Why Sweat the Small Stuff?

Since going through my divorce I have become more mindful of how I spend my time and where I focus my energy. This is largely because I value my well-being more than I did in the past. Before, it was easier for me to get absorbed by minor distractions. Now, I have come to realize not every conflict or challenge in my life that may arise is worth my attention.

Recently, I recently requested an Uber to pick up so I could run an errand. I anticipated getting to my destination by a certain time, however there was a lot of construction going on and required some streets to be closed off. This added additional time to my travel that I did not anticipate. This was one of many things I planned to do that day and it would require I make a few trade-offs in my schedule.

I could have gotten frustrated that my Uber ride was going to be longer than what I had in mind, but I choose to see it from a different perspective. Ultimately, the most important thing to me at the time was arriving at my destination safely. Rather than complain, I then decided to use the additional time I had to follow up one of my items on my to-do list.

It is easy to take offense or get upset over minor things. My general rule of thumb when facing a challenge is asking myself if what I am dealing with at the moment will matter a week, a year or even five years from now. Often the answer is no and therefore it is not worth it to me to get bent out of shape. With many of the demands we face today it is even more important to be mindful of how seemingly minor distractions can get us off course and prevent us from devoting our time and energy on issues that truly matter.