Happy Thursday! Today’s quote is:

“Great events make me quiet and calm; it is only trifles that irritate my nerves.” (Queen Victoria)

In what seems to many as today’s fast-paced world, where the constant barrage of information and stimuli can overwhelm even the most resilient among us, Queen Victoria’s words offer a timeless reminder of the power of perspective and resilience. Let us delve deeper into the wisdom encapsulated in this profound statement and explore how it can inform our approach to navigating the ups and downs of life.

At first glance, Queen Victoria’s assertion may seem paradoxical. How can someone remain serene and composed in the face of significant events while being easily perturbed by minor inconveniences? Yet, upon closer examination, her words reveal a profound truth about human nature: our responses to external circumstances are shaped by our internal perceptions and thinking.

Stormy seas

Consider the metaphor of a ship navigating through stormy seas. During moments of great turmoil and upheaval, when the waves are crashing against the hull and the winds are howling, the captain must remain steadfast and focused. It is in these moments of crisis that calmness and clarity of mind are most crucial, guiding the ship safely through the tempest. All the Captains attention is on focusing upon what is happening in that moment – there is little room to get caught up in thinking around other things or even what may happen in any time but the immediate future.

In much the same way, when confronted with major life events or challenges, we are called upon to summon our inner strength and resilience. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, a career setback, or a global crisis, maintaining a sense of quietude and calm can help us weather the storm with grace and dignity. It’s not uncommon for individuals to report, after experiencing a significant event, that they operated almost instinctively, without overthinking. This suggests that in moments of crisis, our natural response is to prioritise immediate action over complex thought processes – just focus upon that one thing in front of you.

Trifles

On the other hand, it is often the trifles—the things we can think of as petty annoyances and minor inconveniences—that have the power to unravel our composure and apparently disturb our peace of mind. From the frustration of being stuck in traffic to the irritation of a malfunctioning device, these seemingly insignificant disturbances can seem to chip away at our patience and resilience. We can get caught in loops of thinking, piling meaning and stories upon how we think about the original circumstance so that we end up feeling totally overwhelmed by our own thinking.

Perspective

So, what can we learn from Queen Victoria’s words, and how can we apply it to our own lives? One key insight is the importance of perspective. By recognizing the relative insignificance of trifles in the grand scheme of things, we can choose to respond to them with equanimity rather than allowing them to dictate our emotional state.

One way you could do that is by using that feeling of overwhelm as a type of alarm clock if you like, a reminder that any moment we can relax our metaphorical grip on all the pile of thinking we have going on and let that just evaporate so we can just see that original circumstance for what it is without all the extra baggage of story telling and thinking.

Resilience

Moreover, Queen Victoria’s words remind us of the power of resilience—the ability to bounce back from adversity and remain steadfast in the face of challenges. It’s often said that kids can bounce back so much faster from things than adults and I’d like to suggest that this is because we are all born with that ability, we just often get into the habbit of overthinking that we forget that at any moment we can relax back into that space of inner wisdom where it seems resilence comes from.

In essence, Queen Victoria’s quote serves as a poignant reminder of the value of maintaining perspective and resilience in the face of life’s challenges. By embracing her wisdom, we can cultivate a sense of calm amidst the chaos and navigate the journey of life with grace, dignity, and fortitude.

About Jen Waller

Jen Waller is on a mission to support, nurture and encourage coaching skills and talents from non-coach to coach and beyond.

As an experienced coach and trainer Jen is happy to utilise all skills at her disposal to assist clients from getting out of their own way and making a difference in the world with their coaching. Find out more about the support Jen offers here.