Disappointments, Mistakes, Setbacks and Other Disasters

Guess what - you are going to run into problems on the way to the life of your dreams and even after you've acheived the life of your dreams, there will be difficulties.  On the way to an important appointment, you'll run over something in the street and blow a tire.  You'll fall in love with someone who isn't who she/he says he/she is.  You'll make a mistake and lose an important client.  You'll get the flu right in the middle of a much anticipated cruise.  Getting the life of your dreams will not mean smooth sailing all the time. 

So - what to do?  Recent research suggests that happy people who are living the life of their dreams aren't bothered very much by "disasters."   They make use of them.  They learn from them.  They look for the gifts in them.  They look to see if they need to make changes in their lives.  They learn to "go with the flow" instead of expecting everything to go well all the time.  They try to find the fun in everything. 

I saw an Oprah show several years ago about people who were turning disasters into good experiences as best they could.  One woman had been diagnosed with cancer and was having chemo.  She knew she was going to lose her hair.  So her husband, her friends and she went to the barber shop and they all had their heads shaved.  Her friends took turns taking her to chemo. They chose books they wanted to read and whichever friend took her to chemo read to her while she was having it and if she was sick they kept reading.  This plan turned a difficult experience in an opportunity to share with her friends.  Of course, having cancer and chemo isn't fun, but planning enjoyment along with difficulty sure makes things a lot better! 

I hope none of us has to deal with cancer and the setbacks are only such things as flat tires, but the same principle applies.  Why not find ways to enjoyment no matter what?