19. Buy a Lottery Ticket

Photograph by elsief1

You know that feeling you get when you're driving and you suddenly realize that you have no idea how you got where you are? You know...like a mini-black out or something? It's as if a period of time in your life just disappeared. I think of this feeling whenever I notice my life getting out of control. With so many demands being put on us it's easy to wake up one day and say, "Wait a minute. How did I end up here? How did I let this happen? How could I not have noticed?"  

I was re-reading my copy of "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert the other day and I came across an amazing passage. Liz describes how life is full of so many things that we have absolutely no control over. These things can sometimes make us feel as though we don't have control over anything. But then she goes on to talk about the things that we do have some say in:

"There are certain lottery tickets I can buy, thereby increasing my odds of finding contentment. I can can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I eat and read and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life--whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on the occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too damn sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook). I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts." 

I found that to be such a simple concept but deeply profound. When you feel as though everything around you is spinning out of control, take a deep breath and remember that there are so many things you can take charge of...so many things that you can do to make your life happier, more fulfilled, peaceful, and healthier. So the next time you're frustrated with someone's actions or words, something that went wrong at work, or a relationship problem, remember that you have a whole suitcase full of lottery tickets at your disposal. Cash one in and take back control of your day.