A few words often help me stay okay and regulated when things don’t go the way I would have wanted them to: This is disappointing, not dangerous.
This reframe has really been helpful over the years in increasing my resilience and flexibility. When things are disappointing but not dangerous, there’s room to be grateful for that and then to pivot to the best possible solution, rather than get flooded by feelings of imminent disaster. And often there’s a way to at least brighten the disappointing situation somewhat.
This is definitely a skill that is cultivated with repeated practice, but over time, it’s helped me modulate my responses to the stuff of life that don’t always go so smoothly.
What advice has helped you deal with bumps along the road of life?
