No one Can destroy you faster than yourself
My wife and I learned long ago that if you constantly focus on someone’s negatives, you would find it nearly impossible to get along with them. The same train of thought can be applied to yourself. I, and many others, constantly examine and fixate on the things I am not good at. Maybe I begin to dwell on mistakes I’ve made or things I’ve done wrong. Despite the fact that most of these slip-ups have gone unnoticed, they still cling to your conscience. Maybe you’ve experienced a morning where you woke-up feeling like Superman, but hours after some idle time driving down the road or sitting at work, you’re the worst person you know. It is said that “idle hands are the devil’s playground,” that must mean an idle mind is the devil’s sandbox. That being said, sometimes it seems too difficult to focus on our positives like we do our negatives because no one can destroy us faster than ourselves.
As we sit and wrestle with ourselves, we have to reflect on what is crucial. So much of our lives get lost in a lack of perspective. We could have a great family, we could have a hard-earned job, but nothing takes away that sense of accomplishment and achievement faster than the cold, creeping grasp of past mistakes. There’s so much to be thankful for, even in the smallest of things. Health and a healthy family are some of the most essential things you can have. I would encourage anyone willing to listen and try to consider something positive in the face of self-admonishment. Since I’ve begun to blog I’ve started remembering all of these adventures, accomplishments, struggles, and triumphs I’ve experienced in my life. Anyone who struggles with negatives would do well to keep a journal or some kind of record. Documenting history is important, my readers and I can learn from my successes and mistakes. By being open and honest with myself, I hope to achieve a clearer understanding of my relationships and purpose.
The people you spend time with and hang out with matter more than you may think. They make a difference in you and how you grow. I’ve told my kids all their lives to hang around people that build you up. It helps to push you to think differently and challenge yourself in a positive way. I’ve always heard and like to share that birds of a feather flock together—people inherently come together over shared interests and professions. They may not always share direction or ideas, but it’s good to face those challenges and different perspectives from time to time. It’s how we grow. At the end of the day, when the septic tank bursts and all the sewage starts spilling out, it doesn’t matter how big the bucket is because it all stinks. As you sit there at night and tackle yourself, you have to find those positives to hold on to--family, friends, personal achievements, anything. For me, I still have ¾ of my parents—I’m including my wife’s, as well. I’ve got children and grandchildren. I have been so blessed. Despite my struggles, I’ve been able to live a great life. I’m worrying about things I have no control over and the older you get the more you realize that on the subject of life, humans have absolutely no control over any of it. When you’re sitting there worrying about things you cannot change or influence, take a moment to work out what you can do--the things that are right, and realize that the only thing you need to change is your attitude.
