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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Tips examines 5 mindset concepts that will help stop you becoming overwhelmed by the small things that happen to throw you off balance.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff” was coined in a massively popular book by Richard Carlson and has become a very popular phrase that reminds us not to get stressed over small or insignificant things. It was
Most people will have heard that we should not get upset over little things. Getting upset over the little things in life is one of the biggest ways to bring unnecessary grief into our lives. We often put great meaning into things that don’t really matter.
We have to learn not to let the little things in life stress us out. If we don’t we may experience lots of unneccesary negative feelings and even ill-health.
These five don’t sweat the small stuff tips will give you some things to consider to help you teach yourself not to worry about insignificant things.
#1 Focus on the big picture
When something small happens that makes you angry, compare the significance of that moment to everything else that is going on in your own life and in the world around you.
Maybe you spilled your cake batter on the floor an hour before your guests arrived. Will your friends still love you and enjoy the evening even if you don’t have a freshly baked cake for them? If so, you might want to put your energy into something other than berating yourself for this small mistake.
#2 Remind yourself often that everyone makes mistakes
When some small event threatens to destroy your attitude and positivity, remember that everyone makes mistakes.
It doesn’t matter if it was your actions, or those of someone else that caused the situation that feels like a disaster, remember that mistakes are a normal part of life and happen to everyone.
Don’t let a single bad moment get the best of you.
#3 Try to forgive other people’s transgressions
It can be really hard to allow yourselves to forgive others when you feel they have caused you extra work and stress.
If someone rear-ends you in the car, you may be tempted to verbally lash out at the person. However, stop and think about how you might feel in that situation. This about how badly you would feel if it was your fault.
Don’t pretend you never made a mistake, but show compassion and forgive.
#4 Try to forgive yourself
Forgiving others can be a simple thing compared to forgiving yourself. There are many times when we treat ourselves worse than we would ever allow a friend to treat us.
If you find it difficult to forgive yourself, think of how you would handle a similar mistake by a good friend. Take time to stop and think before beating yourself up.
If you do it often and can’t stop a stream of negative thoughts any time you don’t do things perfectly, consider seeking professional help.
#5 Ask yourself if it will matter ten years from now
We all have problems, and generally every problem seems big at the time.
However, perception is not always the truth, and it is up to us to put our situation in perspective so that we can properly deal with whatever comes our way.
If something negative happens in your life, ask yourself if it will still matter ten years from now. If not, put it behind you.
If someone makes a rude gesture while you are driving, or in traffic, you might be tempted to lose your cool, but it’s just not worth it. Save your emotions for things that will change your life and deserve your full attention.
Don’t sweat the small stuff tips summary
When an event doesn’t go the way you think it should, you can choose from one of two ways to act.
You can choose to fly into a rage, or you can choose to let the matter go.
Choosing not to get upset over trivial matters will bring you life-changing happiness, and you’ll be grateful for your own change in perspective.
If you want to be happier, read all my Be Happy articles here.
I hope you enjoyed my Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Tips article. If you did, or if you disagree with anything, leave a comment to tell me. I’d love to hear from you.