Believe It

"If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?"
- Robert Anthony

The holidays are just around the corner and I'm fascinated to witness all of the contradictions that seem to happen around this time of year. I know people that are so consistent in their day to day lives, but start to forgo what they're used to because they can't control what the holiday season brings each year. I also know people that just take each day as it comes, but they'll fight tooth and nail to have the kind of holiday season that they've been used to since they were kids. Naturally there are those that take the season in stride and are able to successfully incorporate it into their normal day to day lives, but for many they have to brace themselves for the holiday season. The quote above may seem easy to answer on the surface, but if you isolate different aspects of your life and ask "is that good news," you'll likely find yourself answering differently for many of them.

I've discussed in the past that being in business presents challenges every day. You never really know what each day will bring, or what the best answer will be, or what the right move is to make. There are some in business that are so strong in their beliefs that they could either prevail in a bad economy or go down with the ship in a thriving one. There are some managers that could get more out of a mediocre employee, yet get nothing out of an all-star. And there are some individuals that can be successful no matter what they venture into, or those that can't seem to succeed in anything they try. So the question of whether it's good or bad news that your life will be the same forever naturally depends on the situation.

I'm considered old-fashioned in many ways, but then not at all in others. I believe in chivalry and open the door for a lady, or let my guests eat first at a dinner party. I enjoy tradition and embracing the environment when going to such things as sporting events (after all, what's a Dodgers game without a Dodger Dog?). However, I also believe that being only 31 years old, there's no way I've been introduced to all that there is to offer in life. I can believe that the holidays are a great time to appreciate family, but I don't have to believe that the size of the gift I give or receive measures how much appreciation is involved.

I don't have many complaints in life, so if I were asked whether it's good or bad news that my life, in general, would be like this forever, well I would be thrilled to say it's good news! Break it down one level and ask about my relationships, my job or career, my family - well I'd still have to say it's good news! However, I know that we're all just scraping the surface of our potential. I do believe that adapting your beliefs to what each day brings will ultimately introduce us all to even more of what we love. So take a moment to reflect on the different aspects of your life and decide whether or not you may want to change your beliefs, or whether you want your life to remain that way forever.