Sunday Morning Reflections: Dealing with Train Wrecks

© _jure

I started doing Sunday Morning Reflections for the fun of sharing a little of the real-life challenges we all deal with outside of business. The feedback I get has been incredibly fulfilling, especially when I hit on topics like the challenge of Alzheimer's I shared last Sunday.

Well, this week I hit a problem that hasn't happened in a long time. I hit the wall and had my own personal meltdown. I was a train wreck! Too many projects to do; deadlines; not enough sleep; missing my folks and a host of little irritations sent me directly into a crash and burn mode!

When I was a kid and woke up moody, my grandmother used to say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Well, I not only woke up on the wrong side - I stayed there all day! I was hyper-sensitive over everything until I finally took the time to slow things down, and here's what me back on track...

• Sheila asked me what was wrong and I told her. While that might not seem unique, so often we hold things in. I used to think it was a guy thing because the male ego prides itself on getting things done. It's the gene that holds us back from asking for directions when lost in the car!  Talking with Sheila started the process.
• Next came my network. My good buddy Bob Coates was in town, and I caught up to him for a quick dinner. We hit a little Italian restaurant and just talked. By the time I got home all the frustration, anger and depression in the day was gone.
• I haven't been getting enough sleep. Sleeping, at least for me is a "Catch 22." When I'm excited about things I'm working on, or I have a lot on my plate, I roll out of bed way too early. While I know I need more sleep, lying in bed is wasting time and falling back to sleep simply makes the day shorter. Years ago I read an article about sleep, and while all of us are different, sleep is like a bank account. While everybody has a different balance in their account, if you go too low you overdraw, and the price far exceeds an overdraft notice from the bank!
• Last on the list to get back on track was to take some time by myself and just think things through. Normally I'm too "Type A" to waste time pondering, but sometimes you just need to stop the merry-go-round. I shut off the phones, cranked up the music and just sat and stared into space. I found myself reflecting on all the issues that created the meltdown and in the end realized they were all small stuff - nothing honestly significant or not fixable.

"Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy.
There's going to be stress in life, but it's your choice whether you let it affect you or not."
Valerie Bertinelli

And there it is - the bottom line and what I forget each time. It's rare I melt down, but each time, it's the same lesson: remembering that happiness is a choice. Sometimes it's difficult to make the right choice, but that's where the most inner circle of your network comes in - those most-trusted family members and friends who can help you through the process.

Wishing everybody a Sunday that's filled with peace and plenty of happiness. Use the day to relax and clear your head for the week ahead. Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about - seriously, right now go hug somebody in your life and literally count in your head to eleven. See what I mean?

Happy Sunday everybody!