25 January 2022

There is a common saying that ‘we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff’. Letting oneself get stressed out over the little things in life is one of the easiest ways to bring unnecessary grief into one’s life. You can avoid a lot of negative feelings, and even health problems, simply by learning not to let the little things get to you.  

Focus on the Big Picture 

When something small happens that makes you angry, compare the moment’s significance to everything else going on in your own life, and in the world around you. You may have spilled your cake batter on the floor an hour before your guests were due to arrive. Are your friends still going to love you and enjoy the evening even if you don’t have a freshly baked cake for them? If so, maybe you should put your energy somewhere other than berating yourself for this small mistake.

Remember That We All Make Mistakes

When something small threatens to destroy your attitude and positive outlook, think about the fact that everyone makes mistakes. Whether it is yourself or someone else who caused the situation that feels like a train wreck, keep in mind that mistakes are a normal part of life that happen to everyone. Don’t let one bad moment take you by surprise.  Mistakes are the best way to learn what not to do quickly and help to prevent you from repeating them over again.

Forgive Others

It can be hard to forgive someone else when it feels like they have brought you extra work and stress. When someone rear ends your vehicle, you may be tempted to lash out at them verbally. However, stop and think about how it may feel to be in their situation. Don’t act and feel as though you have never made a mistake, choose empathy over anger.
 

Forgive Yourself

Forgiving others can be a simple matter in comparison to forgiving ourselves. There are many moments that we treat ourselves worse than we would ever allow a friend to treat us.  By forgiving someone for something they did wrong, you are in fact forgiving yourself and releasing yourself of the negative situation that unfolded. 

If you do something wrong and have a difficult time forgiving yourself, think of how you would handle a similar mistake made by a good friend. Stop and think before bullying yourself.  Perhaps consider seeking professional help if you can’t stop a cascade of negative thoughts every time you fall short of perfection.

Ask Yourself If It Will Matter in Ten Years

This is one of my favourite questions to myself when it comes to negative issues that unfold. We all have problems, and generally at the time, any problem seems big. Perception is not always the truth, though, and it is up to us to put our situation into perspective so that we can properly deal with whatever comes our way. 

When something negative happens in your life, ask yourself if it will matter in ten years. If it won’t, let it go. If someone gives you the middle finger in traffic, you may be tempted to lose your cool, but it is simply not worth it. Save your emotions for things that are life changing and deserve your full attention.

When something goes wrong, you have two choices. You can get angry, or let it go. Making the choice not to sweat the small stuff will bring you life-changing happiness, and you will be thankful for your own shift in perspective.  Small shifts in your perspective like this on a daily basis can have a huge compounding effect in the long term and you will see a positive shift in your happiness and overall personal wellbeing.