Five Pearls of Wisdom

Inspiration for this editorial comes from a posting to Facebook from a colleague, Darren Jacklin a few years back.

These are five good points that beg for expanding upon. [at least in my mind]

1. Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.
2. Never let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.
3. It’s never too late to be what you might have been.
4. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.
5. Begin each day with a grateful heart.

 ~~~~~

1. Don’t let someone else’s opinion of you become your reality.

The funny thing about reality is that it doesn’t exist. Your reality, or more precisely how you see and interact with the world, differs from mine. Neither of us are right, yet both of us are. If you are a LOA (Law of Attraction) believer, you will know that we actually create our own reality.

It is a fact that we will not always get along with everybody in the world, nor will some even like us. While it might hurt to think about that, the pragmatists of us would say “get over it” or “suck it up buttercup!” While not necessarily the most understanding and supportive approach it can be helpful in minimizing the potential hazard to our egos.

We can only control what we believe about ourselves, not whatever anyone else does. So, forget about it! Move on!

2. Never let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life. 

Year’s ago, I learned a saying, the hard way I might add “Sometimes you are the dog … sometimes you are the fire hydrant.” Bad things do to happen to good people. Yes, sometimes we or any of our friends, can get in a state it seems that day after day is worse than the one before, a negative funk if you will. People experiencing the symptoms of clinical depression often have problems with this thinking. Depression aside, as Sig Sigler would say its “stinkin thinkin!” We are in control of our minds and this “generalization” thinking does us no good. So, stop it!

3. It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

I can’t help but think of the Lumberjack skit from classic Monty Python where the BARBER says
“I wanted to be… a lumberjack!”

“Leaping from tree to tree, as they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia. The Giant Redwood. The Larch. The Fir! The mighty Scots Pine! The lofty flowering Cherry! The plucky little Apsen! The limping Roo tree of Nigeria. The towering Wattle of Aldershot! The Maidenhead Weeping Water Plant! The naughty Leicestershire Flashing Oak! The flatulent Elm of West Ruislip! The Quercus Maximus Bamber Gascoigni! The Epigillus! The Barter Hughius Greenus!”

“With my best buddy by my side, we’d sing! Sing! Sing!”

[singing]
“I’m a lumberjack, and I’m okay.
I sleep all night and I work all day.”

Okay, now that’s out of the way, I actually wanted to be a lumberjack when I was in high school. More precisely, a Forest Ranger. Then an Interpreter at the UN, closely followed by becoming a Chef. I spent the next few decades as a Registered Nurse. As the saying goes “I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.” Statistically, Canadians change their careers several times during their working years and now under our current reality, long into so-called retirement. Many people go back to school in retirement or pursue their passions. You need not wait until retirement to do so. Today is a good day to work on what it is you want to do. What can you do today?

4. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.

This saying might have originated in a vocational carpentry skill-training school but has been adapted by the motivationally inclined crowd as of late. There is another saying I am fond of that goes “sometimes opportunity is described as hard work.” Perhaps you have an idea that’s time has come but there doesn’t seem to be a market for it. Sometimes you must seek opportunities … other times it finds you. Getting out there and networking with like-minded, business-minded people can be a powerful way to create or learn about opportunities, building the door to opportunity if you will.

5. Begin each day with a grateful heart.

As the saying goes “Every day above ground is a good one!” and “It’s better than the alternative!” Okay, those are a little on the cynical side. If you are an LOA fan and buy into the creating your own reality belief, then beginning your day with a grateful heart should resonate with you. It can be far too easy to think and be affected by the negative things in life. The same works for thinking about positive and empowering beliefs. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t … you are right!”

~~~

For further discussion of self-confidence, self-promotion and personal growth resources visit the Live For Excellence Book Store for the following publications:

Assert Yourself! Harnessing the Power of Assertiveness in Your Career

 

 

 

 

 

Blow Your Own Horn! Personal Branding for Business Professionals

 

 

 

 

Power Networking For Shy People: How to Network Like a Pro

 

 

 

 

The Power of Persuasion: Mastering the Art of Influence

 

 

 

 

Working With Words: Adding Life to Your Oral Presentations