Needing an Attitude Adjustment

Needing an Attitude Adjustment

Having spent many years in Al Anon I know when I need an attitude adjustment. From my experience I’ve learned that the only thing over which I have control is my own attitude. But I’ve been stymied this week.

In particular I’ve let stresses from my job impact my psyche. This isn’t healthy. While my job occupies a significant portion of my week, it is not my reason for living. Instead, it is the means that affords me the opportunity to live my non work hours as I see fit.

This week I’ve allowed frustrations from my job to interfere with life. This is not to say that I don’t appreciate my job. I work for a great company that believes in pay for performance and have a manager that appreciates my talents. She sent me a fabulous stress-relieving toy that I can squish to verbally remind me that I need to relax. Essentially, I’ve let my own thinking interfere with my serenity. In my recovery program this is known as stinking thinking.

I love a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln that states, essentially, that most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be. For a brief moment, I forgot that quote. I let the ups and downs of everyday life and the various personalities that make up my work environment adversely affect my mood. That was wrong. I forgot my focus – which is to seek peace and serenity and to let things that really don’t matter go.

Fortunately, releasing my stresses through practicing yoga, enjoying pizza and a few glasses of wine, and concentrating on the love and affection of my spouse brought me back to where I need to be.

Placing everything in perspective helps immensely. I must remember to ask my self the question – will it matter tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, in five years? 99% of the time it will not.

If an issue does matter I will stand my ground and fight for my beliefs or position. If, in the scheme of life, it doesn’t really matter, I can let it go. Occasionally, however, I need time to process the frustration, work through the angst, and then make a decision on how important it is. This week – it’s taken me 3 days.  Thankfully, I’ve decided to let go and the pressure on my chest is now gone. Hallelujah!