Sunday, May 24, 2009

……And he is us.

Have you thought about the real conflicts, challenges, and setbacks you have encountered in life and thought about the person, events, or conditions that caused them?

Ever notice that we focus on a causal factor that usually involves someone else, something that happened to us, or powers beyond our control?

In believing that someone or something controls the experiences or opportunities we can achieve is feeding our greatest enemy….our reactive mind. The little maniac in the head shed. The guy who talks us out of taking that risk, striving for something truly great, or letting his/her little person stuck in the head syndrome use our mouth to fill the air with hate, ugliness, or emotional drivel.

That little life sucking force that makes us lash out at everyone, and everything when something goes against our wishes is our enemy. He is us. Our ego.

How much has our ego cost us? I know it has ended a few friendships for me. I know that it kept me from reaching for something higher on several occasions. I know that it has limited the successes, amplified the failures, and cost me health and joy on a few occasions.

Nobody else is responsible for how I choose to respond to life’s myriad of stimuli. Nobody can choose for you either. Finding someone or something to blame for the things that don’t go well in our lives holds us back from achieving some truly great things.

It’s not the economy thats killing your business. It wasn’t the other guy in traffic that made you lose your temper. It’s not the words that someone said years ago that haunt you still.

Its the enemy. It’s in there, inside of you. Hang a Fischer-Price kiddie wheel over the backseat and let your ego play on that. Take the wheel and drive the car. You have the control to change your circumstances.

Think I’m full of shit? Look back at all of your successes. Who gets the credit? Look back at all of your failures. Who gets the credit? We are all self-made, it’s just usually the successful people who admit it.

The stimulus provides the lesson, you need to become the teacher in making the choice for the response. Instead of the challenges and setbacks being debilitating, they should inspire new learning.

Imagine your mindset if you took a challenge as a way to thrive? Imagine the energy and attitude you would bring to those around you when something big comes up, and you need some real personal power.

Challenge should inspire a kick ass attitude, and imagine what you can accomplish with that! Much more than the oh, God, why me….

In personal safety, confidence, and self defense, our personal choices and actions drive the car. Do we train and program success, or do we blame others when bad things happen? We can’t control others, but with a proactive plan we can control ourselves.

We can improve our ability to be alert and aware. We can develop defusing skills and communication abilities. We can sharpen our physical tools for defense. Our greater preparations can enhance our peaceful successes.

As in most areas in life, what we focus on is what we will accomplish. Focus outward. Be proactive. Take the steps toward your own successes. Not just for safety, but for anything that you consider important. You are in the drivers seat.

It may take time to get this mindset ingrained, but consider every day a new practice session! Train in life’s abundant opportunities!

Be safe!