I have always found human behaviour extremely fascinating because as individuals our minds define things very differently from each other including morals, norms, perspectives, perceptions, cultures and experiences.

Morals and norms can be formed based on cultures. Perspectives and perceptions can be formed based on learning and experiences.

Recently Thai and I had a car accident while we were driving home on the freeway after we dropped off my parents at the airport. I still remember that I was on the call with my mum, and she was probably terrified listening to my voice screaming on the other end of the phone.

As I was watching this huge van in front of us hit the hood of our car, for a split second I had two questions in my mind and I asked myself:

“Am I going to heaven?”– not that I was being dramatic, it just popped into my head.

And the second question was:

“Have I already achieved enough in my lifetime for this moment?”, and without a doubt I told myself that I haven’t, this cannot be the moment for me to go.

After this accident, I’ve learnt a valuable lesson which I would like to share with you.

1. Don’t live in your bubbles.

Sometimes, we tend to stay in our comfort zone for too long and we forget that walking in the pavement won’t take us anywhere. It is safe there, but the best views always come after the hardest climb, and the best places come after the roughest paths.

These kinds of events are sometimes needed, to definitely shake us up and to remind us that we only live once.

“Life is too short, and you’ll never know what’s going to happen next.”

Therefore, take any chances that you could possibly have, do the things that you want to do, and appreciate every moment.

2. Be grateful and have gratitude for everything.

After everything was done, and our car was totally wrecked, the first thing I told Thai was “I’m so glad no one got hurt”, because the car can be replaced but no one can replace me and Thai.

I went home, listed all the things that I felt grateful for that day, focus and manifest on the positive energy. Because magic happens when you are truly grateful for the things you have but not entitled to it. It is all about the little things that count.

“Always be grateful for where you are standing today and focus on what you can learn then grow from it.”

3. There are always different ways to see things.

About 7 years ago, I went through a divorce, I also lost my grandma, my two dogs and my job at the same time. Some people might say that this is such a sad story, but it is actually the best experience that could ever happened in my life.

I learned and grew from it and came out even stronger because it has guided me to become the person I am today.

I’m not saying everyone should have a car accident or a traumatic event, but sometimes things happen for a reason. We might not be able to control what happens to us, but we can indeed control what we think, our decisions and what we want to do with it.

We all definitely have a choice. And it’s wise to think about what you’ve gained rather than lingering on the thoughts of what you’ve lost because your life doesn’t end there, it goes on. At the end of the day you are still the creator of your life.

“We always have a choice to stay in a negative state or turn it around and see the good in it. It’s time to design the life you want to live and not what others tell you to live.”

So here you go, there are always two sides to every story. When you think you’re the unlucky one, perhaps step to the other side of the road, shift your thinking and think you are the lucky one.

Stay awesome,
Iris.