Real problems exist. 50% of the things you complain about are real issues, justified problems. Some you can solve and some you can’t. Stop complaining. The worst thing you can do when facing a real problem is complain. Bring resolutions to the ones you can solve and resilience to the ones you can’t. Be smart or be tough, just don’t be a complainer.
The other 50% are fake problems that people waste their energy on. No major or lasting affect your life, no serious justified impact. Complaining about real problems is bad enough. Complaining about fake problems is a total lack of perspective and gratitude.
Fake problems like traffic, how someone else drives their car, other people’s opinions (especially celebrities and strangers on the internet), news headlines, a bad hair day, change in your industry, etc.
Just yesterday morning at the Charlotte airport, TSA confiscated the pen I’ve owned and flown with the last three years. Never had an issue. Yesterday they said, “You can’t fly with this.” I told them I’ve gone through security with it and flown with it 400+ times. They said, “You can’t fly with this.” I said, “Ok. You can have it.” Smiled and walked to my gate.
Losing a $30 pen at airport security is not a real problem. I have real issues to attack and challenges to deal with. That’s not one of them. Neither is the flight delay I’m likely to experience at Newark airport on Friday morning ;)
Embrace the chase. Do the work.
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