I consider myself to be a pessimistic optimist. Sounds kinda crazy right? Basically, I like to hope for the best, while preparing for the worst. This thought process has helped me deal with difficult situations in the past. However, it does work against me at times. I was having one of those weeks recently where things really seemed to be falling apart. I try my best to be a positive person because it’s the right way to be. Thoughts have a way of manifesting themselves into reality if we’re not careful. There aren’t many people who get ecstatic at the thought of Mondays. However, this particular Sunday evening had me really anxious. There were several things I was waiting for confirmation on. There were other things I needed to fix before my Monday got off the ground.

Monday morning seemed to come quicker than a speeding bullet. I still made it through my usual routine and worked out that morning. I thought that would help shake off some of my nervousness, but it hardly seemed to make a difference. Then something hit me as I pulled into work. Whatever would be would be. The damage (or lack thereof) that had been done could not be reversed. My main goal at that point was to choose how I reacted instead of anticipating the worst.

Within the first couple of hours, my day seemed to take a positive upswing. A couple of the big things I was worried about turned out to be minuscule. I even received a compliment for a job well done from one of the most difficult people on the planet. I couldn’t believe it. My feet must have just stepped into the twilight zone. Everything wasn’t a pot of mustard greens and cornbread (one of my favorite foods) for me that day. There were still some unsettling things I had to deal with and even some unsavory surprises I hadn’t planned for.

The key to my joy that day had less to do with what happened to me. There will always be something to knock us off focus, frustrate us or cause a struggle. We are the most important element in it all, not the situation. We can’t fix life because it’s sure to have some parts that break at times. However, we can control how we react to it. The worst that could happen hardly ever does.