I recently put together this puzzle, and upon finishing came to realize a piece was missing. After searching high and low, the piece was still nowhere to be found.
At such moments, we are given the opportunity to reflect on and be mindful in choosing how we react.
Be honest with yourself in considering how you would react in this situation:
- Would you allow frustration and resentment to take over and start blaming others?
- Would you succumb to feelings of shame that you didn’t take better care in keeping track of all the pieces?
- Would you feel helpless and consider this evidence of why you shouldn’t even try in the first place
- Would you compare yourself to others and think about how their puzzles are likely perfect while yours is not?
- Would you deny yourself the opportunity to have a genuine reaction to this experience. Maybe by saying to yourself, “It’s just a puzzle.”
It’s important for us to notice our patterns of thinking and the ways in which we view ourselves, others, and the world. Our views can lean positive, negative, or neutral. If we do not notice and actively reframe our negative views we may begin to experience more low, depressed, or anxious mood.
Notice the stories that you tell yourself and how they make you feel.