See a setback as a chance to grow

How do you handle a setback? Do you blame others? Play the victim? Get on your self-pity pot? I think the gods like to throw a monkey wrench into our plans every so often just to see how we react.

I whine and complain for a few days. I wallow in it. I make sure everyone knows how much I’m suffering from my disappointment or pain. But being the practical person I am, I come up with a plan B and move on.

As I write this, I’m nursing an injury to my left foot. I’m a runner and an avid CrossFitter. I rarely give less than 100% to anything, so I enthusiastically jumped on boxes, practiced my double-unders and learned to love wall balls.

Then, I hurt my foot. I’m not sure if it was from running or CrossFit. Regardless, the doctor diagnosed a probable stress fracture; an X-ray showed a bone spur and “arthritic changes.”

My treatment involves cutting out running and workouts for six weeks. I can’t even do yoga because holding a pose could stress my foot. The only activities I can do are biking (boring) and swimming (I hate the water).

I realize in the grand scheme of life this isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Still, I was worried. What if I could never run again? What if I had to relegate myself to wimpy workouts that didn’t satisfy me? I even made my little bargain with God, prom- ising to be patient and take the full time off, if it meant I could go back to my regular activities.

So I joined a gym. I had already signed up for an indoor triath- lon to challenge myself (I don’t like to bike or swim, remember?). I figured this was the universe’s way of pushing me out of my com- fort zone, forcing me to expand my exercise horizons.

Too often, we can’t or won’t see a setback as an opportunity for growth. But as Carlos Castaneda said, “Things don’t change. You change your way of looking.” And that makes all the difference in how you handle setbacks.