I know that life is pretty good when I’m bummed out about my hair color!

The colorist kinda missed the mark with my highlights, and if you know me, you know my hair is my pride and joy. It literally made me want to cry when it didn’t come out right.

This is what I call a luxury problem.

Luxury problems are when positive things in your life go a little haywire.

Plane delays on your holiday, ding on your new car, a wet sofa seat from the kids and dog plopping down after being in the pool, love handles or a bit of a stomach pooch on a disease free body, and yes… an orange undertone on otherwise gorgeous healthy hair.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that just about everything could be included in this “luxury” category.

There’s a portion of the wonderful poem entitled “I Am Thankful For...” It helps give a vital perspective in finding the key to happiness.

I Am Thankful For...

The mess to clean up after a party
because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

The clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough food to eat...

The piles of laundry and ironing
because it means my loved ones are nearby.

Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
because it means that I have been productive.

The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
because it means that I am alive.

How amazing is that?

Consider… what it would be like to shift your perspective so that you see every inconvenience, disappointment or delay as something positive?

I’m not talking about a silver lining, but truly giving your life experiences a different meaning than what they’ve always brought up in you.

The example that comes to mind? When a bird poops on ya, it’s good luck, right? Why? Because “luck” is the meaning it’s been given.

So... what if it’s not the outside circumstances that need to change. What if it’s the meaning we give that dictates how happy we can be?

Stay with me. That’s as psych101 as I’ll get.

Here’s an example. The worst thing I could imagine happening to my finances and credit was a foreclosure. I fought it and fought it and fought it. Then came a moment – when I know I’d done everything I could — I stopped fighting. And, in the next moment... I was relieved. Ever since then I’ve been lighter and happier and — free — regardless of my credit score.

This, my dear, is what I want for you. Freedom.

I’m not saying that the gratitude born from true difficulties is to be shunned, nor that finding the positive amongst the seemingly negative isn’t important. And I definitely agree that there are some real-deal hardships in this life that need to be fought through.

But, I would bet dollars-to-donuts that most of the time, it’s a luxury problem reminding you of how blessed you are.

What’s your take on this? What’s your latest woe? Was there a moment it became a positive? How would giving new meaning to the seemingly bad affect your outlook and experience of life.

I really look forward to hearing from you…

And, remember, I am most definitely in your corner!

Love,
Thais
photo credit: Lynn Kelley Author via photopin cc