Handling Adversity

From time to time, we all are faced with situations that either don't go our way or at least frustrate us to a point of dejection. I am not immune to that and neither are you. Intuitively, we know the correct response; however, emotionally, we impulsively choose a behavior which not only is wrong, but can be detrimental to our overall best interests. This can be embarrassing to say the least. In today's post, I wish to present to you a train of thought that not only can help you overcome adversity when learning to play guitar, but more importantly, will help you overcome the many obstacles in front of you either through no fault of our own, or are the consequences of previous choices you have made, that will improve your life.
1) Ask yourself this question, "What is it I want that I am not getting?"
    Take your time and actually write the answer truthfully of what you really want or wanted that did not go your way. 
2) " What behavior or choices did I make to help me achieve this goal?"
   Again, physically write it down.
3) "How did it come about to work against me?"
   Be careful not to ask the question "Why", because this could easily lead you into the role of "victim" from which you completely need to stay away. Focusing on things which were beyond your control is not an option here. Sure, some things you cannot control but remember, you need only address issues pertaining to your choices and not those of others or outside circumstances.  For example, " I haven't been successful here because the quality of my practice time wasn't intentional or target specific enough to overcome the problem", or " I didn't get that promotion at work because I have an issue of being late for work twice each week." These are examples in which you are taking responsibility for your actions that can directly affect your desired goal. Stay away from the blame game such as, " I didn't get the promotion because they knew exactly who they wanted before they opened the job." My question to you becomes, " What are you doing to become that person they knew they wanted before they posted the job?" or "What are you doing to blow them away from the person they "thought" they wanted for the job to make them want you instead?" Write your answers.
4) If what I was doing, didn't get me what I wanted, what can I change to improve my chances?
 Write the changes down and begin implementing them immediately
and finally ask yourself this question....
5) Is what I want worth having or even attainable?
 If it is, then work positively to get it, if not, find something else to want.

For clarification purposes and to give credit where credit is due, I didn't come up with this stuff on my own. A man named "William Glasser" taught me.
Keep picking:
​Mike