What is stopping you from achieving the life of your dreams? Would you be a success if only your parents had more money? If only your spouse was more supportive? If only you had a nicer car, bigger house, or newer clothes?
A lot of people are dissatisfied with what they have. They think, if only I had a bigger house, better job, the perfect relationship, then I would be happy. In the meantime, they don’t take care of the house/ job/ relationships they do have, and they are unhappy. Does this sound familiar?
We get stuck when we hang onto our excuses and the old story of our life. When we blame other people, and life circumstances, for what we have and have not. You probably know these people: they just can’t do this or that because of what has been done to them. It’s not their fault! It’s just that Life is unfair, and there is nothing they can do.
Yes, Life happens. To all of us. And sometimes it does seem unfair, and sometimes it does seem as if other people have it much better or much worse. But here’s the thing to remember at all times:
Yes, that’s right – other people, the weather, and world-wide events are not the only factors responsible for whether or not you succeed. There is another powerful variable that you have absolute control over. That even is YOUR RESPONSE. Try this new equation:
If you are getting any outcome you don’t want, the only variable you have control over is your response. Hiding inside every problem is an opportunity to try something different, to learn something new.
>Money, job, relationships – whatever the problem, take a look at how you’re responding that keeps creating what you don’t like. This month, we have been talking about the role wise stewardship plays in our success with business, relationships, and money.
This goes back to being a good stewardship of our human assets: our time and energy. When your focus is on the wrong things, you become less effective.
Doing this will lead to the most favorable outcomes. Here are a few tips you can apply to help you get unstuck and start focusing more on YOUR response and less on the events.
Notice when you or others are complaining and blaming.
Shift your story from “what happened to me” to “what I did”. From the “event” to your “response”.
Look for the lessons. Take a good look at your reaction , identify the lessons learned, and then let it go.
And don’t worry – you will make mistakes, we all do, and that is part of the process!
Later this week, we will share the amazing, real-life story of one of our listeners who called into the RichLife show this past weekend. She, along with her husband, put this equation to work in her life and has seen amazing blessings. I am also going to be wrapping up this month January with what I call “The Law of Stewardship” – what it is and how to make it work for you in your life!
Beau, I find my readers responding more and more to my message of personal responsibility. We're all dealt a hand, we all have challenges … large and small … and we all have choices in how we respond to them, as you say. As the outside economy becomes less and less forgiving, our need to take charge of our own lives grows. I don't know about you, but … my greatest joy is when I hear back from someone who looked at something differently and changed something important in her life, because she finally understood who really holds the reins. Good stuff!
I love this Beau.. I am the only constant in the problem I had with my business that started in 2010..I have taken action to change what happened and yes Google changed the way they did search and put the squeeze on Mom and Pop sites, but I was enjoying the money and not taking care of and learning all I could. I'm changing things and learning all I can to make my business much more successful that it was before. Never again will I not keep up with my business and lose my passion! ..;)
Beau, love,love, love this article!!! "Hiding inside every problem is an opportunity to try something different, to learn something new." Yes!! Such a powerful thing the stewardship of responsibility. Bravo,sir!!
Beau, Thank you so much for this incredible eye-opening article! " Trying something different at least gives you the change to have a different outcome!" Love this in particular! Great job!
We don't control the events just the response…I love this and live it as well..Or at least its a priority to..:) Such great offerings in this post! Excellent encouragement for folks!!
Beau, another great article from you my friend. This is so true! How we respond to certain situations can make all the difference. I do like quotes and I'll be borrowing this one from you: "Hiding inside every problem is an opportunity to try something different, to learn something new."
Thank you, for an Amazing article Beau. I love when you wrote, "You don't get to control the events. You only control how you respond." That is so huge!!! What a difference it makes when we stay in the present and are mindful of how we respond.
One of my favorite blogs, for sure! Yes, we are remarkably powerful and the greatest factor in he experience we have in our life. Gratitude helps shift a blaming or victim mentality. Thanks!
I'm all about shifting your story. If I hadn't, I would still be working at a job I hated.
Great article and excellent points! I have met many people with the mentality that their problems are caused by others and the reality is that people have the power to change the things in their lives that are causing the problems when they stop blaming others and look for solutions instead.
Beau, I can only focus on what I can control; wish I had the magic pill to sometimes inject someone with a new mindset. However, I focus on what I can control and not tug for a yes that some can't always deliver because of their own limitations.
We get stuck when we hang onto our excuses and the old story of our life. When we blame other people, and life circumstances, for what we have and have not. You probably know these people: they just can’t do this or that because of what has been done to them. It’s not their fault! It’s just that Life is unfair, and there is nothing they can do." I just had this discussion yesterday about a member of our household. This 67 year old has simply failed to respond and the outcome has been bleak and left him with no desire for life at all and an attitude that weighs down the household. As you say, life happens to us all and we each have a choice to repsond or react and change the outcome! I sure wish he could see this truth and even at 67 make a decision to respond and change the outcome not only for himself but those around him who do love him!Thank you, Beau!
Love the E + R = O formula, Beau. I try to live my life by the principle that I can't control many things, but I can always control my attitude and response towards EVERYTHING. As you say, that attitude allows you to always be happy with what you have, even as you continue to strive to be more. Very well put and beneficial article, thanks.
Great formula – thanks for the tip
"How we respond is the only thing we can consistently control" – so true and such a freeing thought when put into action. Behind all the tension I try to remember that everything is always working out for me – so why should I care how it looks? It's all working out to bring me exactly what I said I wanted…and in better ways than I could have planned.
Love, love, love this article and will certainly share the E + R = O with my children. We teach them responsibility but sometimes they need another way of approaching situations…love this! Thanks again for sharing your wisdom with us all:)