Life is often seasoned by unwanted circumstance. Most of us, at one time or another, will suffer some form of tragedy. Fortunately or not, it is part of the human experience. In the midst of the pain, it is important to remember that (as long as we are conscious) we are never left without the power of choice. We did not choose the tragedy, but we have the power to decide in what manner we will respond.

One of my favorite accounts from my reading is of a therapist who was visited by a woman who had lost her daughter to a drunk driver. Several months had passed and the woman (understandably) had felt unable to move beyond her pain, grief and anger. She was seeking counseling in an attempt to find the strength to deal with her grief in a positive manner. The counselor listened intently as she shared the story of the tragedy. When she began to repeat portions of the story again and again, he stopped her, telling her that they were going to shift topics for a moment.

He handed her a small pot with a cactus. As she held it, he asked if it hurt. She acknowledged that there was no pain because the cactus was in a container. So, the counselor asked her to take her hand and give the cactus a squeeze. Naturally, she refused because of the agony that would result from squeezing a cactus.

Life will present us with incredibly challenging circumstance (emotional cacti). Often, our response is to take that emotional cacti and squeeze so tight that, despite the pain, it is difficult for us to let go. We must remember that we have a choice. We can hold onto that cactus (continuing to squeeze) or we can begin to truly look at that emotional pain and set it down.

Success or sabotage? Success requires 100% responsibility and accountability for all of our choices. The greatest and most common form of sabotage is our own.

Is this going to be an incredible day? What do you need to release to make it so?

*the story is my recollection of an account shared by Sir John Templeton.