When things are not going as planned, feeling frustrated is understandable.
When we are wronged, it is a natural reaction to feel angry and justified.
When we receive harsh criticism and blame, feeling fearful and doubting ourselves makes sense.
These are the responses we naturally fall back on.
Letting our feelings dominate our experience is one response. The alternative is to choose mindfulness.
Being mindful is “a way of being that results from deep appreciation of the power of uncertainty”, according to Dr. Ellen Langer.
Focusing on what we can learn from our experience, even if it requires repetition, we can choose to be present and pay attention to what we have overlooked all along.
