Google as a microcosm of life

Life is going along smoothly; we feel great — on top of things, in the flow and content — when suddenly something unexpected happens and our mood changes.

by Irene Conlan — 

Sometimes we get complacent and, if our complacency is shattered, we cannot figure out what happened. Everything changed so suddenly.

It happens to all of us. Life is going along smoothly; we feel great — on top of things, in the flow and content — when suddenly something unexpected happens and our mood changes. We all experience this now and then, and Google reminded me of it recently. Let me explain.

For quite a while now, the Self Improvement Blog has come up on the first page of Google when you do a search using the keyword “self improvement.” The other day, a blogger was interviewing for a job and told her potential employer that she writes for the “Self Improvement Blog, which is on the first page of Google.” When the employer looked for it, however, it was on page three. You would think that the earth stood still. Page three, for goodness sake! What is so earth-shattering about that?

I remember when I would have jumped through hoops to be on page three instead of page 30. Still, I cannot explain the sudden change from page one to three. Nothing has changed. Articles have been posted every day, and some days, several articles were posted. It was tweeted and Facebooked and yet it moved to page three. Not to worry, though. This happened before. Last year, when Google changed their algorithms, the blog disappeared off the face of the planet but was back to page one within a week.

But this is not earth-shattering. It is just one of those things that happen. We can panic and get all excited about it, but that will not help anything. It is part of being human. It is called change.

We will have our ups and downs. Good days and bad days. Successes and failures. Peaks and valleys. You get it. Life is not a straight line — only death is.

There is evidence all around us of this. The recent Olympic Games are a good example. The female world champion figure skater came in second place. Apolo Anton Ohno was disqualified in the 500 meter race. Lindsey Vonn fell and broke her finger. In other words, those who were predicted to win did not always do so, and sometimes those who were thought to have no chance won the gold.

Watch children play. You hear chattering and giggles coming from their direction and then, suddenly, one of them is crying loudly. It was as simple as one did not want to share and the other expressed her dismay. Soon they are playing again.

Your workday is going smoothly and you are looking forward to leaving on time. The supervisor comes in with an assignment that has to be finished ASAP; your evening plans and your mood are trashed. I could go on, but I’m sure you get it.

How do you prepare for the unexpected? How do you adjust to the little twists and turns that are a part of life? For starters you change your mindset. You not only expect change but you relish it and look forward to the excitement of meeting new challenges to meet head on — and come out triumphant. We are not talking about earth-shattering events, major illness, death or tax audits. We are talking about little things that mess up your schedule or change your attitude.

It really is your choice. You can kick against life’s ups and downs and stub your toe, or you can go with the flow and make the best of it.

Thanks, Google, for reminding me. Now can you put the blog back on page one?

Irene Conlan has a master’s degree in nursing, is a certified hypnotherapist and a certified past-life regression therapist in Scottsdale, Ariz. www.theselfimprovementblog.com or [email protected].

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 29, Number 2, Apr/May 2010.