A few months ago, my car was broken into and my laptop stolen.
Among other things, I had to buy a new PC, get the window of my car fixed, change all my passwords, reinstall new software and recreate a bunch of files that had been lost.
All told, I figured I lost at least a full day of productivity. It was extremely inconvenient, and I was very frustrated.
Within the next few weeks, on three separate occasions, a friend of ours lost a family member.
Each time I heard the news, I felt embarrassed that I had allowed myself to get so worked up about a lost PC.
Why does it take a tragic event to provide perspective? Why do most people focus on the little irritations of daily life instead of counting their blessings?
If you’ve watched TV, listened to the radio or surfed the internet recently, then you know why.
We are constantly bombarded with the following message – “Your life is missing something. You lack a nice car, rock hard abs or a fully-funded 401k.”
All advertising is built on scarcity/fear. After hearing that type of message thousands of times a day, it’s difficult to keep things in perspective.
But you can do it. Here are some simple strategies to get you started.
First, start and end your day with a prayer of gratitude. In other words, count your blessings. I would encourage you to write them down.
Next, focus on the needs of others. Find someone in your life that needs a kind word or a helping hand.
Finally, disconnect from the media. Go to dinner with your family and leave the phone at home. Try reading a book at night instead of watching the evening news.
As with most things in life, the solution is simple. All you need to do is execute.