Friday, September 30, 2005

Feeling That Love and Confidence

In Dilbert, Wally tries to coerce his boss into giving him a raise by threatening that he has a job offer from another company. You then see in Wally's thoughts, "..sit back and let the loving begin." But his boss is quietly speaking on the phone to security, "...whack him in the parking lot."

http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2005016279930.gif

Ever have this type of feeling at your job? Scott Adams does a wonderful job of pointing out the truths and misbeliefs of the work place. What I suggest this means is that you can't simply 'expect' things to happen in life. Believing in this method will normally produce unexpected consequences.

Now I would say that the 'Wally' character has a great amount of confidence. But anyone that has followed the comic strip will know that Wally really hasn't done anything in his career to help others. It has always been about himself. So this isn't the type of confidence that I'm going to be talking about.

"Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings." - Samuel Johnson (The Book of Positive Quotations"

More to be said over the next day or so on confidence.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Can I Get That Door For You?

"You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others." - Henry Drummond (1851-1897)

Your day is filled with serving others and you may not even realize it. Allowing someone in line as you drive to work, opening the door for someone or simply doing your job. You help your spouse with the dishes, the kids with homework or a neighbor move a desk.

Most everything you do during the day entails serving (helping) others. And this elaborate intertwining of peoples lives means that you are served as well through out the day. What you receive in return is many times directly proportional to the level of servitude you extend to others.

It can be humbling to do so but you need to have confidence in yourself and a positive attitude that you can change other peoples lives throught small acts of kindness. That confidence is something I recently heard someone speak about. It struck a cord with me that you may find as well...but I'll leave that for next time.

So my final thought is that you serve even though you may not realize it. Serve with a joyful heart and with the knowledge that you will receive in kind the same. At times this may not happen...but most times it will. You have nothing to lose and all the world to gain. Can I get that door for you?

Monday, September 26, 2005

Path of Stones

Well, I've heard from a few folks about letting go of things. Of changing their ways and at trying to bring something different into their lives. You could view it as pulling a little red wagon. It's the type you may have had as a child. But this one is full of rocks, little pepples, jagged ones, big ones and maybe one or two really big ones.

These rocks represent things in your life that could be considered troubles and worries. Little ones may be irritation that it is raining outside. Another one may be an argument with a co-worker, while a large one could be a troubled marriage. All of these add in weight to the wagon you must pull through life.

As life goes on, you try to remove rocks from the wagon. Using them to lay a pathway for your life. Life itself may place rocks into your wagon. Sort of like driving through a 'falling rock' zone and a few ending up with you. Other people will place rocks into your wagon as you pass by. Instead of using those rocks to build their own road, they place them upon you.

What you need to do is to eliminate the little ones first as the large ones are harder to move. They take longer to remove. But you take those pebbles and build a base for your life's path. The wagon becomes lighter and easier to pull leaving you more strength and energy to build. What you will find is that the largest rocks don't seem so large anymore. Those large rocks can be difficult to handle, but they become manageable.

You will see that the path of life starts out with a lot of smaller stones but as you learn not to carry the small ones...the path is built with ever increasingly larger stones. The little ones will be used to fill in the gaps of the large ones. A great and solid path will unfold beneath you.

(Picture comes from www.pbase.com - http://www.pbase.com/charette/yosemite_falls)

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Examine Your Surroundings

I hear many times during the work week people at issue with their job or life that is going on around them. To listen you would wonder how it is that they struggle to even get up in the morning to face the world. But as I listen it strikes me that they seem to have a few things in common.

One is that they have this perpetual wallowing in self doubt and complaining of their surroundings. I've always wondered why they remain within that constant cycle of life. Maybe it would be better to simply step back. Look at your life, 'examine your surroundings' and begin to understand what influences are around you.

Now is the time to figure out what is happening in your world that forever holds you back. Change things in your life...maybe a different radio station...maybe a different route to work...maybe just a determination to change your own attitude.

Those influences in your life are very powerful in a subtle way. Do you congregate with friends that are alway down on things? Try meeting more positive people and not to bring your troubles and pains to them. But to listen and catch the spirit of their life.

I've always felt the old adage that tell me your sad story and I'll tell you a hundred sadder stories. What happens to you, to me or to others is life. Life itself is an influence on us and how we choose to respond is up to us.

I have a wide range of musical taste and normally listened to rock stations on the way to and from work. I found myself becoming a much more aggressive driver. Racing to be ahead of the other 20 or 30 thousand cars on the freeway. The driving habits of others would push me to the point of complete irritation. And I found my work day starting out in a bad way and coming home I was wound so tight, the transition to home life was difficult at best.

For me it was a matter of changing radio stations. I found the local NPR (National Public Radio) station (www.npr.org or www.wabe.org) and began listening to morning news. Political persuasion aside, the news provided was much more calming. Afternoon drives are filled with classical music and it certainly helps me unwind much better.

The point being, I examined one part of my life and made a change. I made the choice to change my life and attitude which in turn effected others around me. Examine your surroundings, make a change in your life, enjoy the results.