Our last post was dedicated to FUN at work through Focused Priorities. Everyone has priorities, but the more successful people have Focused Priorities.
The next piece of having more FUN at work is to recognize that all of us have obstacles. While, I do recognize that many (if not most?) of us do compare ourselves to others at one time or another—I think we also recognize that it is probably not the best thing to do. In fact, I’d really recommend against it. There is a valid reason…
The fact is, we too often set ourselves out with the “cards stacked against us.” We make the situation impossible to win. We compare our weaknesses to someone else’s strengths. We compare our limited subhuman, childlike, underpowered, mild-mannered, baby goo-goo diaper, helpless role to someone else that we know, as if they were a super hero! All right, I exaggerate.
How about an example? When I first began speaking in front of groups, I compared myself and my level of experience to someone who had been doing it for years. Is that fair? I didn’t compare my first time to their first time—now that would be fair. I compared my weakness (minimal experience, and fears) to how well they “mastered the stage” (expert).
Shake it off!
Excuse me, but I think it is best that I get blunt here.
Everyone has obstacles. Yours are yours. Theirs are theirs. Comparing does not benefit you.
I remember when I was a little boy watching ants doing their work. As any boy would do, I would put a stick down (I’m sure it seemed like a giant redwood to the ant) in the way to block the ant’s path. What did the ant do? The ant went over or around, whichever seemed appropriate. And the ant didn’t spend too much time thinking about it. The ant just did it.
That’s what we need to do as well—recognize the obstacle. If it’s small, remove it. If it’s bigger, go over, around, or through it. Sometimes, the obstacles are very big—find a way to deal with it.
Think of the worse problem you know exists for someone… is it sickness? Loneliness? Despair? Hunger? Lack of shelter? Is it belief altering? Whenever I think how bad my situation is, I don’t want to let my obstacle consume my thoughts. I remind myself that the situation could always be worse—and I’m probably not the only one dealing with a situation like that. I can control my response to the problem—even if I can’t control the problem itself.
Everyone has obstacles. Do not let them become roadblocks. You are in control of how you handle those obstacles.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes that keep me going in these situations – maybe one helps you as well:
When I come upon a big rock (obstacle) I can’t move, I take a hammer and break it into pieces that I can handle. ~Dan Reiland, Pastor
If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t you’ll find an excuse. ~Jim Rohn
Humans have the remarkable ability to get exactly what they must have. But there is a difference between a ‘must’ and a ‘want.’ ~Jim Rohn
If you are having a bad day, and you feel like you are going through hell, don’t stop, just keep going!
Remember: Have FUN:
Focused Priorities
Uncover the Obstacles!
N….. to be continued….
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