“You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don't help.”
- Bill Watterson
We all know those days.
You wake up and everything seems normal before it all begins disintegrating into chaos. Whatever can go sideways does, from major events to the smallest annoyances (like missing the garbage can three times in a row).
First, it’s ok to shake your head and laugh. You can only get angry so many times when everything keeps going wrong before it starts feeling ridiculously coincidental. Eventually, you reach a point where you realize you can’t fight it anymore.
I had one of those gems yesterday.
My laptop slowed to a debilitated crawl until I literally had to abandon my workday. So I made breakfast… which promptly ended up on the floor. Cleanup time. To top everything off, I was feeling exceptionally unwell.
After a few more exasperating moments, I decided to go for a drive. This cleared up that strange energy for a while...
Until I noticed the fresh crack in my windshield.
Everything I touched went sideways yesterday (though I did manage to pull out a win in the end).
When this happens, take a breath, laugh at everything around you, and change tack.
These steps help me every time:
1. Admit it’s a less-than-stellar day.
Not every day needs to be perfect. Let it happen. Allowing it loosens your grip around trying to control things. Turn around and flow with the current instead of trying to swim against it and exhausting yourself in the process.
2. Let the emotions happen.
Just like with everything else. Emotions are part of the experience, and this situation is no different. Cry, laugh, vent, get frustrated. Do whatever you need to do. Let the emotions move through you instead of getting stuck.
I got incredibly frustrated, so I turned that energy into action. I tidied my place. Organized a few things. Got dressed. Packed up and left the house. I shook that energy off with motivating music and a drive in the sun.
3. Focus only on what you can control.
Nothing else. Break it down into one simple step, then the next. Every step forward is a win, and each one builds a little more momentum.
From my new location, I could suddenly see solutions to problems that I couldn’t see from home. Those solutions I turned into action.
You don’t overcome these messy days––where everything goes sideways real fast––by trying to overpower them or use force. Instead, use your power wisely.
Invest it in what will actually move you forward and protect your emotional health.
In the end, I brought on a new retailer for my book, so that was my big win for the day.
I'm incredibly grateful.
That may not have happened if I hadn't ridden the wave, adapted to the circumstances, and stayed persistent enough to follow through with soft-grip execution.
Know yourself well enough to loosen your expectations when you need to, laugh at the chaos, and trust that things will smooth out eventually.
You just have to ride that wave long enough.
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The TRM© Deployment Kit brings together everything you need to start applying The Resilience Method© in one place. Inside you'll find The Art of Being Human, practical resilience tools and guided resources designed to help you navigate life's challenges with clarity and confidence.
