Dealing with Surprises in Life

When people mention the word “surprises,” we tend to think of good ones, like an unexpected raise at work, flowers from a loved one “just because,” or the little win on a lottery ticket. But surprises go both ways. Sometimes life throws bad surprises at us, like when we get fired, a relationship ends, or car repairs decimate our vacation funds.

Life is all about balance. So we need to prepare for the surprises. It’s hard to prepare for the unexpected; but in truth, there are some things we can do to prepare.

This is more than saving a few dollars every week for unforeseen costs or having a spare house key. We need to emotionally prepare for the surprises in life. It doesn’t matter who we are or how well we’ve prepared, surprises will happen. Life just keeps us on our toes!

We have to keep in mind that when things in life come crashing down, we shouldn’t take it personally. We need to see the adversity for what it is, to face it head-on, to learn from it, and to move forward. What other choice do we have? Surprises often are lessons in disguise. We have to stand strong and make the necessary changes or amends in our lives. Change can be scary even when we’re at the top of our game and paralyzing when we’re not. But it’s important to face our challenges.

When faced with the unexpected, we must allow ourselves some time to cry, to vent, to flip out! Then we must take action. Avoiding issues only allows them to get worse. So put on your brave face and face the challenges that lie ahead. You’ll feel better than ever before because you were able to overcome the obstacles that life threw into your path. This self-esteem boost will help you continue getting ahead in all areas of your life, and to use your energy to continue overcoming other obstacles.

When it seems like your life is falling apart, what should you do? You need to start at the beginning. Don’t attempt to deal with it all at once. This error is a common one. You’ll just get overwhelmed and make rash decisions that you’ll later regret. Take time to sort through all of your options. Consider the options and their likely outcomes by thinking them all the way through to the end. Some options may sound appealing at first, but they won’t bring you to where you want to be in the end. Also, understand that relying on other people can be problematic. If they let you down, your plan will get derailed. So try to work on your own to resolve the situation and remain in control of your options.

After you lay out a rough overall plan, take time to figure out the steps. Decide the best way to attain your goals. But don’t overthink things, or you might start to doubt yourself. After you take action, you’ll move forward. If things don’t work out, just go back to the beginning. Discern what went right and what went wrong. Then modify your plan and act on it again! The correct first step will never be to wait for a miracle. Miracles tend to manifest only after you start helping yourself.

Life isn’t easy. Good things can be difficult to achieve. But working for good will always be worth it. We feel a sense of achievement when we overcome our problems. Even though it’s our own responsibility to face what life throws at us, there’s no disgrace in reaching out to others for advice. It’s nice to receive input when we feel like we’re stuck.

When you begin to see the results of your efforts, you’ll feel like you’re in charge of your life and your self-confidence will skyrocket. At this point, take a look back to ponder the lessons that life sent you. Have pride in yourself for taking charge of the situation. Life is all about moving forward, growing, and learning. And also having some fun along the way!

When life surprises you, be it positively or negatively, you need to take charge and face it. Pay attention and formulate plans that will let you relax and breathe easy because you’ll know you’re in control of your choices and actions, even though life threw you a curve.