I felt like I needed some fresh surroundings this morning. Rather than working from the home office, I decided to head to a nearby cafe.

Before stepping out, I checked my laptop battery — dead.

You know that crushing feeling when your mind is set on a plan, and it falls apart at the last minute? I have a bad relationship with that feeling of defeat.

At this particular cafe, there are only two tables with electrical outlets. They’re the first to fill up.

Still, I pushed the defeated feeling aside with a shred of hope. In the worst-case scenario, I buy coffee and head back home to work.

This simple decision shifted my entire mental mood.

Had I stayed at home, wallowing in some imagined state of defeat, I would have felt weighed down all day.

Instead, I took a chance. I defeated defeat. And even if I hadn’t gotten one of the good tables (I did) I could have returned home content in the fact that at least I tried.