Arghhhh! I never got the instruction manual

[Philagoofy]

Not only did I never get the instruction manual but I didn't get enough sense & brains to figure it out.

If anyone has an extra or doesn't need their's anymore, please send it to me.

Not sure of it's title, maybe "Life"? Or "How to Handle Any Situation"?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I wrote one when I was a teenager and knew everything, but I lost it in my 20s.

 

[focusondisney]

Not only did I never get the instruction manual but I didn't get enough sense & brains to figure it out.

If anyone has an extra or doesn't need their's anymore, please send it to me.

Not sure of it's title, maybe "Life"? Or "How to Handle Any Situation"?

Don't have an extra instruction manual, but here's a hug, if that will help.

 

[focusondisney]

I'm sure lots of folks will be along soon to give you all the instructions you need.

It is the Dis, after all.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I'd let you borrow mine, but they used the weirdest ink. The rules keep changing every time I open it.

 

[redlight]

I'm sure lots of folks will be along soon to give you all the instructions you need.

It is the Dis, after all.

Given that it's the DIS, you'll get contradictory advice!

 

[rie'smom]

My instruction manual has one line: "Fake it til you make it." It works pretty well most of the time.

 

[autumnpalm]

I wrote one when I was a teenager and knew everything, but I lost it in my 20s.

So true! What I wouldn't give sometimes to have that teenage confidence back!

 

[Philagoofy]

Thanks Focus.

But seriously, when you all have some situation that you're not sure how to handle, do you just talk it over with your family, friends, clergy? Even if it's something that would take a very long time to explain and you don't want to give one impression over another, if that makes any sense. You don't want to bias people, you want them to try & understand the whole situation but you aren't even sure what's true & what's not so much...

Or do you guys just know how to handle things using your common sense & life experience. Do you ever just plod along & figure this particular situation will never get any better & just learn to live with it?

 

[Philagoofy]

Ahh, forget about it. I know I'm not making much sense. See, like I said, I have no sense, common or otherwise.

 

[autumnpalm]

I have two girlfriends who I can talk over anything with. If I need advice, they'll give it to me, but usually I find that when I just talk things over (and over and over sometimes), I find that I already know what the answer is. Do you have any close friends that you know will be completely honest with you?

I don't know what type of situation you are facing, but perhaps counseling would help? It doesn't have to be a long term thing, but sometimes an impartial, objective party who is otherwise uninvolved in your life and completely confidential can be really helpful.

Sometimes there are things in life that we can't change but even in those situations I think there are steps we can take to live the best life possible. And very often we can change things.

Sending hugs.

 

[Magic Mom]

I wrote one when I was a teenager and knew everything, but I lost it in my 20s.

My son found it. Now he knows everything.

 

[olwyngdh]

Thanks Focus.

But seriously, when you all have some situation that you're not sure how to handle, do you just talk it over with your family, friends, clergy? Even if it's something that would take a very long time to explain and you don't want to give one impression over another, if that makes any sense. You don't want to bias people, you want them to try & understand the whole situation but you aren't even sure what's true & what's not so much...

Or do you guys just know how to handle things using your common sense & life experience. Do you ever just plod along & figure this particular situation will never get any better & just learn to live with it?

I rack up long distance minutes (at least they don't cost nowadays!) I have a couple girlfriends who live far away, but are always willing to listen, and always willing to give advice--and then say "I told you so!" when i don't listen! But then, I do the same thing to them

Sometimes though, if you don't have anyone to talk it out with, writing it out as a letter to yourself helps at least clarify your thoughts and feelings.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

My son found it. Now he knows everything.

Yeah, my son is working on his version now. It is titled, "Why are you people so stupid!"

 

[focusondisney]

Is there one person you trust that you can go to for advice? Sometimes just talking it out can help.

Sometimes you can make yourself crazy trying to make a decision. I've learned over the years to just stop all the debate. Make the best decision I can at the time & be OK with it. Don't keep second guessing myself.

I feel like if something is right, it shouldn't be that hard to make a decision.

Guess what I'm trying to say is : have confidence in yourself. You will make the right decision for you.

Hard to have confidence in yourself at first. It gets easier! Good luck!

 

[Acklander]

My instruction manual has one line: "Fake it til you make it." It works pretty well most of the time.

I guess if I had one line it would read "Smile, and walk fast" That seems to get me through most tough situations

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks Focus.

But seriously, when you all have some situation that you're not sure how to handle, do you just talk it over with your family, friends, clergy? Even if it's something that would take a very long time to explain and you don't want to give one impression over another, if that makes any sense. You don't want to bias people, you want them to try & understand the whole situation but you aren't even sure what's true & what's not so much...

Or do you guys just know how to handle things using your common sense & life experience. Do you ever just plod along & figure this particular situation will never get any better & just learn to live with it?

Seriously, we talk things to death. We analyze from every angle and then make the best guess.

I suppose if you need to, look at it as making the "best" decision instead of making the "right" decision. This helps a lot.

Now if you have a lot of trouble with making the "best" decision, then you have to look at why you are having trouble with that.
(note above we analyze to death )

Is it lack of info? Do some homework.
Anxiety?
Fear?

Often times we get caught up with NOT making a decision in order to not move forward for whatever reason. This is very common. Sometimes you are not ready and sometimes you are stuck.

If you are hesistant in discussing the situation with others then you are "stuck".

In the end you are the person that has to do the work to come to a conclusion.

 

[NotUrsula]

If it's a decision that involves a character issue in yourself or another person, I think it is generally best to seek the advice of someone that does NOT know the person well; at least not someone who you (or that person) would consider a friend or family member.

The reason for this is that complaints about character generate blowback -- no matter what you decide, the person you confided in will never be able to look at you (or the person who was the topic of conversation) in exactly the same way as before the conversation. If the problem involves an act of forgiveness on your part, then it is highly possible that the person you chose as a sounding board might not agree with your decision, and may not ever let the transgressor forget it.

 

[BroganMc]

If it's a decision that involves a character issue in yourself or another person, I think it is generally best to seek the advice of someone that does NOT know the person well; at least not someone who you (or that person) would consider a friend or family member.

The reason for this is that complaints about character generate blowback -- no matter what you decide, the person you confided in will never be able to look at you (or the person who was the topic of conversation) in exactly the same way as before the conversation. If the problem involves an act of forgiveness on your part, then it is highly possible that the person you chose as a sounding board might not agree with your decision, and may not ever let the transgressor forget it.

Ooh that's sage advice.

 

[BroganMc]

But seriously, when you all have some situation that you're not sure how to handle, do you just talk it over with your family, friends, clergy? Even if it's something that would take a very long time to explain and you don't want to give one impression over another, if that makes any sense. You don't want to bias people, you want them to try & understand the whole situation but you aren't even sure what's true & what's not so much...

Or do you guys just know how to handle things using your common sense & life experience. Do you ever just plod along & figure this particular situation will never get any better & just learn to live with it?

I'm a talker. So when I have a problem I talk to the people I trust and sometimes to strangers if I'm looking for that unbiased point of view (then I usually retell the story as a hypothetical). I'd say first and foremost I talk to God. The big guy and I have had this sort of relationship going since I was a kid and had big things no one (child or adult) in my world could relate to.

I think about it alot. I ask myself tough questions, argue the opposite just to try and understand the situation as much as possible. And I look to others to help validate my feelings. Sometimes if I don't get validation I take that to mean God is telling me I've strayed or am ignoring the truth inside me. I hate it when He has to whap me upside the head to get a point across.

One thing I am finding as I go through life is that there is no one set answer. Just a choice with different consequences. Some are more tolerable than others to me.

I may think I'm smarter than others at times, and sometimes I'm right, but others I'm just being full of myself. It's hard to tell.

In the end, you just do your best and hope it all works out. And if you fall on your face, you comfort in the fact you live to tell the tale and try again. Life is full of second chances and God is always there to provide them.

Edited to add: And if you're not of that religious mindset you can just think of it as humanity or fate or creation or whatever. Something keeps humanity from destroying itself and helps drag individuals out of the gutters of life.