So, I totaled my car last week.  Certainly not something I set out to do.  But, in hindsight, an amazing blessing!

Not to be too melodramatic, but I was very lucky.   Not only was I not seriously injured, but, after one glorious visit to Dr. Gardiner’s office, I am better than ever!

And what were my major takeaways from the accident?  Incredible gratitude.  Clear priorities.  Focus. 

In the immediate aftermath of the accident, I felt an enormous calm.  The airbag did its job.  The seat belt did its job.  No major cuts or broken bones.

All stresses melted away.  Frustrations stemming from difficult clients evaporated.  Financial burdens seemed inconsequential.  Petty family grievances faded away.  Thoughts of loving family, friends and colleagues filled the air.  I didn’t realize it before the crash, but once I stripped away the noise, the MAJOR things in my life were in good shape.  I thanked God.  I was okay.

And, as the smoke cleared and the car settled into its final position, I knew what I had to do.  First, I had to take care of business.  The details of the accident.  Insurance.  Police reports. Disposition of the vehicle.   But above that, it was all about focus in the broader sense.

The thoughts in that moment were pure.  Beyond family and friends, what were my major priorities?  What were my immediate goals?  What was holding me back?   I needed to make my financial number.  I needed to get my blog out on Monday!

There was obvious downside to the accident.  But the upside was enormous.

However, it shouldn’t have taken a traumatic event to snap me back into focus.  A car crash is not the best way prioritize our lives and feel gratitude and focus.

We all need to take some time, on our own terms,  to contemplate what makes us happy and to appreciate all we have in our lives.

What Is Our Sense Of Purpose?

In our work lives, it is so easy to get discouraged. Difficult clients. Treacherous internal battles. A general feeling of under-appreciation. If we allow it, these distractions can drown out our creativity. Minor frictions can dull our focus. We can lose sight of our priorities and drift from day-to-day.

We need to get back to some deeper sense of purpose. There was a reason we initially chose our career or our passion.  At some point, we were incredibly excited by the possibility of advancement. At some point, we envisioned a clear path to success. At some point, we understood our priorities.

We can all get back there. It just requires some intentional reflection. It just requires a little bit of extra effort. It just requires a gentle reminder of what is truly important in our lives.

Relationships Thrive on Perspective

The same is true in our personal lives. There is nothing more vital than our relationships. But resentment can sap the magic from a marriage. Jealousy can cast a pall over friendships. Sibling rivalry can magnify family tensions out of proportion. After a while, bickering and grudges can replace love and passion.

Where is our perspective? We can’t expect everything to be perfect. Tension is a natural by-product of any healthy relationship. But we shouldn’t be in constant churn.

There is a reason why we fell in love in the first place. Our friends have guided us through so many difficult moments. Our parents and siblings have sacrificed so much for us. We need to get back to cherishing the important relationships in our life.

We just need a offer a little forgiveness.  It shouldn’t take a car crash to help us regain our perspective and priorities.

Keep on Breathing

Resilience is all about survival. Once we realize the small setbacks at work are not fatal, we can move forward. Once we realize that our arguments and tensions won’t crush our relationships, we can forgive and move on. As long as we are breathing, anything can be fixed. As long as we are breathing, our resilience can flourish!  It’s never too late.

So let’s not wait for a major tragedy to start getting our priorities straight.

We need to attack our career goals. We need to cherish our relationships.  We need to give ourselves and our loved ones a break.  We need to let go.

We have so much going for us in our lives. We can’t let the distractions and the minor stresses cloud our perspective. We all deserve happiness and satisfaction.

It’s time to crash through the noise and focus on what is truly important in our lives.

Breathe in. Breath out. Stay resilient.