Ever Given, the cargo ship that has been been blocking the Suez Canal, is a perfect metaphor for the traps some people find themselves in.
Some of us are stuck in jobs we hate, in unhealthy relationships, or in house payments or car payments that we can no longer afford. Being stuck feels awful.
Our happiness tends to be in direct proportion to the degree to which we feel that we are in control of our lives. When we're stuck, it's easy to feel out of control.
Imagine the captain of the Ever Given realizing that the huge cargo ship was stuck. Imagine watching other ships approaching from both sides, needing to get through and knowing that you're the reason they cannot reach their destinations. We don't know what the captain of Ever Given is feeling, but we know that many of us have a tendency to blame ourselves when we find ourselves stuck. Blaming ourselves only makes it worse.
Then there are the people who blame everyone else for whatever goes wrong in their lives. This approach isn't much better than the blame that some put on themselves. The best response is someplace in the middle.
When we find ourselves stuck, it's important to take control of the situation. Of course, we need to understand what went wrong in order to correct the problem. It's important to remember that analyzing the data that is available is not for the purpose of placing blame. We study causes and results to make positive changes and so that similar problems can be avoided in the future.
Regardless of how Ever Given got stuck sideways in the Suez Canal, and regardless of the circumstances that led to whatever challenges you face, now or in the future, you can regain control of your life (and thereby your happiness) by studying the information available, taking responsibility for your part, asking for and accepting help, doing your best to help yourself, and mining the lessons out of what you've been through.
Like the Ever Given, BE FREE!
Rhonda Sciortino, author of 30 Days to Happiness (featured on The Ellen Show and included in her Kind Box), built two successful businesses, then turned her attention to helping others to find purpose and authentic success. Her Empowering Resilience Podcast can be found wherever you get your podcasts.
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