When the Camera is Broken

What happens when everything goes sideways?  & then everything falls into place...Yesterday, I fasted for my upcoming PET CT (I am trying to give up added sugar in my diet) and expected this morning to be seamless.  Every three months, I get up early on a Friday and arrive at the PET Center 06:45, get the contrast, warm blankets and pillows, and spend exactly 32 minutes in the machine.  Today, it did not happen like that.  The Camera wasn't working so I went into the machine three times for 10 minutes each only to be rescheduled for tomorrow.  I have to be injected with radioactive dye two days in a row!!  I have been doing so well being Zen and just going with the flow, but this mishap (nobody's fault) upset me a quite a bit.  

Lessons/Teaching Points:

Here are some valuable lessons for when things go sideways, whether in personal, professional, or relational situations:

1. Pause Before Reacting

• Lesson: You can’t control the situation, but you can control your response.
• Action: Take a breath, create space, and assess before reacting emotionally.

2. Embrace Impermanence

• Lesson: This too shall pass. Challenges are often temporary, even when they feel overwhelming.
• Action: Keep perspective. Journal or remind yourself of past hardships you overcame.

3. Focus on What You Can Control

• Lesson: Trying to control everything only adds stress.
• Action: Identify actionable steps you can take and let go of what’s beyond your reach.

4. Practice Self-Compassion

• Lesson: Be kind to yourself in failure or hardship.
• Action: Ask, “What would I tell a friend in this situation?” Offer yourself that same grace.

5. Learn and Adapt

• Lesson: Every failure holds a lesson, even if it’s not immediately clear.
• Action: Reflect: What is this situation teaching you? How can it inform your next steps?

6. Communicate Transparently

• Lesson: When things fall apart with others involved, clear communication is essential.
• Action: Admit mistakes, share updates, and ask for help when needed.

7. Maintain Boundaries

• Lesson: Chaos doesn’t mean you need to say “yes” to everything.
• Action: Protect your energy by saying no where necessary—even to yourself.

8. Be Open to New Paths

• Lesson: Sometimes unexpected events open doors to things you never considered.
• Action: Ask, “What new opportunities might this situation offer?”

9. Rely on Your Support Network

• Lesson: You don’t need to go through tough times alone.
• Action: Reach out to trusted friends, mentors, or professionals for guidance and encouragement.

10. Build Resilience Over Time

• Lesson: Hard moments shape character and resilience.
• Action: Cultivate mental strength through gratitude, mindfulness, and patience.

Which of these resonate the most for you, or would you like to develop further in the Boundaries 2.0 course?

Then, everything fell into place.  I played tennis with a new group, met two friends for coffee and enjoyed the networking, got in touch with a wholistic practitioner, and enjoyed the rest of my Friday.  I am so excited for Friday Night Lights!!!