SOFO

My last post talked about how important boxing out is in rebounding. Box Out I become an obstacle to the other team getting the rebound. However, if they box out also then I have an obstacle in my way. The best way to get around that obstacle is to lean into them, then I can spin off of them to get closer to the ball. I spin off the first obstacle, (SOFO)

The main obstacle to me bouncing back from a bad situation is my labeling it as bad. Instead of becoming upset, it works better for me to lean into the situation by first accepting it with no labels. It simply IS. Accepting it allows me to focus all my energy on improving the situation. Acceptance is NOT giving up. It’s like having a broken water pipe. Fixing the pipe is usually pretty simple. The real problem is the damage caused by the leaking water. Similarly if I focus my attention on the circumstances by accepting them I can avoid the emotional collateral damage caused by being upset.

Stoic philosopher Epictetus put it this way. “Don’t seek for everything to happen as you wish it would, but rather wish that everything happens as it actually will–then your life will flow well.” He understood that each person holds the magic key to their own perception. 

I liked watching the Three Stooges when I was younger. One of Curly’s most common sayings was “I’m a victim of circumstance.” I can choose to be a victim and suffer emotional harm. Or I can remember that I get to decide what things mean to me instead of being a stooge and feeling victimized.

I had the opportunity to apply this philosophy while writing this post. I lost the original version. I started to get upset then decided to practice what I preach. I took a moment to gather myself and started rewriting the post as if it was what I had chosen to do. I like this version even better.

May you have enough today, one moment at a time.