The daily pressures to be the best and keep up with the competition is fierce enough but the stress we put on our own psyche by being overly critical can do a number on us. We tend to take ourselves too seriously, every issue monumental. Not so. Don’t let the voice in your head do a guilt trip on you. None of us are perfect and some outcomes cannot be changed. Let it go. Wallowing in it puts you in a boiling pot of despair.

You think to yourself, if I hear one more person say to turn that frown upside down I’m going to turn THEM upside down. Before the idea takes flight take a deep breath. Take a step back. Listen to the rhythm of your breathing. Ask yourself in the moment why you are out of breath and why you are allowing whatever the situation is, to take away from your minute, hour, day of fulfillment.

Now hold on, this does not mean that you should be running through the office singing “the hills are alive”, but you should be able to regain mental composure. Clear thinking is the best defense against negativity. When we are highly emotional we tend to self-doubt, blame, cross exam every move we have made when maybe there was no way to avoid the outcome. Somehow the proposed solutions had a way to go before anyone could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Stop, think and then proceed before you say or do something you will regret for a lifetime. Remembering not to take yourself too seriously all of the time gives you the latitude to be you, imperfect and just right. Now go enjoy your day!