Good morning, happy Tuesday – April 15, 2025 in the Year of the ZAO: Day 105.

Most people see their problems as roadblocks. Today’s reminder is: what if they’re teachers?

Inspired by a passage from Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, we’re looking at how our reactions to problems often create more stress than the problems themselves. It’s not always about what’s happening — it’s how tightly we hold on to wanting it to be different.

Carlson invites us to try something counterintuitive: instead of resisting our problems, embrace them. Hold them close and ask:
What is this here to teach me?
Patience? Presence? Forgiveness? Discipline?

This shift in perspective can change everything. A clenched fist softens. A weight is lifted. The pressure drops.

We’ve all got stressors. But sometimes the difference between chaos and calm is the courage to ask: “What lesson is here for me?”

Take a breath. Let your struggles speak. And as always — keep building, keep reflecting.

BetterCallZaal
from the ZAO Team