Hellllllo there!
I swear that whenever you need to be reminded of an important life lesson, life provides you with just that.
Before I explain, I just have one quick update to share with you.
Registration is open for Unlock Your Greatness!!! :) :) (Insert Happy Dance)
Unlock Your Greatness is my first live event that I will be hosting over two days this October in my hometown of Santa Barbara, California.
You have all seen my pictures from Santa Barbara so you know it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. In addition to the SB beauty, I will be hosting an experience that I promise will be unlike anything you have ever attended before. To
learn all about Unlock Your Greatness and to register click here. If you have questions about it,
you can email me here.
Looking forward to seeing you in Santa Barbara Friday October 9th and Saturday October 10th.
Ok, life lessons....
April 15th is tax day here in the USA. I, waiting till the last minute to do my taxes off, like a responsible citizen (sarcasm), had just sent off my hard earned money to Uncle Sam and was on my way to the gym to "decompress" from the tax paying process.
As I was walking out the front door, I said aloud, "Phew, thank goodness I do not have to spend money on anything any time soon."
I got in my car, went to turn it on, and it would not start... I tried again, no luck, and the third time... it was not the charm.
I called AAA (emergency roadside service here in the USA).
When the tow truck driver arrived he tested my battery and said it was toast. I asked him if it would make it till the next day (I was taking my car in to get it serviced) he said if I turned the car off it probably would not start back up.
Needless to say a new battery was needed.
To be perfectly honest, my first thought was something like "Fuck... I just spent all the Fu^king money on my F**king taxes and now I need to get a new fu@king battery."
After the above thoughts ran through my head, I thought to myself, "hmmmm I don't really like how those thoughts are making me feel."
Then I took a deep breath and tried again...
"Damn, I was really looking forward to not spending any money for awhile, and while this is not ideal to be investing in a battery right now, it is an investment and it will allow me to drive, for many days to come, free from fear of breaking down and being stranded. And isn't that freedom worth this investment, now? Absolutely!"
I liked this second attempt at assessing the situation much much more. I felt better thinking it and this prospective was much more empowering than my initial F-Bomb tirade that made me feel mad and victimized.
As the AAA serviceman installed my battery we got to chatting. When he finished his work, he thanked me and told me that I was the most pleasant customer he had had in a long time. He said that he really appreciated my kindness because usually people are not in the best mood's when he shows up and they often point the finger of blame at him for their car problems.
Hmmmmmm... I thought. Isn't this interesting???
His thanks made me smile and it reminded me of an important life lesson:
No one decides our thoughts but us. The decision of what goes on between our two ears is ours and ours alone.
If I would have stuck to my first initial F-Bomb tirade assessment of the situation I would have likely spent the rest of the day and beyond being upset at my poor luck. I definitely would not have had a grateful tow truck driver thanking me for my kindness. In fact, I may have had the opposite experience - a tow truck driver who left another job feeling not so great because he had yet another customer who blamed him for their problems
But, since I exercised self control, took a deep breath, and chose my thoughts carefully, choosing ones that would leave me feeling happy and empowered, I was able to:
- Laugh at the irony of the situation (not wanting to spend more money and immediately being prompted to spend more money).
- Be reminded of a life lesson that I could share with all of you
- Walk away from the experience feeling good with no negative emotional energy or thoughts lingering.
- And I was able to brighten another fellow humans day who showed his gratitude by thanking me which in turned brightened my day.
Always remember my friends, the thoughts you think create the reality you live in. If you do not like the reality you are presently in, trying changing your thought process.
It may just be one of the best gifts you can give yourself.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
