MESSAGE #553 - WOW!

Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon. All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no!

As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, “Wow!”

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something . . .

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with “Oh no, that’s awful.”

But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, “Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?”

One thing's for sure -- life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated “Wow!” will always beat a frustrated “Oh, no.”

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a “Wow!” experience. The “Wow!” response always works.

Rob Gilbert, Ph.D.
Creator of Success Hotline
(973) 743-4690