Life is full of challenges, but there are ways to ease your burden and control some of the outcomes.
Shun Miao obeysA Zen monk devoted an entire chapter of his book to, “how to let go,” how to avoid making things more difficult for yourself.
Here are four of his tips to help you use your energy wisely and make life easier.
4 ways to make your life less difficult
1. Think positively as much as possible
When you encounter challenges and setbacks, it can be hard to see the bright side of things, but “would spending a lot of time worrying help?” Masano writes. “No.”
Often the best thing to do in a challenging situation is to think as positively as possible so you can look for the best solution or next step. Masano points out that humans naturally tend towards pessimism, so you have to consciously remind yourself that even the most difficult times will end.
“The more you can see the bright side, the less anxious you will feel and the better things will be,” he writes.
2. Be confident in your decisions
Masuno says that while it’s helpful and important to be open to other people’s opinions, you should avoid placing too much weight on others’ opinions.
“All of these perspectives may confuse you and cause you to overthink and fail to decide what you should do,” he writes. “To avoid this, you must first understand your own thoughts.”
Remember, you are the protagonist of your own life, and any decision you make should be one that you feel comfortable and confident about.
3. Remember success and failure are things of the past
When it comes to your craft, you’ll experience big wins, low moments, and everything in between. Masano said it’s important to remember that work is “a living thing.”
“Everything – from the time to the conditions to the people involved – changes every moment,” he added.
That’s why you should remind yourself that “success and failure are things of the past.” Change is the only constant. If you only use past success as a guide, he says, you may miss opportunities that could lead to greater success in the future.
4. Know when to step away from a fight
“Our society is very competitive, and winning is almost everyone’s wish,” Masano said.
But “sometimes it’s better to get out of the ring,” he said. It’s good to have goals and pursue them, but don’t get too hung up on the results.
When you’re in a situation where you feel slighted—such as someone getting promoted in your place—don’t go on and on about how unfair it is. “Invest your fighting spirit in improving your capabilities so that you can be on a more equal footing with your competitors,” Masano writes.
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