Night Thoughts

Ah, the midnight rambles. That time in the night when I wake from a sound sleep to begin thinking intrusive thoughts. The time of obsessive mulling. Most times nothing good comes of it. I simply lose sleep. But sometimes, an answer arrives. One did last night. Over-powering in its simplicity. It’s this. When waiting on a decision, remember that all answers are possible, including the one you want, and worrying about it won’t affect the outcome.

The best thing about last nights answer was that it was one I learned long ago and have applied countless times. It started in sales. I’d make a pitch and then spend hours worrying about the final decision, trying to divine how the party was going to answer, until one night I realized I’d done all I could do and no amount of fretting was going to help. I’d either get a yes or a no, and the no could take two forms. No. And silence.

All of this is a corollary to the idea that no one can make you happy. It’s up to you. It’s really good to remember in sales where you hear no way more than yes. But it works for party planning, casual get togethers, and just about anything else. You ask, you invite, you pitch. You get yes, no, or silence. What’s left is where you find your happiness, your continuity, and dare I say it, your living. Your getting on with things, moving forward. No is disappointing, sure, but it’s also a lesson, and those are good, too. But that’s another story.