Finding Strength Through Life's Small Setbacks
A comment from a wheelchair-bound young man reminds us to maintain perspective, build resilience, and focus on what we can control rather than what we cannot.
The quote "Sometimes in life you cut yourself shaving. Deal with it." carries unexpected weight given its origin. My friend Kelly Johnson was going about his morning routine when he nicked himself shaving -- a minor inconvenience that prompted visible frustration. His nephew, confined to a wheelchair due to disability, observed this moment of complaint and delivered this straight-talking wisdom to his uncle. The power of this statement lies in its source: someone who navigates significant daily challenges yet maintains perspective about life's difficulties. This young man, facing mobility limitations most would find overwhelming, recognized the human tendency to magnify small problems. His words weren't merely about shaving cuts but represented a profound life philosophy about resilience, perspective, and emotional maturity when facing adversity - especially when delivered to someone experiencing only a momentary discomfort.
Leadership Principles
Perspective Maintenance: This quote fundamentally demonstrates the critical leadership principle of maintaining proper perspective when facing challenges. Effective leaders distinguish between genuine crises and minor setbacks.
In application, consider the executive who responds calmly when a presentation glitches during an important client meeting. Rather than displaying frustration or blaming team members, she smoothly acknowledges the issue, implements a backup plan, and continues professionally. This measured response not only solves the immediate problem but models emotional intelligence for her team, building trust and psychological safety.
Resilience Through Acceptance: The second principle embedded is the power of acceptance as a path to resilience. By accepting "Sometimes in life you cut yourself shaving," we acknowledge that imperfections and setbacks are inevitable, allowing us to move quickly to solutions rather than remaining stuck in complaint.
Practically, this manifests when a project manager faces an unexpected budget cut. Rather than spending energy lamenting the change, they immediately pivot to identify creative solutions, reprioritize deliverables, and lead their team through adaptive planning - turning potential defeat into an opportunity to demonstrate agility.
A Scriptural Filter
This quote profoundly echoes James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Scripture consistently reminds us that difficulties serve a greater purpose in our development. Just as Kelly's nephew understood that small inconveniences shouldn't derail us, the Bible teaches that trials of all sizes contribute to our character formation. Romans 5:3-4 further reinforces this: "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
The wisdom in "Deal with it" isn't merely stoicism but aligns with biblical truth that how we respond to challenges—whether major or minor—shapes our character and spiritual maturity. Scripture invites us not just to endure difficulties but to recognize them as opportunities for growth and refinement.
I worked with a mid-level manager whose perfectionism was limiting her team's productivity. Every small error would trigger disproportionate reactions—extended post-mortems, excessive new procedures, and visible frustration that created a fear-based culture.
During a coaching session, we discussed this quote, and it resonated deeply with her. She realized she was treating paper cuts like major wounds. Over the following months, she intentionally practiced "dealing with it" when small issues arose—deliberately choosing measured responses to minor setbacks. Her team noticed her new approach within weeks. By learning to put minor setbacks in perspective, she changed not just her leadership style but the entire team culture—all from understanding that sometimes in life, you just cut yourself shaving.
Reflection
What "shaving cuts" in your professional life are you currently treating as major wounds, and how might reframing them change your leadership effectiveness?
When was the last time you witnessed someone handling a major challenge with grace and perspective? What specific qualities did they demonstrate that you could incorporate into your own response to adversity?
How might your team's culture transform if you modeled better perspective about minor setbacks? What specific behavior could you change tomorrow?
What recurring frustration in your leadership journey, if accepted and "dealt with," might actually become a catalyst for your growth rather than an obstacle?
Invitation
Are you ready to develop greater perspective and resilience in your leadership journey? I invite you to schedule a complimentary discovery call where we'll explore how these principles can transform your leadership effectiveness. Together, we'll identify the "shaving cuts" that may be holding you back and design a personalized growth strategy that elevates your impact. Don't let minor setbacks prevent major breakthroughs—take this next step today.
Did today's message illuminate a blind spot in your journey? Don't keep this light to yourself — forward this newsletter now and become the catalyst for someone else's breakthrough moment. Your one small action could spark their extraordinary transformation.
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