I'm going to admit something that sounds insane. I love when bad shit happens to me.
Not like I enjoy suffering. But when things hit the fan — plans fall apart, something breaks, I get my heart broken, I take an L I didn't see coming — there's a part of me that actually gets fired up. And I finally figured out why.
I look at every event in my life, good or bad, as just another chapter in the book of my life. And when I get to the end of my road, I want that book to be a THRILLER. I want ups and downs, plot twists, chapters where it looks like it's over for me. Because honestly, who wants to read a book where every page is the same?
Nobody roots for the character who never gets knocked down. The best part of every story is watching someone deal with the thing that was supposed to break them.
So when a problem shows up, I don't ask "why me." I look at it as an exciting opportunity. Either I grow from it, or I get to solve something. Either way, the story gets better.
Now obviously, some things are actually serious. Real loss, real tragedy. I'm not telling you to smile through those, and this isn't about that. But be honest with yourself: most of the "bad" things in your week aren't that. It's a flat tire, a girl not texting back, a plan falling through, you get the point. Those are chapters. And you get to decide whether you're the guy the chapter happens to, or the guy the chapter is about.
Next time something goes sideways this week, try it. Say to yourself: this is a good chapter. Then watch what it does to how you handle it.
— Noah Danenhower
P.S. Reply and tell me the roughest chapter you've been through — and what came out the other side. I read everything.
P.P.S. If you know a guy who's in a rough chapter right now, forward him this.