I was running on the beach when a big wave hit the shore and soaked both of my shoes. My feet got cold. To keep going, I had to take my shoes off and carry them.

There were plenty of unhelpful ways I could have reacted:

• I could catastrophize: “This ruined my run”
• I could play the victim: “Why did this happen to me?”
• I could blame myself: “I’m so careless”
• I could resist: “This shouldn’t have happened”

Instead of getting frustrated, I approached the situation with curiosity:

• “Let me see what running barefoot feels like…”
• “Let me see how long I can run barefoot…”

Running barefoot, I could dip my feet into water, feel its warmth and notice the softness of the sand. This reframing helped me approach the situation with lightness and play.

I’ve noticed this applies to other situations too. If my go-to meal is sold out at the market, instead of being upset, I see it as an opportunity to explore something different.

Whenever something unexpected happens, I return to curiosity mindset. It’s a simple way to avoid unnecessary stress.