Ok so we find life hard. We have to work at it.
I have found it very helpful and powerful to do the following: (p.s. I'm 54 and life is going very well actually; very good career, 30-year marriage, happy family doing well, friendships)
1. analyse what could be better in life (especially when things go badly) and learn lessons;
- how I could do things better next time,
- how I could prevent difficult situations occurring,
- how I could 'prime' my brain with good attitudes, mantras and perspectives ahead of tough situations,
2. remember and apply those lessons next time. To do this I use nudges (either tech or hand-written reminders)
One example is that I have found socialising much easier, more successful and less tiring since I started reminding myself every day not to analyse social interactions, either (i) whilst they are happening, or (ii) afterwards. No analysing! Just sort of let them be...
I wondered if anyone else used this approach - i.e. using nudges or reminders (tech or less tech; e.g. a diary or post-it note!) to remind yourself how to best operate in certain situations?
all the best
John