How should you deal with not getting what you want (at work or school, from friends or family, anything)?
Want or Need?
"You can't always get what you want
And if you try sometime you find
You get what you need " Rolling Stones
Sometimes what we want isn't really what we 'need', we just don't
know it. Several seemingly tragic and painful things have
happened in my life, and at the time it seemed that they were so
unfair and painful that I wouldn't survive them. But, a few years
later I was in a much better 'place' or situation because of them.
For example, one of my co-workers was quitting her job and my
boss offered it to me. I was doing secretarial work which was
quickly spirling into endless data entry. The new job included
interviewing volunteers, taking an active part in the community
and getting the heck out of that office once in a while. I accepted
and started planning on getting a few new clothes for this job and
maybe even a car that was only eight-years-old instead of tweleve.
I was doing the proverbial happy dance. This was on a Friday.
On Monday my boss informed me that I was not getting the job
because her boss wanted me to stay where I was, because after
all, who else would do all that data entry (for the low wages
I was making at the time, I'm sure). I was devastated, and then
I had to share my office with the 'new' employee who gushed
on the phone to her friend's about how great her new job was
how she was going to get 'the office girl' (AKA - me) to help her
redo the paperwork for her! I swear to God, I had chest pains
when I heard that. So, I said nothing, looked for another job,
and found one. It was the best decision I ever made and had I
not experienced that disappointment I might still be there
under the flickering and buzzing flouroescent lights plugging
numbers into a machine.
There are several other life-experiences that have turned out
the same way for me. And once I get past the 'why me?!' part
and realize it really was what I needed and not what I wanted,
I developed a whole new, more positive attitude.
So, be patient and give it time. You're seemingly 'bad time' may
be just what you really need to move forward in your life.
