.

This is by Epictetus and it’s long and in old language and you may have to read it a few times. I’m putting it here to let you know I didn’t just make this stuff up.

“Everything has two handles, one by which it can be borne, the other by which it cannot. If your brother wrongs you, do not take it by the handle of the wrong he has done, for this is the handle by which it cannot be borne; but by the other, that he is your brother, brought up with you; and you will take it by the handle by which it can be borne.” Epictetus, Encheiridion, 43

The Bottom line is:
You can judge any situation in two ways—one that leads to unhappiness and the other to happiness.

When you are unhappy with something, you have made a wrong judgment; wrong for you anyway.
It is incompatible with happiness.

You picked it up by the wrong handle. Instead, grab the other handle—the one that will lead you to happiness.

As i give you some examples I want you to think of the other reason to choose the “right” handle.

Remember that what you put out is what you’re going to get back. And putting out doesn’t mean out loud. Any thought you think is putting some sort of vibration out they into the universe and whether you realize it or not, it’s like a big marketing campaign saying “hey there I want more of this !!!”

Two weekends ago the windchill had our temps in the low 20s in the morning and that’s cold for us.

I could have said “it’s just not fair. I want to go walking but it’s too darn cold”. That would make me upset and unhappy.

Instead I could think “what a great opportunity to see how my gear does in the cold weather. That way I’ll know how well I’ll be able to do at the race this month. That made me happy and it was productive. That made me even happier. I CHOOSE THIS HANDLE

I’ve been having some problems with my eyesight lately. I could think of ”damn I can’t get anything done. I don’t know why the doctors can’t get their acts together to take care of MY problems. That would lead me to worry more and be unhappy.

Or I could say “well this gives me an opportunity to do some research and even some experiments to see if I can help them come up with answers. “This too shall pass” I if I just be patient and not feel like everything has to always go the way I think it should. Everything always passes and everything always works out for me.

That will calm my nervous system and will probably even excite it in a good way bexause I love research and experiments. And remembering that everything always works out for me makes me smile AND HAPPY. I CHOOSE THIS HANDLE

Suppose your friend did something to hurt you.

You are angry and unhappy because you are using the handle, “My friend hurt me.” This makes you angry and unhappy. So, this handle is the wrong one.

Ask yourself, “What other handle can I use here?”

The other handle could be, “We all do thoughtless things occasionally. I’m sure I have hurt others as well. I don’t have to take it that seriously. He is a friend, and it is no big deal.” This handle is compatible with happiness. So, it is the right handle. Our friend’s behaviour no longer hurts us.

When you are upset with your boss, the handle, “He is a jerk,” or “He doesn’t appreciate me,” or “He doesn’t know what he is talking about,” or, ‘He is being unreasonable,” is the incorrect handle.

The handle, “I am grateful I have this job. Let me see why my boss is asking me to do this. Let me understand this from their perspective,” or “My boss may be wrong, but so am I sometimes. Why make a big deal of it?” is likely to diffuse anger and lead to a more pleasant interaction with your boss. Choose this handle!

Mentally go over the day, looking for times when you were irritated, annoyed, angry, anxious, or worried—even mildly.

Then, ask yourself what judgment led you to your discomfort. Think about “the other handle” that would have relieved your discomfort.

Daily Gratitude: This is a great quote and it made me think of my walks in the park near my house. It’s actually a greenway and San Antonio has done an excellent job expanding it for over 25 miles.

But, of course, the only part I care about is that section I’m walking on at the time. I often say that one benefit of being so slow is that it’s easier to see things as I go along. Especially the flowers along the way. Just as this quote is talking about.

Do we want to go through life staying on the paved road, perhaps missing out on the flowers that are right next to us. All we have to do is stop and look.

Be intentional about what you’re doing. Are you staying on the path because you’re in a hurry to get to the next stop? Maybe that’s ok if that’s your purpose. But maybe you’re staying on the path because you’re afraid – afraid of getting lost; afraid there will be someone there to attack you; afraid of bugs; afraid of snakes: afraid of failing?

Can you identify your reasons (fears?) you choose to stay on the paved road? Do you enjoy being there or would you like some excitement in your life?

Can you put one foot off the path and see how it feels? Now the next…and so on. How do you feel? Baby steps is what it’s all about. Try something new but don’t pull your foot back at the first indication it’s uncomfortable. That’s natural. Discomfort is the definition of being out of your comfort zone so expect it. Welcome it. See how it feels and then celebrate that feeling because it’s new. There will be lots of new wonderful feelings like that as you continue to forge your own path. All great people have forged their own paths.

Why not you?

Daily Gratitude: This is another way to handle the fears and worries of our current times.

Almost hour by hour the news bombards us, one thing after another. If we just let the waves smack us again and again and again, that doesn’t do any good. It knocks us down and can paralyze us so that our lives go on around us without us participating in it at all.

Is that what you want? I don’t. I want to live as much as possible.

The way to do that is to figure out how to surf. What can you do to surf and not be smacked?

Continue to do the things that matter to you, things you enjoy. You can go about living your life while still paying attention to actions you can take so you don’t feel like an ostrich. But you don’t need to react to everything that the news reports. Be choosy.

Tell us how you’ve learned to surf.