Tip#22: Get Back In The Saddle ASAP! - The Pursuit of Happyness

I wish I could tell you about the unexpected bomb that dropped on me recently leaving me in utter shock. Two big projects I'd been working on for 9 months were suddenly snuffed out the day before the public unveiling. One day I will share the details of this experience but for now the important thing to share is how I got back in the saddle asap (as soon as possible).

I'm sure you know how it feels when unexpected situations knock you off your saddle. You feel shocked, confused, angry and even start to question your value and belief in yourself. I went through those waves of emotions and discovered I moved through them much faster because I've gone through similar situations. Life has a way of throwing things at you over and over again to see how you will react.

One of the first things I've learned to do is step back from a stressful situation and not do anything rash or I'd regret later. What I do to clear my head is treat myself to a new movie in the comfort of a big movie theatre.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The film I saw was The Pursuit of Happynessand the timing was once again magical. It was based on a true story about Chris Gardnera homeless single dad and his young son who slept in shelters and on bathroom floors but rose to multimillion dollar success as a stockbroker. Gardner's story was full of messages that spoke deeply to me and I could feel my inner strengths remind me to be patient and that everything was going to be okay in my current situation.

I left the theatre being thankful for all the things I had in my life and knew tomorrow would be a better day. And it was. By treating myself to things I am passionate about I was able to get back in the saddle within a day. I was able to clearly assess the new directions and opportunities that actually accumulated during the course of the cancelled projects I'd been working on. Like Chris GardnerI chose to keep going towards my dream and let my passions jumpstart my positive energy and attitude.

So remember when you get stuck: Treat yourself. Yes, just treat yourself to something you love or love doing. Here are examples of what I did recently and what I suggest when you get the rug pulled from under you:

A) Treat yourself to laughter:
First step is to clear your mind. I watched auditions for the latest American Idol which made me laugh. Those hilarious auditions are excellent medicine for me. Find something that gets you laughing.

B) Treat yourself to a movie or a passion:
I went to see a new movie I knew would inspire me and later treated myself to 3 kinds of delicious, creamy chocolate. Heavenly! But remember always indulge in moderation!

C) Treat yourself to your imagination:
I just pictured my ideal future which movies or magazine photos can help me do. The movie I saw helped me visualize what I wanted for my career and life goals. Your imagination can be a powerful tool if you let yourself activate it.

All these steps are designed to help you refocus from your negative feelings to a positive attitude. Only then can you fully assess where you've been, where you are and where you want to go. There is great value in how you deal with the challenges you find yourself in. With practice you'll be moving much quicker through unexpected situations and building your self-esteem at the same time.

So remember to treat yourself instead of hitting yourself for your 'failures' or unpleasant situations that are thrown at you. Think about the little things that bring you joy and re-energize yourself with those treats. At the very least have a bite of your favourite chocolate!

Emmanuel Lopez
www.motivatorman.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2007