Arthur Rubinstein and “Mrs Smith” How’s Your Stress Level Today?

Today I heard a great story from Joe Piscatella, the best selling author of the book, “Don’t Eat Your Heart Out.”

It was about how we interpret events and how that determines the level of our stress response.It’s a great story about stress reduction and stress management.

As the story goes, a very wealthy socialite, we’ll call her “Mrs Smith,” lived in the penthouse of a very famous hotel in Manhattan. All the staff of this hotel catered to “Mrs Smith’s” every need as she was a very good customer.

Late one night, at one in the morning, “Mrs Smith” came storming down to the front desk of the hotel in a fit of rage. She screamed, “Someone is playing the PIANO in the suite next door to me! I can’t sleep with all that NOISE going on!”

The Concierge of the hotel apologized and said, “I am so sorry “Mrs Smith!” But it is the famous pianist, Arthur Rubinstein who is staying the night in the suite next to you. He must be practicing. I am so sorry. Shall I go upstairs and ask him to stop?”

Well at this news, “Mrs Smith” apparently suddenly changed completely. She said, “Thank you. That won’t be necessary.” and went back upstairs to her suite.  

The story went on to say that Mr Rubinstien had made a small mistake that evening in his concert at Carnegie Hall that no one but him would notice. But he felt he needed to come back to his suite play the entire concert again from start to finish, this time perfectly. (Obviously Arthur Rubinstein was also a perfectionist.)

When “Mrs Smith” entered her apartment, she pulled up a chair next to the wall, sat back and joyfully listened to Arthur Rubinstein play. With her stress level completely down and her heart delighted now that she knew who it was playing next door, “Mrs Smith” didn’t miss another note of the entire piano concert and was as happy as she could be for the next three hours!

So think of “Mrs Smith” the next time something seems like a “disaster” to you. Depending on your perspective, it could feel like a horrible disaster or become a most extraordinary opportunity!