Compliments of Pixabay

Peace—that stillness of mind where we feel at rest—is elusive. Our thoughts shift into high gear upon awakening, gravitating toward the negative and anticipating the worst, leaving us wondering how we will deal with the wake of potential disaster.

Negativity surfaces unless we make a conscious effort to pivot—centering our thoughts, meditating on the controllable within our immediate sphere. Viktor Frankl realized that in the middle of a camp in which everything was taken from him, the only thing he could control was his attitude.

Instead of trying to change others (or a situation), how can we instead change ourselves? How can we view situations so that we are more considerate and selfless, placing other people before ourselves—not focusing on what we can get, but rather, what we can give, how we can serve, and how we can engage in self-improvement.

Disgruntlement occurs when we focus on what we want—when others were never governed by our expectations in the first place. Do we view ourselves as entitled, or do we treat each encounter with humility—seeking the best and placing a positive spin on the situation? Are we expecting too much, where other people are viewed as servants (rather than simply as friends?). What we want is not always the desire of our compatriots; we may be assuming a familiarity which does not in their minds exist. Ditching our preconceived notions of what others should or should not do is a first step in attaining personal freedom—and in simply enjoying their gifts.

Judgment should perhaps be focused on self-improvement and how we can be a better friend—strictly heeding others’ boundaries. When we appreciate people for who they are (and not for what we want them to be), we enrich our relationships.