And It's All Small Stuff

I started reading a new book.  It was in a box of books I god on Freecycle.  It's basically 100 thoughts for the day.  I have been reading one each morning and some are really sticking out to me.

The Book: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff
Author: Richard Carlson

The first entry is based on the title.  He basically got it from Wayne Dyer.  He tells a story of how a recommendation by Wayne Dyer ended up on one of his books without permission and in response to his apology, Wayne Dyer said, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff."

Thought number 4 is Be Aware of the Snowball Effect of Your Thinking.  I have often thought that my problem is that I think to much.  I most often think about the worse case scenario of any event and I have tried to get into the practice of telling myself, that it is not real and it is not happening.  I do tend to calm down a little.  Another thing that I do is just put everything that pops into my head on my phone (read write down in old English) so I can not worry about it and keep going.  We just have too much on our minds in modern society.

Number 7: Don't Interrupt Others or Finish Their Sentences.  This has helped me remain a little more calm at work.  It takes patience, but I have learned to let people ramble on endlessly until they get to the point, which can usually be state din one sentence.  "I need a password reset," is often a 4 minute monologue. 

Number 11: Imagine that Everyone Is Enlightened Except You. This has actually been quite a good one for me.  It helps deal with the "expletive person."  I tell myself, "The girl who just cut me off, is trying to catch the bus because her child missed it."  "The line is long at the restaurant because everyone is hungry and the clerk is doing the best they can given staffing."  The last one might be a stretch at some joints, but it is often true.  I just have to imagine that people are doing their best and know more than I do sometimes.

Number 17: Surrender to the Fact that Life Isn't Fair.  This has been the hardest for me to deal with.  Life should be fair.  If people acted toward others as they would like to be treated, it certainly would be more fair.  I keep trying to remind myself of this one, but I find it more upsetting than helpful.