Crutch, Burden or Tool...

Today’s thought process is all about perspective. Which on reflection is one of my favourite topics but this is a slightly different angle and one that resonated with me.

I was talking to someone the other day about a situation that had arisen and about how I felt about it (reactionary choices included tantrum, self pity, avoidance...) and in response they said a very interesting thing.

They said that every situation we were faced with could either be seen as a crutch, a burden or a tool. So you can use it as something to blame for the way things are; carry it around as something to blacken the way you look at things going forward; or as a way to learn/grow/improve yourself...

It made me think about how I react to things... and the options earlier are not generally my default settings (in case you thought I was some kind of childish diva princess!) but I will admit that a lot of time I use situations as crutches or burdens- they stick in my mind and affect me more than they should.

Knowing there was another way to do it was interesting- it’s not always easy to do but it is possible. To test it out I used being cut up at a roundabout to use as a tool for experimenting with some particularly colourful language... et voila, a change in mindset!

I’m only half kidding but honestly, try it- see if your reactions are crutches, burdens or tools...