Success with curveballs

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Charles R. Swindoll

Life often throws us curveballs and we are not prepared to catch them. When this happens we sometimes focus on the negative experience and never take time to appreciate the blessings that eventually materialize.
 
When everything seems bleak and resolving an issue becomes a challenge I go to my file folder of past successes. I have done this for years so I have a large resource right at my fingertips. This practice serves as a reminder that similar issues have happened in the past. It reassures me that not only have I survived them but there have been times where I have even flourished because of them. 
 
In making major decisions I use the process of drawing a line down the middle of my page in my notebook labeling one side “Positives” and the other “Negatives.” I than make a decision based on the obvious conclusion shown in those two columns. This tool has assisted me in making decisions more quickly feeling confident in my assessment of the pros and cons.
 
In the following memo I received yesterday from my friend from Texas he supports the value of writing down both sides of the experience. It is a confirmation of the importance of writing down both the challenges and successes of a challenging experience or as in this case a week. 
 
NMR’s First Two Weeks in February – The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
BAD/UGLY

1. Altima – something dented trunk lid and bumper (found it that way in the garage)
2. The 3 years old HP printer gave out - unrepairable.
   1. HP shipped a replacement printer – it was defective; returned it.
   2. HP shipped 2nd replacement printer – it was defective; returned it.
   3. HP shipped 3rd replacement printer – it was defective; returned it; cancelled order.
3. Discover called; someone charged $150 at Duncan Donuts in Massachusetts on the card; unauthorized.
4. Toothache – had cavity on left side and abscessed tooth on right side – need root canal.
5. Computer suddenly lost Outlook contacts and emails for 2 days.
6. Facebook (both pages) suddenly became written all in Spanish.
7. Found out that a very good friend had a massive heart attack and is in ICU.

GOOD

1. Eagle customer service at car insurance company; sending 2-party check for repairs + rental car after looking at pictures I made with my I-Phone.
2. Quickly bought new printer at Best Buy; installed easily; works great.
3. Eagle customer service at Discover; quickly cancelled 2 cards & overnighted 2 new replacements.
4. Dentist visit –cavity and root canal done in 1¼ hours; no pain or discomfort after numbness wore off.
5. Eagle customer service at KW PC Repair; repaired all glitches in 1 hour remotely.
6. Another Eagle quickly & easily converted our Facebook pages to English.
7. Received a text from his daughter saying the Cardiologist is very encouraged and we are ecstatic.
8. Last year’s Income tax refund deposited to my checking account 2 weeks early.

Whenever the days or weeks are not going in the direction you would like take a break from trying to resolve the situation and use the technique that my friend used to appreciate all the “Good” that came from a lot of “Bad/Ugly.”