You stub your toe. Some jerk cuts you off in traffic. You feel sick but you still have to get work done. Your one-year-old car’s check engine light just lit up like an LED Christmas bulb.

Life has a way of throwing us curveballs and always will. Sure, you’ll have a good stretch of days, weeks, or even months without a major hiccup but then WHAM! There you are facing a situation that invites you to throw of the niceties of polite society or kindness. I found it myself this week not feeling so swell but still having pressing matters that must be attended to.

Truth be told choosing to act generosity and with kindness holds an intrinsic power that extends beyond you and those nearest to you. When we choose to exercise patience, which is much like exercising a muscle, the ripple effect of our actions rises above our current physical  or mental state of mind. It reaches into the hearts of others, igniting a chain reaction of positivity, compassion, and resilience.

We have no control when we do not control ourselves. No matter how upset or ticked off we get it doesn’t change a darn thing outside of our control. However, focusing on controlling our responses and improving those things which we can improve. Author, psychologist, and concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves”. Now that’s some wisdom we can take to the bank!