I once had a friend who was having a tough time in graduate school. He was given a problem set that was so difficult for him that he thought the professor had it in for him. I know you’re probably rolling your eyes and are thinking that this is the ridiculous thing that you have read.
You are well within your rights to think that because there’s a lot of truth to what you’re thinking. You and I live in a world that we did not create. You and I live in a world that operates on rules that we did not have a voice in. We live in a world that operates on a take it or leaves it basis.
The world is rough. It’s unfair. It seems like a lot of the wrong people are getting ahead in life, while good people have all sorts of bad things happen to them. But this is the only world we live in. We can’t change the terms.
What we can change is how we respond to it. This is the only thing we have control over. If we were to take ownership of this control, we would be able to effect better changes in the world. We need to step up and accept that even though the world may be spiraling out of our control if we choose to respond the right way, we may end up in an optimal place. This is a much better approach than constantly finding ourselves crying over spilled milk.
One of the best ways to come out winners in this world is to stop fantasizing about how it should be. Instead, focus on how it works. Once we get a clear understanding of how the world works, then the next step is to figure out how we can make this truly work for us instead of against us.
This is why it’s always a good idea to refuse to view challenges in emotional terms. The friend of mine that I told you about was having such a tough time because he was viewing everything on emotional terms. His professor probably didn’t even know him. But there he was, thinking that the professor crafted this very devious test to humiliate somehow, embarrass and deny him the success that a high graduate diploma usually brings to the table.
In other words, he was looking at his challenges in purely emotional terms. He was taking personal ownership of these challenges and letting the process crush him from within.
You don’t have to do that. Refuse to view challenges in emotional terms. Instead, look at challenges for what they indeed are. I know this is going to shock a lot of people, but problems are blessings. They push you to be more resourceful, creative, and imaginative. At the very least, they force you to change how you usually think about things so you can position yourself to become a more consistent winner and victor in life.
To figure out how to do this, as well as craft and adapt your self-confidence plan, click here.
