Story books are the best. You can create your own virtual reality of everything you want; when and how you want it, and you’ll be right. Write an essay on the love life you desire, and it will be flawless. Your dream job is exactly as you imagined it. Rounded home, perfect family! Sturdy Health! You will definitely ensure a perfect system in leadership. In fact, if made the president in your writing, you will be the first person to achieve world peace!
You owe yourself some fantasy! The heart wants what it wants! But every now and then you get to wake up to reality. You are forced to realize that life itself has a dark sense of humour and tends to make a joke of everything. You can desperately wish for a ten, and it deliberately hands you a two. It could randomly give you any card. And there are those moments you get the exact one that you need. Whichever way, you just have to deal with the cards that you are given; and learn to play to win.
Your life might be a smooth sail and it is suddenly hit with waves of uncertainties. What happens then? I think life will subtly hand you choices too: denial, depression or adaptability. Agreeably, the first two can be compelling but equally means defeat. There is no denying that the last is the only safe choice.
To cope with these uncertainties of life, I like to think of the following coping strategies.
Acceptance.
It begins by thinking: yes, the issues are real; and no, the world is not out to get you. Bad things happen. Running away from them would only have them chasing after you until the reality eventually catches up with you. Wallowing in them is as much a bad tactic. Of course, there will be moments of weakness; but eventually, you have to face life head-on.
Seek Understanding.
Changes mean your life pattern has been altered; and your schedules, interrupted. Confusion will abound. This new territory certainly requires some investigation. It is only necessary that you empower yourself with all the healthy knowledge you need to forge on.
Get to work.
Facing changes is like being assigned a new task; sometimes, it literally means being assigned a new task. In this new territory, however, there are rules and guidelines. Simply follow them. For the dos, do; and for the don’ts, don’t! A master plan usually works. Set your timings. Monitor your progress. Acknowledge your setbacks. Get strengthened. Appreciate your success. Remember, this is your new normal.
Ironically, changes can be positive and yet overwhelming. I have seen mothers’ world rocked when blessed with children. There are misused privileges and power abuse. I have experienced sweet emotions gone wrong. Every one of these scenarios involves the change of states inappropriately managed. To play to win, the same principles still apply: acceptance, understanding and practice.
Remember, the book is yours; the story is still yours to write. No matter the intrusion, you have to rewrite and rewrite until you get it right. At the end of the day, you’ll discover that it has become a more interesting story.
