“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.”
J. Sidlow Baxter
In life, each one of us is faced with challenges, trials, and hardships. None of us are immune. Thus, we have the opportunity to react to our troubles in one of two ways. We can become discouraged, upset, and resentful; or we can see them as an opportunity and strive to grow, learn, and become a stronger, better person. The choice is ours. Below are some thoughts on how we can best utilize our difficulties to our advantage.
Reflection
One way that I’ve learned to deal with challenges in my life is to always remember that no matter how bad it gets, there is always someone out there that has it harder than I do. When I think about that, it helps me to turn my attention to what I do have. This produces feelings of gratitude and thankfulness despite the hardship. Reflecting on what we do still have, even when we feel a difficulty has taken just about everything from us, will help us navigate troubled waters successfully.
Perspective
Having positive thoughts and viewing trials appropriately will go a long way in our ability to handle them successfully. Rather than asking “why me?” we should perhaps ask “why not me?” We can also say “I’m glad it is me and not my child, or spouse, or good friend.” Other positive thoughts that may help when dealing with difficulties in life are “this will make me stronger” and “what can I learn from this to make me a better person?” Having the right perspective and viewing trials as a necessary part of life will help us to overcome and come out on top.
Recollection
Trials are never new to us. The specific trial may be new, but trials themselves are not new. It can be helpful at times to think about all we’ve been able to overcome thus far in life. Remembering that we’ve made it through difficult times in the past will help us realize we do have the strength to proceed and carry on. Having faith in ourselves and recalling our success will better allow us to deal with present hardships.
Resolve
Determining in our mind before a difficulty ever hits that we will succeed no matter what, empowers us to more fully embrace and overcome hardships. When we have the resolve to come out victorious regardless of the troubles we face, it makes them a bit easier to endure. Please do not misunderstand though. Resolve does not mean that we won’t get discouraged, disappointed, or upset. What it does mean is that we will never give up. And determining we will never give up now before the trial comes prepares us for success. It is impossible for challenges to overtake us when we resolve to never give up.
Difficulties happen to each one of us. It simply is a fact of life and makes life extremely challenging. In fact our trials can either motivate us or crush us. Through reflection, perspective, recollection and resolve, we can conquer anything that comes our way. Learning to deal with difficulty and truly seeing it as an opportunity will help us to be successful in life.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Fighting Fatigue
One of the most common threats to our ability to reach our potential is fatigue. Exhaustion is part of life but did you know that much of our tiredness is brought on by ourselves? Most of us believe that we our tired because we haven’t gotten enough sleep, or that we’ve worked too long or hard. The truth is however that much of our fatigue today is not caused by over-exertion or lack of sleep, but rather by stress.
Stress leads to exhaustion and fatigue, and fatigue can make life miserable. When we worry or are frustrated, our body wastes energy—energy that could be used toward better causes. If we are able to eliminate or minimize fatigue, we will be much more likely to perform at our highest level, allowing us to be more successful in life. Below are a few simple tips on how to eliminate fatigue.
#1 Mind our Thoughts
One of the best ways to fight against fatigue is to control our thoughts. Thoughts of worry, frustration, anger, or hopelessness cause us to stress and can ware us out! If we can learn to fill our minds with positive thoughts of courage, peace, strength, and hope, our energy levels will naturally increase.
#2 Eat Right/Exercise
Eating right by participating in three balanced meals a day will go a long way in reducing stress. Many of us snack on unhealthy foods all day which reduces our energy levels. But if we try to eat balanced, regular meals our fatigue will diminish. Water is also an important element needed to boost energy. Likewise, exercise helps us reduce stress and fatigue as it can increase our energy levels and confidence. If we are unable to dedicate an hour a day to exercise, even simply marching in place or jumping up and down for a few minutes throughout the day will boost energy and increase oxygen to our brain.
#3 Change Scenery
Sometimes fatigue sets in when we are simply caught up in the mundane tasks of life or the “daily grind.” When we’ve spent several hours on a particular project, or find ourselves following the same routine day after day, we need to change it up. Whether it’s going outside to get a fresh breath of air, or enjoying a conversation with a longtime friend, taking a break and changing things up a bit will help us lift our excitement levels and slow down fatigue. Recognizing that we are feeling tired is a good clue that we need a quick change of pace; even it is just for a few minutes.
#4 Count our Blessings/Forget our Troubles
Similar to #1, if we can focus on appreciation and turn our attention away from our troubles we will greatly enhance our energy level. When we focus on the good in life, we naturally have a greater desire to work hard and put forth our best effort. Being grateful boosts energy and enthusiasm while worrying about all of our troubles causes stress and fatigue. Thus showing gratitude and being thankful will help us to reach our potential.
#5 Enjoy it
Finding a way to do something we enjoy every day can minimize fatigue. Hopefully each of us can find joy in our work but if we can’t, we need to dedicate some time each day to doing something fun. Again, this does not have to mean several hours but simply even fifteen minutes of “fun” can reduce our stress and fatigue.
Learning to eliminate and effectively handle fatigue is important part of our ability to be successful in life. Through controlling our thoughts, exercise and eating right, changing our scenery, being grateful, and enjoying life we can gain an edge by minimizing fatigue. When we learn to effectively deal with fatigue and limit it, we will more fully be able to reach our potential.
Stress leads to exhaustion and fatigue, and fatigue can make life miserable. When we worry or are frustrated, our body wastes energy—energy that could be used toward better causes. If we are able to eliminate or minimize fatigue, we will be much more likely to perform at our highest level, allowing us to be more successful in life. Below are a few simple tips on how to eliminate fatigue.
#1 Mind our Thoughts
One of the best ways to fight against fatigue is to control our thoughts. Thoughts of worry, frustration, anger, or hopelessness cause us to stress and can ware us out! If we can learn to fill our minds with positive thoughts of courage, peace, strength, and hope, our energy levels will naturally increase.
#2 Eat Right/Exercise
Eating right by participating in three balanced meals a day will go a long way in reducing stress. Many of us snack on unhealthy foods all day which reduces our energy levels. But if we try to eat balanced, regular meals our fatigue will diminish. Water is also an important element needed to boost energy. Likewise, exercise helps us reduce stress and fatigue as it can increase our energy levels and confidence. If we are unable to dedicate an hour a day to exercise, even simply marching in place or jumping up and down for a few minutes throughout the day will boost energy and increase oxygen to our brain.
#3 Change Scenery
Sometimes fatigue sets in when we are simply caught up in the mundane tasks of life or the “daily grind.” When we’ve spent several hours on a particular project, or find ourselves following the same routine day after day, we need to change it up. Whether it’s going outside to get a fresh breath of air, or enjoying a conversation with a longtime friend, taking a break and changing things up a bit will help us lift our excitement levels and slow down fatigue. Recognizing that we are feeling tired is a good clue that we need a quick change of pace; even it is just for a few minutes.
#4 Count our Blessings/Forget our Troubles
Similar to #1, if we can focus on appreciation and turn our attention away from our troubles we will greatly enhance our energy level. When we focus on the good in life, we naturally have a greater desire to work hard and put forth our best effort. Being grateful boosts energy and enthusiasm while worrying about all of our troubles causes stress and fatigue. Thus showing gratitude and being thankful will help us to reach our potential.
#5 Enjoy it
Finding a way to do something we enjoy every day can minimize fatigue. Hopefully each of us can find joy in our work but if we can’t, we need to dedicate some time each day to doing something fun. Again, this does not have to mean several hours but simply even fifteen minutes of “fun” can reduce our stress and fatigue.
Learning to eliminate and effectively handle fatigue is important part of our ability to be successful in life. Through controlling our thoughts, exercise and eating right, changing our scenery, being grateful, and enjoying life we can gain an edge by minimizing fatigue. When we learn to effectively deal with fatigue and limit it, we will more fully be able to reach our potential.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Pumping Water
“Hard work is not always fun, but it’s the price you must pay to be more successful.”
Rick Pitino
There once was a young girl who lived on a farm with her family and her chore each day was to milk the two cows on the farm. In order to do so, she had always been instructed by her good father to first pump water in to a basin for the cows to drink as she milked them. Though she loved drinking the creamy milk the cows produced, she absolutely hated pumping water!!
One day she protested to her father stating she didn’t understand why she had to pump water for the cows before milking them. Her father explained how in order to get the milk, she had to pump the water, otherwise the cows could become dehydrated and would stop producing milk. The father also explained how the water calmed the cows and helped them to be still so that she could more easily milk them. Though she did not like the idea, the young girl continued to pump the water before milking the cows.
Much like the young farm girl, we frequently in life want to get the milk without pumping the water. Somehow we believe that milk should flow to use with little effort. However I have learned in life that you have to pump the water to get the milk. The “pumping” or the preparation and hard work we put in to something produces the “milk” or results we desire. Without our pumping efforts, the milk will never come or will dry up quickly.
Sometimes milk may come without pumping water however when this happens, it is usually not as much as we’d like, or as creamy and sweet. I’ve learned that the best milk comes only after vigorously and consistently pumping the water.
In addition, though hard, annoying, and difficult at times, pumping water can and will bring great satisfaction in life when we have the right attitude. The ability to work is a blessing! Many people are not fortunate enough to have the ability or opportunity to work. Likewise, receiving milk without first working for it automatically diminishes its value—for those things we work most diligently for, are the things most dear to us.
Thus, much like the farm girl, we must pump the water to get the milk. When we do, we can be assured the milk will be so much more rewarding and satisfying.
Rick Pitino
There once was a young girl who lived on a farm with her family and her chore each day was to milk the two cows on the farm. In order to do so, she had always been instructed by her good father to first pump water in to a basin for the cows to drink as she milked them. Though she loved drinking the creamy milk the cows produced, she absolutely hated pumping water!!
One day she protested to her father stating she didn’t understand why she had to pump water for the cows before milking them. Her father explained how in order to get the milk, she had to pump the water, otherwise the cows could become dehydrated and would stop producing milk. The father also explained how the water calmed the cows and helped them to be still so that she could more easily milk them. Though she did not like the idea, the young girl continued to pump the water before milking the cows.
Much like the young farm girl, we frequently in life want to get the milk without pumping the water. Somehow we believe that milk should flow to use with little effort. However I have learned in life that you have to pump the water to get the milk. The “pumping” or the preparation and hard work we put in to something produces the “milk” or results we desire. Without our pumping efforts, the milk will never come or will dry up quickly.
Sometimes milk may come without pumping water however when this happens, it is usually not as much as we’d like, or as creamy and sweet. I’ve learned that the best milk comes only after vigorously and consistently pumping the water.
In addition, though hard, annoying, and difficult at times, pumping water can and will bring great satisfaction in life when we have the right attitude. The ability to work is a blessing! Many people are not fortunate enough to have the ability or opportunity to work. Likewise, receiving milk without first working for it automatically diminishes its value—for those things we work most diligently for, are the things most dear to us.
Thus, much like the farm girl, we must pump the water to get the milk. When we do, we can be assured the milk will be so much more rewarding and satisfying.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
All Things Become Possible
“You are the only problem you will ever have and you are the only solution.”
Bob Proctor
Recently I’ve been a part of a new project at work and I am always amazed by how we all almost subconsciously limit ourselves. Like always, our goal for the project is to make it the best we possibly can however there are many obstacles and challenges that stand in our way. Because of this, it becomes so easy for us to assume we can’t accomplish our objectives. And the interesting thing I’ve observed is that each member of the team seems to have different reasons why our goal for this project cannot be done. The truth is, we all have make-believe beliefs that impact our ability to see clearly, that give us excuses why things cannot be done, and that shape our vision and attitudes.
In life, for some reason, we seem conditioned to limit ourselves and to self-create roadblocks. We seem to compulsively believe we cannot. Instead of faith there is doubt, instead of action there is fear, and instead of passion there is reservation. The truth is however that so much is possible.
One major reason why this happens is because we betray ourselves. This happens when we fail to see that we are really the problem. Instead we blame others, make excuses, and look for the easy way out. We believe our perception is reality when in actuality we are shaped by our experiences and beliefs. And too often these experiences and beliefs create boundaries that do not exist.
So, in my project at work, each of us sees different reasons why our goal for the project cannot be done yet stepping back and viewing it from the outside I realize each of the obstacles can be overcome. So, how are limiting ourselves in our lives? What barriers have we created that simply do not exist? As we begin to tear down these beliefs, focus on our objectives, and push through our challenges, all things become possible.
Bob Proctor
Recently I’ve been a part of a new project at work and I am always amazed by how we all almost subconsciously limit ourselves. Like always, our goal for the project is to make it the best we possibly can however there are many obstacles and challenges that stand in our way. Because of this, it becomes so easy for us to assume we can’t accomplish our objectives. And the interesting thing I’ve observed is that each member of the team seems to have different reasons why our goal for this project cannot be done. The truth is, we all have make-believe beliefs that impact our ability to see clearly, that give us excuses why things cannot be done, and that shape our vision and attitudes.
In life, for some reason, we seem conditioned to limit ourselves and to self-create roadblocks. We seem to compulsively believe we cannot. Instead of faith there is doubt, instead of action there is fear, and instead of passion there is reservation. The truth is however that so much is possible.
One major reason why this happens is because we betray ourselves. This happens when we fail to see that we are really the problem. Instead we blame others, make excuses, and look for the easy way out. We believe our perception is reality when in actuality we are shaped by our experiences and beliefs. And too often these experiences and beliefs create boundaries that do not exist.
So, in my project at work, each of us sees different reasons why our goal for the project cannot be done yet stepping back and viewing it from the outside I realize each of the obstacles can be overcome. So, how are limiting ourselves in our lives? What barriers have we created that simply do not exist? As we begin to tear down these beliefs, focus on our objectives, and push through our challenges, all things become possible.
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