My previous entry brings about another interesting point to ponder: When the going gets tough, how do you cope? Somebody on social media asked the question last week: how do you cope when faced with disappointment? She was doing research for a writing project and was interested to see how people deal with this issue. I replied quite honestly: prayer, and two shots of whiskey. Divide and conquer. I lift it up for spiritual help, and then reboot my brain. That’s what the 2 shots of whiskey do. They break the single-minded focus on the problem and forces me to focus on “right now” and reboot my personal system. But only try that at home. And frankly, I’m not sure that’s a reasonable cure for everybody. It could, in fact, be a very bad idea for a great many people.
The truth is that it was a simplified response anyway. Prayer and meditation on what’s right and asking for spiritual guidance are, of course, what we’re supposed to do. But answers rarely come immediately, and so you are usually forced to wait, to adapt, to adjust, to acclimate to things before the horizon clears enough to know what comes next. Working out these “boogums” (as I like to call them) is usually where my writing comes in. Weaving fictional stories around similar questions, situations, and issues helps me to look at things from a wider perspective. When you create the world, then you must look at it from the viewpoint of every character, and not just one. This usually gives rise to a clarity and perspective on my own life that I wouldn’t find trapped alone in my own mind. This is why I often tell people that I believe having a hobby is imperative. Engaging in something you enjoy for no reason other than recreation widens your lens and helps you see the world (and situations) in a better light.
So maybe a more accurate response to that inquiry would have been prayer (to lift it up), 2 shots of whiskey (to ‘reboot my brain’) and writing (to reset my brain and see the world clearer). Or maybe the writing is really the reboot, because that's where the view of the bigger picture comes into focus. Somewhat, anyway.
We all face times – and sometimes, even entire seasons of life – where people, things or circumstances gang up on us and pummel us to death. How do you cope with it? Do you turn to your faith? Do you get angry? Upset? Depressed? Do you withdraw from the world? Do you find another place to immerse yourself where you can find comfort? We all have a natural response to trials, and I believe it’s beneficial to notice what it is and how you cope. People will tell you there are right and wrong ways to deal with things, but I think that most things fall into shades of grey. I believe the most important question isn’t so much right or wrong as it is, what’s most effective and beneficial to navigating this time or season in your life? What’s right varies from person to person and situation to situation. You need to know what speaks best to your soul and guides you in the best direction this one time.
More good and significant ponderings to set you off on your weekend. I hope these past 2 entries have been helpful in steering you to thinking about how life’s trials affect you, and how you respond.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend.
Bye!
The truth is that it was a simplified response anyway. Prayer and meditation on what’s right and asking for spiritual guidance are, of course, what we’re supposed to do. But answers rarely come immediately, and so you are usually forced to wait, to adapt, to adjust, to acclimate to things before the horizon clears enough to know what comes next. Working out these “boogums” (as I like to call them) is usually where my writing comes in. Weaving fictional stories around similar questions, situations, and issues helps me to look at things from a wider perspective. When you create the world, then you must look at it from the viewpoint of every character, and not just one. This usually gives rise to a clarity and perspective on my own life that I wouldn’t find trapped alone in my own mind. This is why I often tell people that I believe having a hobby is imperative. Engaging in something you enjoy for no reason other than recreation widens your lens and helps you see the world (and situations) in a better light.
So maybe a more accurate response to that inquiry would have been prayer (to lift it up), 2 shots of whiskey (to ‘reboot my brain’) and writing (to reset my brain and see the world clearer). Or maybe the writing is really the reboot, because that's where the view of the bigger picture comes into focus. Somewhat, anyway.
We all face times – and sometimes, even entire seasons of life – where people, things or circumstances gang up on us and pummel us to death. How do you cope with it? Do you turn to your faith? Do you get angry? Upset? Depressed? Do you withdraw from the world? Do you find another place to immerse yourself where you can find comfort? We all have a natural response to trials, and I believe it’s beneficial to notice what it is and how you cope. People will tell you there are right and wrong ways to deal with things, but I think that most things fall into shades of grey. I believe the most important question isn’t so much right or wrong as it is, what’s most effective and beneficial to navigating this time or season in your life? What’s right varies from person to person and situation to situation. You need to know what speaks best to your soul and guides you in the best direction this one time.
More good and significant ponderings to set you off on your weekend. I hope these past 2 entries have been helpful in steering you to thinking about how life’s trials affect you, and how you respond.
Have a Happy Friday and a great weekend.
Bye!
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