Last night I was in the local drug store looking at greeting cards. There are three birthdays and an anniversary in the near future and we wanted to be ready.
As I went through the cards, I found three that were perfect for the first person on the list.
Which one should I get??
One was her favorite color, one featured a photo of a poodle (she has a poodle), and one poked fun at something that was very appropriate for her. (I won’t tell you what it was but it was a doozey!)
I went back and forth, back and forth ... It’s tough when you really want to please someone.
I decided to go back to it so I picked out the other cards and then came back to the first birthday card. As I was waffling back and forth it suddenly dawned on me how to make the choice.
I was making this much more difficult than it had to be. Any of the three would please her because they all were meaningful to her although in different ways. I was stuck on which one would be best.
The answer? It doesn’t matter!
That’s right ... It just doesn’t matter.
Why?
Because she wouldn’t know what the other choices were, all she would see was the card that I gave her.
Since all three would please her, it just doesn’t matter!
Obviously this concept doesn’t always apply, but if it applies for you in a given situation then keep this in mind. I think that when we are hung up like that making choices, we are often concerned that we make the best choice so that we will gain the approval of others.
What isn’t obvious, however, is that those very people we are concerned about won’t know what choices we had!
Here’s the key concept to keep in mind. People will only know about the choice you actually made, NOT the choices you DIDN’T make.
If the choice you make is acceptable, then you won’t be judged on whether you made the BEST choice, only if you made a GOOD choice.
This could go for clothing, gifts, home decorating, food choices ... the list is endless. Making choices like these can be very stressful, as it would be pretty easy to get all tied up in a knot over what to do.
Consider the possibility that it simply may not matter, and your selections will be much more enjoyable and less stressful too.
There is one caveat, however. It’s true that people won’t know about the choices you didn’t make ... unless you tell them!
So don’t. Simply bask in the glow of having made a good choice.
Think about it.
****************************
Dealing with cancer, some other major illness, or life in general? Our free daily tips will help you cope: sign-up at http://www.CopingQuickies.com/
For even more stress management tips and techniques visit http://www.CopingUniversity.com/ where world-class experts share their wisdom to help you cope. Hours of FREE online audio programs will help reduce your stress and restore your hope.
Topics are unique, unusual, fascinating, and just plain fun! Learn how to find humor when nothing seems funny, how to love the way you look no matter what, and how to be romantic even during a serious illness. Our online content is always free, so visit today!
And, check out our YouTube channel for entertaining coping ideas: http://www.YouTube.com/copinguniversity/
Edited by Jody Smith