In any circumstance, wouldn’t it be more interesting to frame the experience as something to learn from, rather than as something incredibly exciting or deeply upsetting?
Landing a first job offer after weeks of uncertainty sounds exciting. That moment when the email or phone call comes through feels like a door opening into a new chapter. But ask yourself: What can I learn from this job offer about persistence and the anxiety that came with it?
What about when your car breaks down on the way to something meaningful, like work or a wedding? Instead of dwelling on the frustration, ask: “What can I learn from this?”
Maybe it’s keeping your car better maintained, leaving earlier, or realizing how you can react better to things outside of your expectations.
What I think the shift does is level the playing field in terms of how you approach things.
We call one thing a triumph and another a disaster, yet both arrive dressed in the same disguise.
The only real tragedy is to stop learning.