We all seem to intuitively know Murphy’s Law – “Nothing is as easy as it looks; everything takes longer than you expect; and if any thing can go wrong, it will and at the worst possible moment.”
I like John Maxwell’s Law far better – “Nothing is as hard as it looks; everything is more rewarding than you expect; and if anything can go right it will and at the best possible moment.”
We always have a choice in our reactions and attitudes. What happens to us only reveals what is happening inside of us. Sometimes our attitudes crash when those storm clouds that have been circling burst forth in their fury. Let’s consider four storms.
The first storm that usually breaks is called The Closeness of Criticism. Those who know us will usually offer the first negative comments. “Why did you get into that?” “Think you’re going to be successful at that? My cousin tried it and failed.” “I don’t think you have the right personality type for that kind of business.” On and on go the remarks.
These comments hurt deeply because these people are the ones who should be encouraging you to grow, develop, expand, learn, and become successful. Ever wonder if the reason they make the comments is that if you change and become successful then they won’t have an excuse for trying some opportunity. If they can keep you in the circle of sameness life can just go on the way it always has.
Here are some suggestions to keep criticism from sinking your attitude:
1. When possible, avoid people who belittle you.
2. Ask yourself: What bothers me most when I am criticized?
3. Find a friend who is encourages you.
The second storm is The Presence of Persistent Problems. Don’t you just hate this? You know there are going to be problems, but why does there have to be so many of them? I admit this storm does tend to wear on you after a while. You handle one problem only to be immediately faced with another problem. You get up the next day and the storm clouds are still hanging on overhead. When is the sun going to shine? You definitely have to know why you are doing what you doing? If the reason and the goal is not great enough you will quit too soon.
The third storm is The Conflict of Change. One of the greatest things we seem to fear is change. And particularly if we have to change something about us. Outside change is one thing, but to have to change our self is daunting. One of the things we found when we started a homebased business was that we had to change our thinking and our attitude. If was difficult even to recognize that these had to be changed. We thought we already had our thinking straight. When we finally admitted the change needed to be in us then we started to become successful.
The fourth storm is The Night of Negativism. Our challenge is to think right in a negative world. If you don’t think it is a negative world just what the TV news. R.H Brieskin Associates were asked to go out and get an answer to the question, what is the best thing that had happened to them in the past five years? Twelve percent of the people surveyed answered, “Nothing.”
Which of these storms is going to stop you from trying something new, becoming successful, or living a great life? Jackie Norris more than just weathered the storms of life she is sailing on the sea of prosperity. everydaywealthkit.
James Heller
