Dare To Live Without Limits Week Of 11/22/2021

Regardless of the hand life deals you it’s yours to play

You have to play the cards you are dealt. Although you can exert control over many of life's aspects, there are factors beyond your control. Any reaction of anger, blame, or regret will be self-defeating and counterproductive. You've got to take what you've been given and create a strategy to get the most from it.
Of course, who wouldn't want to have everything perfect? No one wants to deal with unpleasant or unfortunate circumstances. But they occur. Once they are present, you have no choice but to make the best of the situation.
Each person has their own idea of what defines a "good hand." The winner of a card game is not necessarily the one who had the best cards. The skilled player knows how to make the most of what they are dealt. Anyone who drops out of the game, when they get a bad hand, will rarely win and often stops playing altogether.
Similarly, winning in life requires the same approach. Every situation you face, and each set of circumstances you encounter, contains one or more opportunities to turn a bad hand into a winning one. It's not the cards you are dealt but how you play them that determines the outcome.
Life is a mix. Everyone gets both good hands and lousy hands. No one is singled out for all good or all bad. What matters is how you react when your cards are less than ideal. Don't fall apart. Don't get angry. Don't blame others. Don't act like a victim.
You can't go back in time. There is no way to redo or undo events. You are where you are and circumstances are what they are. The only option is to work with what you have to move forward.
There are some simple things you can do to mitigate a bad hand. One option that produces absolutely no positive results is worry. Worry is a totally useless, unproductive, waste of time. Instead, identify what options are available. Evaluate each to determine the pros and cons. You are looking to see what you can do to get the most from what you've got.
Not all action you can take will be productive. Avoid activities that will make matters worse. Don't act impulsively with a knee jerk reaction. Always think before you act. Actions taken and words spoken cannot be recalled once launched. Devote your time to only those actions that move you in a positive direction.
Every adversity carries with it an equal or greater seed of opportunity. The challenge is identifying and cultivating it. The opportunity is usually not obvious. Tenacity and determination are required to uncover it.
Fight any tendency to become overwhelmed or negative. Each time you successfully play your hand, your self-confidence grows as well as your ability to successfully handle whatever comes next. As with anything, your skill level improves with practice.
With the right attitude, things often happen for the best. What initially appears as a bad hand may turn out to be the proverbial blessing in disguise. You've probably experienced this phenomenon. So why not learn from your past positive experiences where things turned out better than you initially thought?
Within you exists more strength, ability, and determination than you realize. It is from this vast well of internal resources that you can draw whatever is needed to get the most from each hand you are dealt.
So sit confidently at the table of life knowing that you can play any hand you are dealt. Every hand is a potential winner. Leave the game and there is no chance of winning. The more you play, the better you become at maximizing the potential of your cards.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.  2021 Bryan Golden