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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » Not Sweating the Small Stuff
Trivia snippet: Nearly a decade before Richard Carlson made “Don’t sweat the small stuff” a household phrase, Michael R. Mantell published the first self-help book with that title. Carlson didn’t repeat the full title word for word, but he came awfully close: Mantell’s book was called Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: P.S. It’s All Small Stuff. Carlson’s subtitle is, … and It’s All Small Stuff.
(Another snippet: Copyright laws do not apply to titles. Anyone could self-publish a shoddy memoir about the aftermath of a tornado, and legally call it Gone with the Wind.)
And Mantell’s reaction upon learning another author had “recycled” his title to great success? According to the Amazon blurb for P.S.: “He took his own advice and chose to view this positively, celebrating the fact that more people were being reached with the advice he knew changed lives.”
Would that more of us did as well when circumstances attack our pride, plans or convenience. While we may affirm “it’s all small stuff” as a truism, in the heat of the moment few people can think of anything beyond life’s perceived unfairness at disappointing such a deserving person as “me.”
While few can avoid that initial reaction, trouble looms when our hurt decides to indulge itself further by:
And from “I have a right to feel sorry for myself,” it’s only a short step to “I have a right to do whatever makes me feel better,” and from there to substance misuse, addiction relapse—or becoming a depressed, surly “dry drunk” who supplements the “poor me” list with bitterness over not being “allowed” chemical relief
An objective look at that picture should convince anyone that “sweating the small stuff” is much more trouble than it’s worth.
Still, if you’re in addiction recovery—or have other experience struggling with ingrained habits—you know it takes more than “willpower” to get rid of cravings. Just saying “no” isn’t enough unless you have an alternative worth saying “yes” to.
“Celebrate” isn’t a bad word for a “yes”-based attitude toward life. You may not be able to celebrate everything that happens—and some happenings can’t be called “good” by any stretch of imagination—but you can always find more things to celebrate than to sulk about.
To make “celebrating life” an everyday thing:
To keep a “celebrating” attitude in the face of small annoyances:
When something really “big” goes wrong:
And when all else fails, find something to laugh about. As the old saying goes, “Don’t take this world too seriously—you won’t get out of it alive anyway.”
For more inspirational posts, to keep you motivated during recovery-life, check out Micah’s other posts:
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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