In Colorado, USA, there lay a snag (tree decaying after falling) of the largest tree in the area. Scientists say it stood for nearly half a millennia, and during its life, it was struck countless times by lightning, avalanches and snowstorms. The tree stood strong and survived everything nature threw at it with grace. However, a group of insects ate their way into the tree and destroyed it from the inside, flattening the tree to the ground in no time. Can you imagine, being able to stand strong during lightning strikes and storms, only to be flattened to the ground by insects we could crush between our fingers?
This story represents human nature perfectly. We often face the major storms of our lives bravely and let meaningless events, the "insects" of life get us down.
There have been accounts of military personnel who thought nothing of the dangers, harsh terrain, and gruelling battles during deployment, but were bitter as their teammates took more than their designated space or were chewing their food too loudly. Can you imagine, being calm and productive in the face of battle but be outraged and sour by the sound of someone chewing their food too loudly? This defies logic most certainly!
"Trivialities are at the bottom of most unhappy marriages."
For the past few years, there has been a sharp rise in the cases of knife crime. The reasons for this you may wonder? According to the metropolitan police, the leading causes include an insulting remark, looking at someone with a particular facial expression or belonging to a postcode outside the area. Completely trivial reasons for death and life imprisonment, and yet, these numbers continue to rise.
During our lifetimes, in the grand scheme of things, rarely are we gravely mistreated or wronged. But it is these insignificant remarks and moments which enrage us that push us to take the most foolish actions we wouldn't otherwise have taken.
"The ego getting hurt over trivial matters is responsible for most of the heartaches in the world today." - Self-Mastery
So what is the key takeaway here? And how do we put this into practice? Well, it may sound difficult but once understood it is almost as straightforward as turning on a light, or shall I say "the light". In our lives, we will never have total control over the events of our external world. However, we do have control over one thing; how we react to the situation. Next time we get into a stew about something, remember to ask yourself these questions: How much does this really matter to me? Am I allowing an insect to torment me and turn my days and nights into a hellish turmoil? And if so, let's remember the following sound advice:
"The 5 by 5 rule: If it’s not going to matter in 5 years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes worrying about it."
"De minimis non curat lex: the principle that the law is not concerned with insignificant or minor matters."
If the law doesn't concern itself with insignificant or minor matters, why should you or I? Why should we for one second allow something insignificant to ruin our mood and cause negative health impacts? We should perhaps give these thoughts and feelings the 5 seconds they are worth and forget them, completely wiping them from our minds.
"Life is too short to be little. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor." - Benjamin Disraeli
"Come, gentlemen, we sit too long on trifles, And waste the time, which looks for other revels." - Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Act II Scene III
Key takeaway: Don't sweat the small stuff! Don't let your heart get eaten by the trivial insects we encounter during the day and bask in the happiness, glory and opportunity the day presents itself with. Let these insects go as quickly as they came. Remember, the law does not concern itself with insignificant or minor matters, then why should you or I?
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