A long time ago, like a few years, I wrote myself some advice that I stole from the internet somewhere... I feel like now, with: mounting poker losses, up-coming due dates, 4 exams in 3 days, applications for summer stuff approaching, grad school, relationships stresses (including love, family, friends), journal article critiques, growing sickness with stuffiness and a sore throat, a sprained arm, a shit-storm of a room, shaggy hair, nothing clean to wear... AND.... No friends or family to be found for another few days--- I decided that maybe I should give myself the advice again.
So here it is.
There are ten points but some of them are lame... So I'll just share the good ones.
4 Forget about your losses, focus on your opportunities. Things you had, things you took for granted, may have disappeared. Some people never get over this. They keep trying to replay their old games. A better strategy is to start an entirely new game - using new ideas, new energies, new tools, and new resources. A big opportunity is suddenly available now for achieving far more than you ever did in the past.
5 Forget about your difficulties, focus on your progress. Things may not be as easy as they were. The new difficulties will either defeat you or reveal new strengths. Your physical muscles always get stronger from working against resistance. The same is true for the muscles in your mind, your spirit, and your character. Treat this whole period of challenge as a time when you can make your greatest progress as a human being.
6 Forget about the "future," focus on today. The "future" is an abstraction. It doesn't exist except as an idea. The only future that has any reality is the one that you continually create for yourself through each day's contributions, achievements, and results. This is an excellent time to ignore all those experts who never saw the present circumstances coming. Focus on what you can do over the course of each 24 hours, and you'll be the only expert on the future you'll ever need.
7 Forget about who you were, focus on who you can be. Many people define themselves by external circumstances. When these abruptly change, they don't know who they are, so they keep trying to be who they used to be. From now on, take your cues from the inside - from your dreams, ideals, values, and operating principles. These need never change, regardless of the circumstances. Take advantage of the present external confusion to become self-directed, self-managed, and self-motivated.
10 Forget about your complaints, focus on your gratitude. This is one of those times when everyone has to make a fundamental decision: to complain or to be grateful. When things turn negative, the consequences of this decision are much greater. Complaining only attracts negative thoughts and people; gratitude creates the opportunity for the best thinking, actions, and results to emerge. Focus on everything that you are grateful for - communicate this - and open yourself each day to the best possible consequences.
So I guess there's no time like the present to start conquering this bullshit and taking advantage of the things that are right and good and true in my life. What's so bad, really? So, you're broke, and messy and busy and things are shit: get over it.
What's that Jewish proverb about piling up everyone's debts and stresses and bullshit and setting it on a table. Then everyone can see how theirs compares-- the grass ISN'T greener. So, relax and take it easy.
