The Secret to a Happier Life?

 

 Learning to Accept Change...

From this🤬to this😁

As humans, we’re creatures of habit. We like knowing our favorite coffee shop will have our order, that our morning routine will go as planned, that life will unfold the way we expect. But the truth is...change happens. Resisting it only makes things harder.

I’m not talking about big life changes here (though those matter too). I’m talking about the small ones. The little curveballs that, if we learn to embrace and accept, can make life a whole lot easier.

Example #1: The Donut That Wasn’t Meant to Be

You walk into the bakery/Dunkin/Starbucks, ready for your donut. The one you always get. But today? They’re out. Now, you have a choice: Get frustrated and let it ruin your morning, or shrug, try something new, and move on. One choice leads to annoyance/irritability/frustration, the other keeps your day flowing.

Example #2: When the Day Doesn’t Go as Planned

Maybe you always start your day the same way. Same breakfast, same schedule, same rhythm. Then, something interrupts it. Maybe you can’t find your favorite sweatshirt, or you trip over your cat before work. Instead of letting it ruin your mood, what if you just accepted it? 'Okay, today’s going a little differently, but I’ll still get through it. Everything will be fine.' Suddenly, the frustration fades, and you carry on.

Example #3: The Bigger Picture

I've noticed when I practice accepting small changes, I'm building resilience for bigger changes. Life doesn’t always go as planned(that's for sure), but when I started 'training' my brain to adapt instead of resist, the tough moments weren't feeling so overwhelming.

Final Thought💭

The next time something unexpected happens, big or small....whether it’s a missing donut, a rerouted drive, or a last-minute change of plans...see what happens if you just roll with it. You might find that it saves you a whole lot of unnecessary stress. Stress isn’t just a mental burden. It can take a serious toll on your body.

 I’ve learned that getting worked up can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to illness.🤧 It can also lead to emotional exhaustion, where even the smallest things feel overwhelming, leaving you crying over nothing.😭 And in the long run, unchecked stress can spiral into even bigger health issues.

Here's a link to a great read about 'the health epidemic of the 21st century' and also where I got this picture from, if you want to check it out. ➤https://hcahealthcaretoday.com/2019/04/30/stress-the-health-epidemic-of-the-21st-century/

 What's helping me? Staying calm. When I started to let go of frustration, even in the small moments, I was protecting both my body and mind. I noticed my stress level dramatically decreasing when I stopped trying to control the unexpected changes that I didn't have any control over. I accepted/adapted. And guess what? I still constantly find myself trying to change things and have to stop and tell my brain that 'It IS okay.' Constant reminding and repetition help train your brain the way you want it to think. So remember that next time you say, " Oh, I'm stupid." Try.... "Oh, I'm learning, and we will try again."

Today, after reading this, pay attention to how you react to small changes throughout your day. Do you resist, or do you roll with it? Challenge yourself to embrace the unexpected, and notice how it shifts your mindset. This can be life-changing.