A thought by John C. Maxwell, (2013-10-08) from his book, Sometimes You Win--Sometimes You Learn:Life's Greatest Lessons Are Gained from Our Losses (p. 190). Center Street.
Kindle Edition.
John says, “For many years my life was filled with
disappointments over other people’s unwillingness to grow. For years I waited
for them, hoping for progress. Too many times I have hoped circumstances would
change, only to be disappointed. Anything you try to change that is outside of
your control will ultimately disappoint you.”
As a retired Pastor I understand that. I can give people insights but I can’t get
them to believe them and accept them and that frustration can change me for the worst.
I love the illustration of taking your fist and pushing
against your other hand. What
happens? It pushes back. So what do you do? You don’t push. Another way to say it is, you change your
attitude. Pushing doesn’t help but
acceptance of the person not the action will go a long way.
Change your attitude from disappointment to understanding. That understanding can open up a door for
communication but it will be closed as soon as condemnation walks in.
John goes on to say, “In controlling my own attitude and
choosing to think correctly, I can minimize the negative effects of those
around me who have bad attitudes. I can stop taking it personally when someone
in my life won’t change. I can see opportunities where once I saw obstacles.
And the best news is that, as author and speaker Wayne Dyer says, ‘When you
change the way you look at things, the things you look at actually begin to
change.’”
So what do you need to change?
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