We all know the Mike Tyson quote, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Of course this means that you don’t really know how you’re going to react until you’re facing a problem.. It’s easy to assume that the quote means that your plans will fall apart in the face of adversity. However, that’s not just it. There’s hidden wisdom in the quote.
A better way of looking at it is you don’t know how you will react until you face the problem itself. Imaging outcomes can be helpful, but also deeply misleading, or lead to obsessive contemplation of options. It’s especially tricky if you’re inclined towards unbridled optimism or worst case scenario thinking.
Far better to reflect on that fact that you don’t have an ability to predict future outcomes and the best you can do is to cultivate strength from handling past situations in which you overcame uncertainty and adversity.
Perhaps a mantra of, “whatever comes up, I’ll find a way” is a healthy way to be. What are your thoughts?
A Life of Wonder 
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