Resetting My Day
I was at a restaurant a few weeks ago and overheard one of the waitresses say, this situation has ruined my entire day. She said it again, louder, I’m serious, this has ruined my entire day.
I felt her frustration. I’ve been there. I wanted to say, it will ruin your entire day if you allow it.
In early sobriety, I learned I could reset my day as many times as I needed to. I used to think if I woke up late, spilled my diet soda, or had one bad conversation, the whole day was shot. I’d write it off as a loss and carry that bad mood around like a badge. But the truth is, I always have the choice to hit reset.
It’s not always easy. Sometimes I have to take a deep breath and admit that I’m the one giving power to what’s bothering me. I can let it keep pulling me under, or I can pause, let it go, and start fresh.
Back when I was new in recovery, my sponsor used to say, you can start your day over any time you want. I remember nodding but not really getting it. I didn’t know what that actually meant until life gave me enough chances to practice it. I know now. The minute I stop feeding the problem and start feeding my peace, everything shifts.
When I feel myself slipping, I start rattling off a gratitude list in my head. I’ll go through ten things I’m grateful for, and it somehow brings me back into balance. It’s usually the small stuff, the things I take for granted. I’m grateful I have a loving family and friends. A roof over my head. My bills are paid. I drive a nice car. The love of my pets. My health. My sobriety. When I stop and actually see my blessings, whatever just knocked me off balance loses most of its power.
That’s where GRIT shows up for me. Growth reminds me to slow down and ask, what can I learn from this instead of letting it wreck me. Resilience helps me bounce back when I’d rather stay pissed off or discouraged. Integrity keeps me honest about where my head’s at and whether I’m feeding my ego or my peace. And Tenacity helps me hang in there and not quit on myself when life doesn’t go my way.
I go through those four words as my check up from the neck up. They’re my reset button. They push me to be real with myself. They call me out when I’m the problem. They remind me that I have a choice to work through the junk instead of sitting in it. Sometimes that means having the grit to face fear, self-doubt, or even the voice that says, forget it, what’s the point. Sometimes it’s as simple as having the grit to breathe and try again.
That’s the thing, I get to choose how my day goes. Not the situation. Not the person. Me.
I’ve learned that when I take a moment to reset, I almost always find something good waiting for me on the other side. A kind word. A small laugh. A reminder that not everything is falling apart.
I guess what I’m saying is this. Life’s going to hand us moments that sting. But they don’t have to take the whole day.
Reflection: What’s one thing today that you can hit reset on and start fresh?
The minute you stop feeding the problem and start feeding your peace, everything shifts. Strengthen that mindset through the free 5-Day GRIT Challenge and Unshakable Grit book.
