Your number is 233. Act accordingly.

I hate to break it to you…

But it is an absolute guarantee that a good number of completely sucky things will happen to you before you croak it.

233, to be exact.

Or something close to that. It’s very unlikely to be less than 100.

Like the other day I waited for 2.5 hours at the migration office to hand in my documents only to find out I was missing a document.

Sarcastic happy dance ensued.

But at least my number dropped to 232 there and then.

Now, I know things get far worse than this, but isn’t it interesting what happens at the psychological level when we put a number on upcoming sucky events?

And boy oh boy, are they coming.

For you and me.

But with a number attached, you’ve now built this into your expectations.

Instead of forced sighing, slammed doors, and grimacing, you take out your pen and cross out another number.

What does life look like when you believe you’re entitled to any less than 233?

You mould your life in a rather desperate attempt to keep this number at zero.

This is most people.

See that fellow across the street with the baseball cap? Yeah the one who walks with a bit of a stoop, like he’s dodging falling branches.

That’s most people. They can’t stomach the idea that sucky things will happen, and are hurtling towards them like an asteroid on a collision course.

But they are coming and there’s no changing it.

It’s how we perceive the stone-hard reality of this that will dictate our experience this very moment.

Wish to keep your number at zero?

Good luck with that. You’re lining up for a life of continual dissatisfaction.

Instead, anticipate the suck.

Embrace the fact that annoyances and losses are coming.

And when they do, you will simply take a breath and re-write your number.

Do this, and you will be surprised by how quickly your life transforms from dark clouds to lucid beauty.

NOW: this only works if there's a steady you underneath, one that doesn't wobble when life gets tough.

That steady you is built on self-respect.

When you respect yourself, a missed appointment or a botched paperwork day is just one number off the list. It's annoying, but it doesn't send you into a spiral.

I wrote a whole book about building that foundation through tiny daily habits. The Art of Self Respect bundle is where you'll find it.

Get yours here.

Peace out

Alejandro