You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.
Why did you spill the coffee?
"Because someone bumped into me!!!"
Wrong answer.
You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out. Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen, it's inevitable, get a helmet), it's having the awareness how your experience of that event is created.
“You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it.” – Roy T. Bennett
When life gets tough, doesn't go as we expect, what spills out of your cup?
- Is it joy, gratitude, peace, and humility?
- Or is it anger, bitterness, victim mentality, and quitting tendencies?
If you believe that the person who was clumsy, rude, and absent-minded is to blame for accidentally spilling your coffee and subsequently ruining your day, you may want to reconsider your perspective and judgement. Finger pointing and blaming is a the easy route and a default mode, it's a means of not taking responsibility for your emotions, it's blaming the person, the circumstance or maybe the coffee shop for a poor seating area. (this is a miserable way to navigate life)
Instead of jumping to conclusions and assigning blame, consider showing empathy and understanding towards the person who made the mistake. By doing so, you may find that forgiveness and compassion can go a long way in resolving conflicts and maintaining healthy relationships. Remember, we are all human and we all make mistakes from time to time. Let's strive to be more understanding and less quick to judge. Who knows that person that bumped into you may be someone that becomes an important person in your life.
Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.
“Take responsibility for your own happiness, never put it in other people's hands.” – Roy T. Bennett
What do you want to fill your cup with?
Today let's work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation, resilience, positivity; and kindness, gentleness, and love for others.
Life is happening for you, not to you.
When you take ownership of your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, you are empowering yourself to create a more fulfilling and peaceful life. By acknowledging and accepting responsibility for your thoughts and emotions, you can gain greater control over your reactions and responses to the world around you. You also become unshakable and unbreakable. This sense of ownership allows you to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and your values, leading to increased self-awareness and personal growth. Embracing this mindset can lead to a more harmonious and balanced existence, where you are able to navigate challenges with grace and find greater contentment in the present moment.
By recognizing the power you have over your own mindset, you can unlock the potential for a simpler and more peaceful way of living.
Want to train your brain to work for you rather than against your goals, I can help!
To see what it takes to work with me as your coach, click HERE