Second Chances

Everlyn Peters
Jun 9, 2017
2 min read

So, the topic today is second chances. Pretty much everything in life can be relegated to this but for now let's focus on us being the ones to grant the second chances. At what point do we make the decision to offer a second chance? Not just in romantic relationships either. What about that coworker that got on your last nerve last Friday and that's all you could think about aaaaalllllllll weekend? What is your demeanor going to be come Monday Morning? How about that restaurant you picked for your girl's night out where they made you wait an hour and a half for your entree? Do you just write them off all together?

My go-to rule of thumb is to do all you can to take back or maintain your power, whatever the situation. We can only control our actions so we need to be diligently analyzing situations to determine if our actions will effectively improve a situation, or will they make it worse? In the long run, how will I effect the change I wish to see?

Another point of note is to not let anyone continue to have the power to negatively affect your day. Most of the time, this may be accomplished by simply making a conscious decision. A simple decision to change your outlook or an attempt to alter your perception of a certain situation could be all you need to regain control. For instance, in the situation with the coworker, try not to allow that negative situation to spoil your entire weekend. We should all try to make it a good practice to not let work stress bleed over into our personal lives. This is very easy to say but it truly takes some work to put it into practice. And of course, the level of difficulty depends on the type of job or profession you are in.

Make it a habit to consider this: Will a particular action you take be doing yourself an injustice of some sort? Will your immediate need to win one battle lead to you losing the war? If so, take a step back and reevaluate the situation. If emotions are high and it absolutely can't be done in the heat of the moment, remove yourself from the situation temporarily, gather yourself and re-approach with a clearer head. Do your best to try to remain in the driver's seat. Again, be mindful that you can only control your actions. It's the surest way to steer yourself to the clearest roads possible. (To be continued.......)