Life is full of challenges, but there are ways you can lighten your load and take control of some outcomes.
Shunmyo MasunoA Zen Buddhist monk devotes an entire section of his book, “How to let things go,” about how you can avoid making things difficult for yourself.
Here are his four tips for using energy wisely and making life just a little easier.
4 ways to make your life less difficult
1. Think positive as often as possible
It may be hard to look on the bright side when you’re facing challenges and setbacks, but “will spending a lot of time worrying help you?” wrote Masuno. “He won’t.”
Often the best thing to do in challenging situations is to think as positively as possible so you can look for the best solution or next course of action. People are naturally pessimistic, Masuno noted, so you have to be intentional about reminding yourself that even the toughest times will come to an end.
“The more you can look on the bright side, the less anxious you’ll feel and the better things will go,” he wrote.
2. Be confident in your own decisions
While it can be helpful and important to be open to other people’s opinions, you should avoid giving too much weight to what other people have to say, Masuno said.
“All these opinions can confuse you and make you overthink things to the point of not being able to decide what you should do,” he wrote. “To avoid this, you must first know your own mind.”
Remember that you are the protagonist in your own life and every decision you make should be one that you feel comfortable and confident about.
3. Remember both successes and failures are already in the past
When it comes to your craft, there will be a mix of highs, lows, and everything in between. It’s important to remember that business is a “living thing,” Masuno said.
“Everything – from the weather, to the conditions, to the people involved – varies from moment to moment,” he added.
That’s why you should remind yourself that “both successes and failures are already in the past”. Change is the only constant. If you only look to your past successes as a guide, then you may miss future opportunities that can lead to even greater success, he said.
4. Know when to walk away from battles
Our society is hypercompetitive, and winning is a desire that almost everyone has, said Masuno.
But “there are times when it’s best to just get out of the ring,” he said. It’s okay to have goals and go for them, but don’t get too attached to the outcome.
When you find yourself in situations where you feel slighted – such as someone else getting a promotion instead of you – don’t brag about how unfair it is. “Dedicate your fighting spirit to improving your abilities to be more equal with your competitors,” Masuno wrote.
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