How to Be Happy - Even When Things Go Wrong

A couple of weeks ago, I got hit by about three events which felt like a kick in the guts - all at once.

And I was reeling... annoyed... frustrated... and felt downright angry at times.

I was in a spin. I was riddled with anxiety - it was like it was attacking me & I couldn't get away.

I couldn't sleep. In fact, I went to bed at 10:30pm one night and was still lying there at 12:30pm.

Then I got this gut feeling to go to the book case to read a book.

So that's what I did - despite the fact I heard the words told to me by someone or other over the years that you can't learn everything from books (that may be true, but you can learn a HECK of a lot from books).

Anyway, I picked up this book called "Slowing down to the pace of life"...

And in that book they were talking about how we tend to follow thoughts...

So one bad thing happens. For instance, someone cuts you off at the traffic and you start thinking...

HOW DARE YOU

and then you think that guys a prick... he shouldn't have done it... I hope he has an accident, etc. etc.

Your mind runs away like a horse bolting out of a gate.

Then you are having a nice relaxing weekend and everyone is enjoying themselves and someone has a dig at you...

And your mind runs off again...

Then you're at work and you get a nasty email from someone you weren't expecting and off your mind bolts again.

Anyway, here's what I did to get to sleep right away.

I stopped following my thoughts. Because those thoughts create feelings - and not good ones.

Stop following them - end the pain - get back to the present.

Makes sense, right?

My wife was telling me about someone she used to work with who followed this advice and how everything could be going pear shaped around him and he would sit there with a smile on his face... seemingly unfazed.

This in my view is what he was doing.

Truth is, your mind will go into fear... anger... frustration... and create all sorts of dramas for you in your life.

Following it is like chasing after a can of poison. It's going to intoxicate you... stress you out and make you sick.

Instead, just let the poison run away to the tip and stay in the present moment.

That's the key to staying positive and focused.

Instead, look at what you can do.

So if you are frustrated at not having enough customers right now... dealing with clients who don't appreciate you... and just downright angry things aren't going your way...

Don't follow those thoughts.

Let them go, stay in the present and write down a plan for what you can do instead.

By Scott Bywater