The other day I stubbed my toe so hard I started hopping around, mumbling to myself. It seems like a crazy reaction to have when I’m in pain, but it’s very common and most of us will do it when we stub out toe.
I believe one simple reason is that when get busy doing something else we are not absorbed by the pain and it quickly falls into perspective. It’s not so bad after all and it soon passes.
Another, not so obvious, point is that when it happens we become extremely present. We give that moment all out attention, acknowledge the problem and then carry on. (Read The Power of Now)
Handling Difficulties
I know, not everyone handles a stubbed toe in the same why I do. Some people get upset at the object they ran into or try to blame what happened on someone, while others get down on themselves for being so absent minded.
Life throws so many challenges at us, “stubbed toe moments” where we have a choice to focus on the pain and blow it out of proportion, or simply recognize it as having happened and move on. In the big picture it’s often only a little thing.
Respond Don’t Just React
When life gets you down or you are faced with a disappointment or setback don’t fight it. Accept it for what is, hop around on one foot if you have to, but like that little toe put things into perspective and get on with living.
- Be in the moment. Jump around if you have to. Feel the pain acknowledge it’s there.
- Accept it. It is what it is. Don’t go trying to read meaning into it, guilt trip, or fix blame.
- Find the good. If nothing else just realizing it could have been worse is reassuring.
- Be thankful. You may not be thankful that that very thing happened to you but find something real to be happy about, even if it’s not related.
- Forget the rest. Really, let go and don’t keep going back to that moment reliving the pain or the problem.
As you adjust your habitual response to problems and try this effective way of handling them you will find that they will begin having less of a negative impact in your life.
Pay attention to your reaction the next time you stub your toe or you are faced with one of life’s challenges. You may want to try these idea these ideas right there when it happens.
