I
believe all human beings have three major things in common. If you would ask
anyone “Do you want to be healthy?” they would answer yes. “Do you want to be
happy?” The answer would be yes. “Do you want to have enough money to be
financially independent?” They would answer yes. So why do we have an all-time high health and
wealth crisis? Why is the suicide rate so high? Why do we have full hospitals?
Why are diseases like cancer, heart attacks and diabetes on the rise? Why do we
have so much credit card debts and so many bankruptcies? These are tough questions and I have been
asking myself what can we do as individuals to change that? I believe first we must
acknowledge that we have a problem and then take full responsibility of it. This
is the toughest part, because it is much easier to blame something or somebody
else for our situation. This is also a catch 22. Yes, you may feel better if it
is not your fault, but at the same time you give away the power to change your
situation. If it is someone else’s fault (Government, neighbor, employer etc.),
you have to wait for them to fix it, and this may never happen. On the other
hand if you acknowledge that you are the problem than you are also the solution
and that brings the power back to you. You are the only variable. Circumstances
are what they are. You can’t do anything about the weather, but you can dress appropriately
so you don’t get wet or freeze if an ice storm hits. You can’t do anything
about the current economy, but your response to it changes the outcome in your
life.
Let
me give you an example. Two co-workers are being confronted with the boss’s
announcement, that in the next few weeks he has to make a decision to let go of
some of his employees. Worker 1 goes home depressed, complains about the
situation to his wife, grabs a beer sits on his couch, watches TV to take his
mind of this awful situation and hopes for the best. Worker 2 goes home
searches the internet for alternative jobs or business opportunities. The next
day worker 1 is doing his job like he always did, maybe even a little bit less,
because he thinks to himself, why bother, I may lose this job anyways. Worker 2
works harder than before. He is starting to think of ways how he can contribute
to improving productivity, maybe even shares some of his ideas with his boss.
Four weeks later all employees are called for a meeting. Worker 1 receives the
pink slip, worker 2 receives a promotion. It comes down to your response or (re)-action.
I
like the formula Jack Canfield offers:
E + R = O, Event + Response = Outcome.
Stop making Excuses, start making Money!
