When these things happen, one must remember that there is always a silver lining. There is always a benefit. It may not seem immediately evident, although with some effort one will get better and better at seeing the good. Here are 8 possible mishaps that could happen in your life:

1. Getting Dumped

2. Getting fired from a job.

3. Getting a speeding ticket.

4. Getting a cold or flu

5. Gaining a few Lbs.

6. Having a friend give up on you

7. Being diagnosed with a mental illness.

8. You are running to get to the bus and you trip and fall.

This strategy involves taking a bad situation and looking at it from different angles or perspectives. This is in hopes of finding a silver lining, a lesson or something positive. In every bad situation there must be something positive to take away.

This useful strategy can be applied on a daily basis as things happen to us. There are two ways to use this.

STRATEGY USE #1

Have a series of “Happy Ideas” or “Warm Thoughts” ready to repeat if something adverse happens:

Here are a few for you to use.

1. Everything happens for a reason

2. This too shall pass

3. It will work out in the end

4. Every could be much worse

5. I will learn from this

6. If it does not kill me, it makes me stronger

7. God doesn't give me more than I can handle

8. I got this

9. I am strong and I can get through anything

10. Positive thoughts, and energy are more powerful than negative thought and energy.

HERE is that same list of 8 possible mishaps that happen to any of us, that COULD actually BE good things

1) Getting dumped

It’s painful when it happens. One person in a relationship stops feeling the same about the other. He or she decides to end the relationship. The person left alone, not by choice, has an opportunity to be strong and brave. He or she will see that there is someone for them. There is someone more suitable, perhaps a soul mate out there. The short-term pain, will render long-term happiness.... only later on.

2) Getting Fired From your Job.

Losing a job scan feel devastating. It can feel like one has lost control of his or her life. One must remember, everything happens for a reason. A better job or opportunity is near. Perhaps losing the job is allowing for more freedom and time.

3) Getting a Speeding Ticket.

Getting a ticket feels terrible. It feels like a slap on the wrist. It is. It is a reminder that we have rules in place. These rules protect us. These rules provide safety, stability and predictability. Getting a ticket , well annoying as it is, it shows that the system works.

4) Catching a cold or flu

We never stop. We work hard. We chase kids around. We do housework. We don’t sleep enough and a lot of the time we aren’t eating nutritionally sound options. Getting a cold or flu forces us to stop. It forces us to rest, hydrate and slow down.

5) Gaining a few Unwanted Pounds

When we stop paying attention to our habits there are consequences. At times we become busy. When one notices that one has gained weight it is an indicator of lack of balance. It forces one to pay attention to health. Perhaps ones diet Mist be adjusted or perhaps worse. The thyroid may be malfunctioning or the endocrine system may be sluggish. Weight gain can be ones first sigh of a problem.

6) Having a friend give up on you.

Who needs enemies when I have a friend like you? We have heard this saying before. Do you know someone who fits the bill? When we lose a friend we have a chance to reflect on the source of tension or the reason. Some friendships are meant to be saved and some were never meant to exist.

7) Having a mental illness.

There have been so many studies on positive aspects of having certain mental illnesses. See this link that correlates meant illnesses with positive personality traits. Having generalized anxiety allows me to have a greater sense of empathy towards other people problems. Having OCD helps me be more creative and having ADHD allows me to estimate time more efficiently and accurately.

8) You are running to get to the bus and you trip and fall.

You didn't hurt yourself but you feel embarrassed for sure. Remember that everyone falls. We all fall, especially when we rush. Perhaps there is a benefit hidden in there, somewhere. Perhaps, this fall has taught you a lesson about slowing down and being more careful. Perhaps your lesson is that you must get up earlier and hence give yourself more time to get where you are going. Perhaps after you fall you will be helped up by the man (or woman) of your dreams. There are so many ways to see this differently.

BY Lori Spensieri