Make a Difference

Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think. Benjamin Disraeli

I have been asked why I am choosing to dedicate the time I spend on this podcast. Today’s quote explains the answer to this question nicely. Meditation and reflection have a powerful ability to focus the mindset past the present; and being mindful of my thoughts allows me to maintain a positive focus.

Welcome back to Make a Difference. In the month of February we will study attitude. Now that I have become aware of power that I always have a choice, the choices that I make can have dramatic power of the attitude that I approach the day with.

Today’s quote from Gandhi sums this approach up very clearly and needs very little reflection to get the point. I believe is makes a great thought to start of our month’s reflection on attitude.

We have come to the end of January and that marks the end of the study of change. I think this quote makes a good summary of our study this month. It comes from Steve Maraboli who is quickly become someone I am seeking out to read more often.

“There are times in my life when I have been medicine for some while poison for others. I used to think I was a victim of my story until I realized the truth; that I am the creator of my story. I choose what type of person I will be and what type of impact I will leave on others. I will never choose the destructive path of self and outward victimization again.” ― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

“Changing is what people do when they have no options left.” ― Holly Black, Red Glove

Today's quote offers a great reflection for those of us who resist choices and change.   It has been stated early in the podcast that one always has a choice and that even refusing to make a choice is still a choice. 

It was discussed with a quote from Covey that going with the flow generally leads downward and not where you want to go.  issues and conditions won't go away because we ignore them, they continue to grow and develop without your input and influence.  Pressure builds and eventually, one is going to have to change.

The discussion examines the 3 ways we look at the need for change.

“If you choose to not deal with an issue, then you give up your right of control over the issue and it will select the path of least resistance.” ― Susan Del Gatto

Approaching the end of January, it is not longer enough to exercise the concept of choice.  We know by now that choices must be made in order not to go with the flow.   Not dealing with the issues does not stop the issue from progressing onward on its own without your influence.

“Maturity is when you stop complaining and making excuses in your life; you realize everything that happens in life is a result of the previous choice you’ve made and start making new choices to change your life.” ― Roy T. Bennett

The month of January has focused upon change.   The study has shown that with effort and steady study, the ability to make choices improves and the confidence that you gain in yourself improves as a result.   With this new found confidence, I have realized that complaining in frustration, often internally, about situation does not serve me.  I am finding that if I take that energy and move it toward new choices and get better solutions as a result.

Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought. John C. Maxwell

This upcoming week draws January 2020 to a close.   It is often the case that the best intentions of the New Year's resolution to change has worn down as we reach this point already in January.    

I took a moment on Twitter and examined  #NewYearsResolution for a few moments and wonder how the commitment of many tweets are holding up at this point in the month.  I believe that part of the challenge of holding up with a resolution for change is planning out the steps for reaching the goal.   It's not enough to hold up a lofty goal and aim for it every day with out a plan of how to accomplish it; its just too big.    Taking the time to break the goal up  into bite size pieces is the key to accomplishing the goal as we discussed in episode on January 7th, Am I Doing This Right? where we discussed using goal charts.

Taking my own advice here, the podcast is going to focus upon a new topic for the month of February and that will be attitude. 

I use an analogy about a box when I teach and it goes along with today's quote about the comfort zone.   The classroom has square tiles in the carpet and I walk along the perimeter of the square and identify it with my students.  

This is a square I have walked for many years in this classroom and I know it well and I know every inch of it.   I tell the students about the great things that have happened in the past as I explored the box.   I struggle to tell them about recent experiences, I have been with the company for over 7 years.   We discuss living in the comfort zone and how you have to be willing to continue to expand your box and develop your skill set if you want to continue to grow in our industry. 

Growth is a goal that only comes from working at something and being willing to be uncomfortable.

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them” ― Denis Waitley

We have discussed that January was the focus upon change. I have found that this daily focus and self talk is making a positive difference in the new year.

Today's episode talks about the changes I am learning.

I had shared early this week in the Bring Your Dead episode that many people choose to remain in a mindset that they cannot change their position, they are stuck.

Today's quote by Roger Crawford asks me to review that thought and understand that challenges are going to happen no matter what in life.  They come in all different shapes and sizes for each of us; we all have them and nobody escapes them and I must accept mine.

What we do have control over is if we choose to accept the feeling of defeat that can build up as we face our own personal challenges.