Compliments of Pixabay

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

Negativity can surface unless we make a conscious effort to pivot—centering our thoughts with uplifting literature, focusing on what makes us grateful, meditating on what we can control within our immediate sphere. Viktor Frankl realized that in the middle of a camp in which everything was taken from him, the only thing that 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 differently, so that we are more considerate and selfless, placing other people before ourselves—not focusing on what we can get out of them, 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 from other people—when they 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, putting a positive spin on situations? 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 friends’ gifts.

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